eyes of love

June 27th, 2016

 We see the world and everything in it with the eyes of love or with eyes that are devoid of love. 

 Eyes that see through love see people just like us. They are not our identical twins but they feel loss and they feel pain, both physical and emotional much the same as we do. Loving eyes see but do not judge those who are reluctant to ask for help because we have seen those times. Love sees people who put on a very good front while a dark storm rages inside of them and tears at their souls and we have seen those times too. The eyes of love see through all the false fronts and the overblown fears and looks for a way to help, to care, to support. The eyes of love see clearly.

 The eyes that are devoid of love see only the differences between people. They judge based solely on the pretenses, the facades,the armor and the circumstances. The judgements come swiftly and mercilessly and the eyes move on. The eyes that are devoid of love become colder and more cruel the more they see. Turned inward, the eyes that are devoid of love become their cruelest. The eyes that are devoid of love see only the flaws.

 How do we know if we are seeing with love or not? We look into the mirror. If our sight is devoid of love the mirror will let us know because there we will see someone who is full of flaws, someone who is aging, someone who is not perfect, someone who is unacceptable, someone who is afraid. 

If we look into the mirror and we see someone there who is not judging but rather just peacefully accepting, someone who is strong, someone who is a little bit indecisive, someone who smiles easily, someone who allows the reality of the moment and is not adverse to change but not driven by it either then we know that those are the eyes of love. 

You will see the world the way you see the mirror. Look into the mirror and learn to accept the figure there. If it makes you smile, you are seeing clearly. 

Patrick McBride’s Sundrops On Life 

(c)2016 All Rights Reserved, Patrick McBride 
 www.PatrickInspires.com

 
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sinking car

June 20th, 2016

Every year in this country four hundred people drown when their cars go into water. This weekend I watched a video about surviving such a frightening event and watching it I was reminded about something very important about living. 

All the experts agree that once a car hits the water you have less then a minute, sixty seconds, to save your life. All 911 operators are instructed to tell a person in such a situation to “Get out as quickly as you can!”

Sometimes in life, we are going through our daily activities  and suddenly we hit the dark, murky waters of depression or worthlessness. Maybe someone says something to trigger it. Maybe a random thought starts germinating inside our mind. Problems, darkness, anger, anxiety suddenly wash over us and what do we do?

Usually we can feel what’s coming and we hopelessly brace ourselves for the onslaught of bad feelings and fears. We pray that we will be able to hold on and down we go.

What if we used the survival instructions of being in a sinking car? What if instead of bracing ourselves, we used every ounce of our strength to get out quickly?

An amazing, wonderful Buddhist nun, Sister Palma, many years ago taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life. She said “Thoughts are real, living things. When a dark thought comes to you, immediately say ‘Go in Peace, Thank You’. Say it every single time that thought surfaces and do it immediately. You may have to say it dozens of times but never fail to do it and the thought will wither and blow away.” 

The lessons for today are don’t stay in a car that is going down and don’t hold on to a thought that is dragging you down. 

 

Patrick McBride’s Sundrops On Life 

(c)2016 All Rights Reserved, Patrick McBride 
 www.PatrickInspires.com

 
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Legacy

June 6th, 2016

What will be your legacy of greatness? Will you be remembered for your great wealth, your dangerous explorations, your amazing discoveries? Probably not. 

Your legacy of greatness will be all about how you acted under trying circumstances. Were you a great complainer, worrier or whiner? Oh, they will definitely talk and laugh about that after you’re gone. 

 Maybe you were a great practitioner of patience under trying circumstances. They will tell great stories and laugh about how you patiently waited and waited before you made any necessary changes.

Maybe, just maybe, you will be remembered because you had great kindness and great love under any and all circumstances. They will tell great stories of your selfless acts and no one will laugh and many will sniffle and wipe tears away. They will tell how when you didn’t feel well and everything looked bleak you shared your light and not the darkness. Maybe they will tell about how you inspired people with your gentle encouragement. Maybe they will even tell how you were the only one that loved them. Maybe they will say that your memory will always comfort them.

 At some point in time everything you now think of as yours will be in the garbage or in someone’s possession and they will consider it theirs. Your legacy is what you will leave behind and will remain yours. Your legacy hasn’t been written yet and you still have time to change it. Start walking your talk. Start improving your outlook regardless of what is going on. Take good care of yourself. Be an inspiration. Be accepting of other people’s foibles. Be less quick to anger or to criticize. Love more. Be better. Leave a legacy of real greatness.

Patrick McBride’s Sundrops On Life 

(c)2016 All Rights Reserved, Patrick McBride 
 www.PatrickInspires.com

 
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