This Christian Genocide

One of the things on my heart that causes me the most anguish is the torture and killing of Christians in the Middle East.

As I write this I must relate that there are reports that Isis is moving from town to town killing the men and abducting the women and children.  It has been reported that the women are suffering beatings and rape, even girls as young as 5 years old.

This is evil, despicable.  I have no other words for this.  As a people we must pray, fast and beg our good God to intervene on behalf of those who have been slaughtered and those who will be slaughtered in the days and weeks to come.

My heart is burning with sadness for these people.  We remember 75 years ago the horrendous holocaust that occurred that resulted in the killing of over 6 million Jews and Christians.  Are we witnessing another holocaust?  Pray with me that this evil will stop and stop soon.

In Jesus most precious name,

Sandy O

(C) April 23,2015

My Talk With Student Nurses

I had such a wonderful and fun time today.  I got to speak with a group of student nurses at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital here in Pittsburgh.

I had the opportunity to share with them what transplant is like from the patient’s perspective.  It gave them the chance to see through my eyes what it is like to go through evaluation, “getting the call”, and the transplant itself.  I told them how very important the nurses are to our recovery.  We need you to be kind, gentle, encouraging and firm when we need a kick in the butt – and believe me we need a kick in the butt several times and at times a confidant and protector. Can you handle that?  The nurses I met today certainly fit the bill.

What I really wanted to convey is that nurses are the front line in our recovery and our advocate with the doctors.  I honor all nurses!!!  It is a tough job and a job that requires a person of kindness who sees this as a profession that heals.  If there is someone who views nursing as “just a job” then you need to find another JOB.

Huge thanks to Robin their nurse instructor who invited me to speak and to students Amanda, Sarah, Theresa, Danielle, Courtney, Tori, Nicole and Emily!!!  You made my day.  My prayer is that when you graduate you will be that bright light that brings healing and comfort to those who need it most.  Know that you are greatly appreciated!

With my love and gratitude for you all,

Sandy Ozanich

April 2, 2015

(C)

Thanks, Gratitude and Remembrance!

Today, September 30th is a wonderful day for me!  It was 9 years ago today that I received my double lung transplant.  I am joyful and so very grateful for the chance I was given to live on.  It is a day of deep gratitude for the family of my lung donor and my lung donor himself!  It is also a day of thought and sadness that a family lost their loved one.  How do you thank someone who has given you the chance to live???

It reminds me of a Psalm:  How can I make a return to the Lord, for all the good he has done for me?

I think of my donor ~ what did he look like, what did he love and not love, did he have a wife or children???  Did he laugh lots and love more? Who were his favorite sports teams and what did he do for fun???  These are all questions that perhaps one day I will find the answer to.  But, if I don’t I can be sure that when I pass from this world I will meet him and give him my great thanks!

All I know about my donor is that he was a 29 year old male.  I received the lungs from the Charleston West Virginia Hospital.  I will be sending another letter to the donor family after a bit time has passed since the date of his death to let them know that the lungs I breathe with were his lungs and that I share a love for him.

I will be thinking and praying for him in a very special way today.

May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in Peace!!!

 

Transplant Date:  September 30, 2005

Sandy Ozanich (c) September 30, 2014

 

 

Let Go of Clutter and Live a More Simple Life

I am reposting this from Purpose Fairy (www.purposefairy.com)  because this article is me over and over.  I am in the process now of de-cluttering my home of all the unnecessary things like books, articles, nick-knacks, etc.  It is way past time to clear it out and have a very peaceful room to write and work in.

Thanks to Luminita and this wonderful article. . .

****************************************************

“Don’t own so much clutter that you will be relieved to see your house catch fire.” ~ Wendell Berry

You know what I recently noticed? That I am no longer attached to material things like I used to be.

There was a time when, because I was attached to every little thing that I possessed, I would get so mad whenever someone would take my things, use them and at times break them. And oh my, all the drama that was created around that. But now I no longer care.

Even though I can afford to a lot of ‘stuff’, I have reached a point in my life where spending my money on all kind of physical things no longer excites me. In fact I seem to get a lot more excited when I give my things away than I do when I buy them. I guess this is what happens the moment you begin to understand that you are more than your possessions and that your value doesn’t come from how much ‘stuff’ you have but from who you are internally. 

“Out of clutter, find simplicity.” ~ Albert Einstein

We live in a world that teaches us that more is better and that the more we have, the more valuable we become and the better our lives will get. But where is the peace in that?  

Where is the peace in always striving and never arriving? Where is the peace in never being satisfied with what you already have and always wanting more, more, more? Where is the peace in allowing your material possessions to control you and your life instead of you being the one in control?

When is enough, enough? 

“Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” ~ Lao Tzu

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we should all give our material possessions away and live on the streets. That’s far from it. What I’m saying is that we shouldn’t waste our lives working so hard to make money, just so we can spend those money on gathering a lot of stuff and clutter our lives. There’s more to life than hoarding a lot of ‘stuff’.

“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Living in a constant chase to acquire more stuff is exhausting. It makes you think that where you are, who you are and what you now have is never enough and that you should seek to have more, do more and become more. 

It’s a trap.

“But here’s the thing–no matter how many possessions you have, you never feel secure. As soon as you get one thing, there is always something else you “need”.” ― Karen Kingston,

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this or not, but there are many people who  give way too much importance and value to their material possessions. And that’s only because they take their sense of identity, their value and their worth from all of those things.

When you have no idea who you are, and what really means to be a valuable and worthy human being, you can’t help but think that the value and quantity of your stuff says a lot about your value.

“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” ~ Maya Angelou

I think it’s very important for people to understand that your value doesn’t come from how much stuff you have, how shiny it all is and how much you paid for it. Your true value comes from the fact that you were once born into this physical world and that you are now living and breathing on this beautiful planet. That’s where your true value comes from.

You are a valuable and worthy human being not because you hoarded a lot of physical things but because you were once born. 

We are all here for a reason. We are all here because each and every one of us has a purpose to fulfill. And that purpose and that reason isn’t about us gathering a lot of ‘stuff’ and then allowing that ‘stuff’ to clutter our lives and to keep us from walking on our life path. 

There’s nothing wrong in having beautiful things and allowing those things to give more meaning and color to your life. But if you fall into the trap of allowing your material possessions to keep you from honoring yourself, your purpose and from creating the life you were meant to create, than that can become a problem.

“Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. This applies to play as well as work. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work. No more hiding from success. Leave time, leave space, to grow. Now. Now! Not tomorrow!” ~ Og Mandino

Work on making the relationship you have with yourself and your life path more important than the relationship you have with your material possessions. Never allow your attachment to your material things to keep you from going where your heart wants you to go and from doing the things that your Soul came here to do.

If life ever asks you to relocate. If your hear your heart telling you that you should leave behind the life you are now living and the many material things you are currently clinging on to so that you can start a new life someplace else, dare to listen. Trust the wisdom of your inner voice and trust in the wisdom of life. Because that’s what life is really all about.

“You can only lose what you cling to.” ~ Buddha

Love your things. Let them beautify and give more meaning to your life. But never allow them to get in the way of you living the life you came here to live. Never allow them to burden you, to control you and to keep you from living the simple, beautiful and meaningful life you are meant to live. Never use your attachment to all your physical possessions as an excuse of why you can’t do the things that your heart, soul and intuitions are asking you to do.

“As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness .” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Is the relationship you have with your ‘stuff’ more important than the relationship you have with your true self and your life purpose? You can share your insights by joining the conversation in the comment section below 

With all my love,

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Thank You Father!

Thank you Father

For another day ~

Thank you Spirit

For lighting the way ~

Thank you Jesus for

For giving yourself for us. . .

Each day is a day of gratitude for the present moment.

I want to be aware of Your presence every moment as it happens in my life.

I want to see you in everyone who crosses my path. . .help me to respect and honor each and every one who passes.

I shall smile at all I know ~ especially those I don’t know

Thank you Father

for another day ~

Thank you Spirit

for lighting the way ~

Thank you Jesus

for giving yourself for us. . .at the cross and at the cross of our present moments. . .

Amen

Sandy Ozanich (c) September 27, 2014

I Believe We Know What Abilities We Have

Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 449

Proverbs 3:27-34
Psalm 15:2-3a, 3-bc-4ab, 5
Luke 8:16-18

In our first two readings today from Proverbs and Psalms we hear how to be good citizens or neighbors.  They made me think of the 10 Commandments or the Golden Rule.  All very good treatises on how to live as a good neighbor or citizen.

In the Gospel Jesus tells the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.”

Jesus wants us to know that we have wonderful gifts given by God to be used for the uplifting of others.  It is about using our gifts of hospitality or compassion, work for the poor or sick.  I believe we know what abilities we have, things we do well.  They are the gifts we can use to help others.

I’d like to share a bit of a song that I love.  It plays on our local Christian Radio Station, it’s by a group called JJ Weeks.

Let Them See You

(chorus)

Let them see You in me let them hear You when I speak
Let them feel You when I sing
Let them see You, let them see You in me

Who am I without Your grace, another smile another face
Another breath a grain of sand passing quickly through Your hand
I give my life an offering take it all take everything. . .

(chorus)

I share this with you because it speaks of what the readings are saying.  The Psalmist, the author of Proverbs and Jesus are saying ~ live your life in a good way, be there for your neighbor’s, your friends, your family.  Be there for God, talk to God.  Most of all, everyone should be able to see God in you by the way you live, work, love and share.

Be a blessing because YOU are blessed!

Joan Rivers – Thanks for the Laughter

Gentle Is The One. . .

Gentle is the one who does “not break the crushed reed, or snuff the faltering wick” (Matthew 12:20). Gentle is the one who is attentive to the strengths and weaknesses of the other and enjoys being together more than accomplishing something. A gentle person treads lightly, listens carefully, looks tenderly, and touches with reverence. A gentle person knows that true growth requires nurture, not force. Let’s dress ourselves with gentleness. In our tough and often unbending world our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us’.                     Henri Nouwen

 

Gentle is the one. . . . . Sometimes it is hard to see gentleness in our world today.  We are being lambasted with horrific scenes of beheadings and riots,  neighborhood shootings, illnesses and it goes on and on.

It is always good to remember the God of Life is with us always.  I know, it is difficult sometimes to realize this or even feel God’s presence, but God is in us and for us.  Cry out to the heavens to Jesus’ mother asking for her comfort and solace when times get too rough.  It could be anything you are going through right now.   Give it to God, yell at God if you have to, God has huge shoulders and can handle it.  Sometimes we just have to get it off our chest to feel better.

I had a friend who told me that we can’t yell at God.  I told her that is it perfectly ok to yell at God.  This is how we let God know what is on our mind and heart.  If we love God, really love God it is ok to yell.  Don’t lovers do the same.  You confide to the one who loves you best. . .you yell when you  get irritated don’t you?  Job questioned God didn’t he?  We are no different. . .let God know how you feel and before you know it you are feeling better and I’m willing to bet that God has given you new motivations and ideas to make this life more gentle, more loving, more like God.

“A gentle person knows that true growth requires nurture, not force.  Let’s dress ourselves with gentleness.  In our tough and often unbending world our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us.”

 

Sandy Ozanich (c) September 5, 2014

Go Placidly Amid The Noise. . .

Because our world is in turmoil these days and because I am uneasy about what is happening at home and abroad (perhaps your are too),   I thought a little look back would be good for the soul.  I came across a piece of literature that is old, very old and speaks of things to help us along in life.  I am speaking of the piece Desiderata.  It was found in Old Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore, MD in 1693.  I would like to reprint it here to think about, ponder,and meditate about. Many of the lessons listed here still work today, in fact it all is worthy of a close look.  Some of the language is outdated, but it was 1693!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly & clearly; listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain & bitter;

for always there will be greater & lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

 Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.   Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of yourth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with imaginings.  Many fears are born of fatigue & loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe, is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors & inspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be careful.

Strive to be happy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Desiderata means:  (from Dictionary.com)

plural noun, singular desideratum.

1.things wanted or needed; the plural of desideratum :

“Happily-ever-after” and “eternal love” appear to be the desiderata of the current generation; to whom “fat chance” say those of us who are older,wiser, and more curmudgeonly.

Synonyms: essentials, necessities, requisites,sine qua nons.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

May all of us be blessed and find the richness in life, love, work and play, but mostly find richness in God.

 

Sandy Ozanich (c) August 31, 2014

 

 

Our World In Crisis

I have been listening to the news lately, actually most of the time, I just like news.  But I am increasingly concerned for the people being slaughtered by ISIS in Iraq.  The bad situation in Ferguson Missouri, the borders of our country, etc.  I could list so many things right now.

And no matter what your politics, I just want to pray and plead with God to stop the madness.  I know many others do as well.  Do you remember the day AFTER the 9/11 how everyone seemed to actually put aside their differences?  Can we do that now?

Dear God, hear my plea?  Hear all of our pleas Lord.  We are painfully aware of the destruction, pain and death happening in many corners of the world.  What can we do Lord?  How do we respond?  Give us a sign O Lord, give ear to our cries.  People are dying, people are starving, people are being exploited, and forced to flee their homes.  Help us Lord to help you.

I feel helpless as many do in all corners of the world.

Hear our prayers O Lord, we pray. . .Amen

Sandy Ozanich (c) August 29, 2014