A Website worth visiting – Story of a New Ager turned Christian

Today I thought I would write a note about an interesting website I visited.

Marcia Montenegro set up this website after spending several years delving into the occult and New Age…. until finally she felt impelled to enter a Church and her life changed when she discovered Christ.

Her website is full of rich information about the effects of New Age, occult and other areas that seem quite attractive for young people but which may actually lead to a lot of problems.

If you would like to gain some in depth knowledge on the subject of the New Age and the Christian response to it visit the link below.

Well worth a visit!

Reflections on Divorce- My journey to a decision

Next week Malta faces one of the hottest Referenda ever to be put forward in our society.

Should we introduce divorce for those people who are struggling with unfulfilling relationships and help them find space to start a new life?

Or will divorce open a pandora’s box that will change the fabric of our society?

I have given this some really hard thought because normally I pride myself with the idea that I am no one’s stoogie and I won’t be influenced simply by billboards or someone’s opinion. So I decided to really dig into this and research the subject a bit to come up with an informed conclusion that makes me feel convinced about the decision I have to take.

So let me put forward the For and Against Divorce cases and then I tell you what my final decision is after my deep reflection.

The case for divorce

There is no doubt that people are suffering in difficult relationships that create a living hell everyday for themselves and for those around them. It is clear that the effect of daily conflicts between married couples on their children is devastating and highly destructive psychologically. Marriage is a challenging commitment and over time, yes, people do change… and what seemed everlasting love and happiness can turn into bitterness and even loathing. We are humans and our chemistry, our thinking, needs, desires. attractions and yes, even values can change over time.

Because of this it seems unfair that people are made to live in such a hell because of the whims of those who are lucky enough to have a good relationship. My value of freedom and liberty shouts out against those who want to impose any kind of decisions on others. In a democratic society where each individual’s right to freedom is acknowledged, laws that enchain people to each other seem to be a shocking incongruence. After all why should two people who have lost any sense of connection with each other be prevented from starting afresh a new life that promises new love and new stimulation?

As a person who values freedom I find myself uneasy at the thought of being in cahoots with laws that infringe the individual rights. And probably most people will agree that if we put the children’s needs at the fore of this debate, children certainly suffer in families that are torn by daily strife. And what about women who are beaten up, and men who are abused by words or action? What about those who genuinely feel that they need to move on in life and enter new pastures because whatever meaning their marriage gave them has flickered away into a natural death?

Are these people to continue suffering?

The Case against Divorce

So what is the case against divorce as I perceive it personally?

I believe that deep deep down people yearn for lasting connection with a person they love and feel loved by. If you ask around most people will probably tell you, if they are sincere, that given a choice they would prefer to have a stable relationship that provides deep fulfillment. And if you ask the children they will also probably tell you that they prefer to have a stable and loving family. But you might say….. yeh sure, most people would at some stage in their life want to meet with their soul mate. fall madly in love and settle down to live happily ever after, but the reality is that this could just be a pipe dream. By introducing divorce you can at least provide people with another chance.

True enough.

But what worries me most is the subtle shift in the psychological fabric of society that would occur if divorce were to be instituted. I feel that the stability of some families would be corroded and people going for the vows of wedding would now know, deep down in the deep recesses of their subconscious, that the sense of security and firmness of the words ’till death do us part’ are now a sham. Even if subtle and unconscious, this reality, I believe will influence some people into self-fulfilling prophesies as they may move into marriage with a nagging feeling that this might soon be over. You may say…. Reggie, get real! Look around you! Can’t you listen to the popping sounds of relationships as they burst into oblivion around you. True again…. but then, should we encourage it even more? Should we accept that the concept of creating lasting relationships is over because we have consciously chosen to introduce a structure of exit?

I am not a person who shines out as an example of spiritual enlightment or piety – believe me. I am a frail human with a clear attraction to worldly desires and I have my share amount of difficulties and struggles with these issues. I love excitement and trying out new things and freedom is important for me. Still, part of me does not feel comfortable with the idea of being responsible to devolve the importance of a life time marriage in society. One might say that divorce gives the opportunity for another marriage, but I believe it is never the same as the first one. Over the past weeks, I have talked to some friends of mine who have gone through the throes of separation and divorce in the past, and they tell me how painful it is, especially for the children who, if of a sensitive nature, never really come out of the disappointment, disillusionment or hope of a reunion. What is more, this behaviour of children has been described to me by one of my friends as a feeling that the parent’s marriage is somehow ‘holy’ in nature. In one case the son of my friend saw the partner of his wife in the house. The partner without even thinking put his cigarettes on the desk where his father used to work at home. The boy was so angry that the ‘holy’ place where his father used to sit had been infringed by this man that he went and threw away the cigarettes of the partner in the dustbin. One might argue that these things are happening everyday in Catholic Malta and separations are rampant and increasing everyday. True again, but again, should we continue to create even more official pathways of family erosion?

My Hero and Light in life.

As I said I am no guru and I cannot say I am a man of great faith or example, but there is a person who is a hero and a light in my life…. that is whenever I stop rushing after worldly successes and stimulations and give Him space to work on me.

Jesus, unlike me, never doubted or mixed issues. He was clear in his thinking and never minced words.

So the question I ask myself today is a simple one.

Do I choose to be a true Christian or shall I continue paying lip service to someone I do not truly believe in?

This is a difficult question for me. It is a big challenge to be a true Christian because I am weak in a lot of things and find that my intrinsic values can occasionally clash with Christ’s clear message.

But one thing I know for sure.

Deep down inside my soul ‘knows’ the Truth that He speaks of…. and because of this I have to try and put Him as my beacon of light in difficult matters such as these….. and I am sharing this with all of you so as to bear witness for Him openly (for once!)

So what does Jesus say on divorce? Does he mince words? Let’s have a look:

Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”³ “What did Moses command you?”he replied.⁴ They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”⁵ “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. ⁶ “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ⁷ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, ⁸ and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. ¹¹ He answered,“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. ¹² And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

–Mark 10:2-12

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‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery’ (Lk 16:18).

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Now I know what’s coming next. Someone will come up with the Gospel of Matthew and the famous ‘exceptive clause’ to argue that Jesus did acknowledge that divorce could be given in certain circumstances. When I heard this I was intrigued and decided to do some research. Let’s have a brief look at what I found.

‘But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity/fornication [porneia], causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery’ (Mt 5:32).

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‘Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife,except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (Mt 9, 1:13)

So is Jesus giving permission for divorce in cases of sexual immorality? We can never be 100% sure exactly what Jesus meant but we can always look at what the Bible scholars are saying.

Jack Mahoney (http://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20090825_1.htm) states that modern biblical scholarship has thrown valuable light on the apparent contradiction between the strong words in Mark and the exception clause in Matthew. The different gospels each provide a window onto the particular Christian community from which they emerged. It is agreed that St Matthew’s gospel is addressed at the early Jewish converts worried about the Judaism and Jewish practices they had left behind in becoming Christians. To understand the context of Matthew’s exception clause it is important to look into the word porneia.

Jack Mahoney states that the Greek word porneia (which is the basis of the English ‘pornography’, or writing about prostitutes) is found in two other passages in the New Testament, where it appears to have a much more specific meaning than ‘adultery’ or ‘fornication.’ One passage is in Paul’s first letter to his Corinthian converts (1 Cor 5:1), where he applies it to a case of ‘unheard of’ immorality (porneia) in the Christian community, in which a man has married his stepmother. Thus the term seems to refer not just to a sexual sin but to some special type of sexual relationship which contravened the Jewish law on marriage e.g. marrying a family member – in effect a situation where a marriage was never lawful in the first place. Matthew’s exception clause could be stating that in such situations where pagan converts to Christianity happened to be already in such unlawful marriages due to their previous pagan living they could be divorced through the exception clause.

Julian Freeman http://julianfreeman.ca/articles/divorce-exception-clauses-matthews-gospel also puts in the argument that Porneia could refer to illicit sexual activity during the time when Jewish couples were betrothed and ‘married’ but their marriage was not as yet physically consummated (as in the case of St.Joseph who spent a year ‘married’ to Mary but living separately and considered ‘divorcing’ her when news reached him she was pregnant with Jesus). Thus, the exception law could also be referring not to marriage as we know it but to the betrothed period when Jews were technically married but had not actually become ‘one body’ . In other words Jesus might have been referring not to marriages as we understand them today but to the unique situations brought about by Porneia.

If this is so the conclusion is, then, that Jesus was entirely consistent in his absolute rejection of divorce, without exception, invoking God’s ordinance at creation that ‘what God hath joined, let no man put asunder’.

So where does that leave me?

It leaves me with a stark choice on the 28 th May when I go to vote at the Referendum.

Should I vote according to my personal values of freedom, liberty, adventure and respect for the individual rights? Values I cherish and feel passionate about – values that make me feel whole and energized as a person? Should I help to provide people with a second chance to find new love and excitement, things which are a humane need and a powerful attraction for us all? Should I help to provide a new lease of stability and breath of fresh air for people who’s suffering I can feel and truly empathize with?

Or should I abide to my higher principles even if part of me feels uncomfortable …. even if part of me must die for the ideals of the Son of God who I admire?

The answer is now clear and unequivocal

I choose to adhere and be a witness to Jesus even if I fail him everyday in my daily transgressions. Even if my heart truly goes out for those who are suffering because I can understand their pain.

I will put Jesus’s teachings above my whims and on the 28th I will go and vote ‘NO’ for divorce.

I will vote NO because I believe that Jesus is the Way and the Light in a world that has a tendency to become lost in a race of momentary pleasure and without any sense of real direction. I have lived a life that looked only for personal pleasure, self-fulfillment, excitement and achievement. Nothing wrong with most of them but I also know that when I was closer to Christ I felt better inside. And if He says that divorce is not the way, then I will abide by His words, even if part of me hurts at reneging on my values. In this way my witness for Christ is even more powerful because I follow His advice not because it is convenient for me, but because I have chosen to put Him first.

So my decision is final. Period.

I am sorry if I disappointed people who think I am liberal in my thinking. I am still very liberal, fun loving and freedom seeking, but I was quite surprised to find that when the going got tough, I realized quite happily that Jesus comes before my personal values and although it pains me to think that some people will suffer in nasty relationships I believe that introducing divorce is not in the interest of the common good of humanity.

History and experiences of other countries shows this very clearly. I think the problem is not marriage but the lack of support there is to promote strong relationships. I know that I will receive a lot of flak from people who believe that divorce is a human right but my principles need to be honored and as I respect other people’s opinions so I expect others to respect mine and I will not be drawn into long discussions over the subject. What I had to say I have said.

One final important comment.

While I totally respect the opinion of both parties moving forward their arguments for or against the issue of divorce, I am quite disappointed by the way both of them have carried out this campaign. Why are we all madly rushing around the country plastering pictures of sad children and bloated faces of battered women to try and score a point? This seems manipulative and disrespectful for the intelligence of people. I am not here referring to people like Bishop Mario Grech who has led a courageous, relentless and passionate campaign against all odds. I am referring mostly to the glossy posters we see in the streets.

Again I would like to ask our society this question:

Are we focusing on problems or solutions?

Are we seeking a quick-fix solution or a long term solution?

What I would like to see is more EFFECTIVE and practical help in the preparation before I get married.

I want to have more support whenever my marriage is in crisis and at a stage before my marriage is beyond repair.

I want to see a combined effort by the Government and the Church to provide Marriage Experts and Coaches who GENUINELY want to help me if my marriage is in distress. (BTW Prosit to the President of Malta, Dr. G. Abela for the research he is doing on families as I think it can lead to some ideas on the way forward. I believe he is one of the few persons who are really doing something tangible and sensible in this whole scenario)

Let’s stop this war of attrition where both sides seem to be caught in a frenzy of competitive spirit. Let’s stick up Billboards that show us how we can find real help at an early stage to try and salvage marriages that are in the red.

Let’s focus on what we want and not on what we do not want!

Let’s all cry out for a system that focuses on positive psychology – not reaction to problems.

We are all Children of God and let us not judge one another. My testimonial is simply my belief and I am not trying to influence anyone. However I felt it was my duty to share my thoughts with all of you.

Next week the discussion will be over and whatever the result, life will go on for all of us with all the challenges each and every one of us must face….and we must learn to live together in harmony.

May God bless our beautiful Nation, heal the rifts between us, help all those who suffer and make us focus on what we are grateful for and what is positive and good in all of us.

STOP Procrastinating!!!

Do you have a tendency to procrastinate at times? Well, if you do you are not alone. Procrastination can be defined as deferring action and putting off doing things that your better judgment tells you should be done now. The fact is that many people do procrastinate to some degree – but some are so chronically affected that it disrupts their life. Such people may feel overwhelmed when faced with a challenging task. They prefer the misery of a non-productive state rather than the consequences of change and fear of subsequent failure. Given a new challenge, they may find it difficult to decide where to start from and will keep postponing the task, waiting for the “right” mood or the “right” time to tackle it. . Your attitude becomes similar to the ‘Free beer tomorrow’ signs in pub windows! You plan to do it tomorrow but tomorrow is always in the future. Of course, this is just a delaying tactic and it never works as you just keep delaying for ever. What happens is that as time goes by you may get caught up in a loop of ‘failures’ and this leads to a vicious circle that continues to reinforce your procrastination. If you are a procrastinator there is a possibility that you may also have a perfectionist trait. You may never be happy with your results and your List of To Dos may be endless. You may work as hard as other people but you just mismanage your time and invest it in the unimportant tasks. You may jump from one task to another without a clear understanding of what is urgent but not important, and what IS actually important. Perfectionist and sometimes even catastrophic thinking could run something like “I must get all this work done today or I’ll be a total failure. But there’s just so much work to do. I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow when I am feeling better and can do a better job.” Be aware of your actions or inactions. Do not let procrastination sweep a dark blanket over your Dream. Identify carefully how you are spending your time and do not waste the privilege that life gives you to make a difference – to live your true Life Purpose. Make sure that in your quest for meaning you do not end up trying to keep ‘busy’ and running frantic circles around urgent but unimportant things. If you find yourself procrastinating, ask yourself what the consequences are and if there are any hidden benefits that may be causing your behavior. You might feel that not cleaning up your garage is making you irritated because when you go in the garage you never manage to find the tool you need straight away. However the task may look daunting and watching TV could be more attractive. At the end you have to heighten your feelings of frustration to a level where you will not accept the garage looking a shambles.

So what are some things you can do to beat procrastination?

Manage your expectations: You may be expecting to do too much in the time you have available. Do not plan long endless lists because you are planning to fail. Chunk down your activities into manageable and reasonable chores. Write a list of the items you have to do but make a definite and reasonable maximum of chores per list e.g. 10 chores /activities a day. Try to time your activities and leave ample time space for any surprises. One thing I find with people who procrastinate is that they find it difficult to time how long it takes them to do an activity and normally they underestimate the amount of time it takes to do something. The outcome – impossible lists that are too long.
Start small: If you have several small items to do which are directly related to the work you need to carry out, do these first. Even though you may have some larger tasks left, psychologically it feels as if you have less to do when the list isn’t so long. It gives you a feeling that you have accomplished something. Just remember, it must be a task that is relevant to accomplishing your goal. Putting a new collection of stamps in your album may be a quick and easy task, but if what you really need to accomplish is to work on your thesis, you won’t be helping yourself!
Tackle difficult tasks first as you become more efficient: Although it’s good to initially tackle small items it might be a good idea to shift the system as you start beating procrastination. As soon as you start being more in control start tackling the big and important rocks first thing in your day first. This ensures that the activities you really need to do are done immediately, especially those that may be unattractive to do. In other words- eat that frog!
Focus only on your immediate goal. Put your focus fully on the task at hand and do not get distracted. Just become one with the task you are doing and put all your energy in finishing it with a clear attention to the activity. Do not jump from one activity to another. Finish what you started, take a small break and then move on to something else.
Just do it! Next time you catch yourself saying, “I can do this later”, think Nike. Just do it! Push on through the feelings and do it now. If you find yourself dragging your feet to do it, just say to yourself ‘I will do this for 10 minutes and then I will stop if I want to’. Then start for 10 minutes – you will probably continue. The feeling you get when you finish will be so much better than any relief you get from putting it off.
Pump it up! Choosing a particular music track to do a challenging activity can be a booster. The track should ideally be suited to the activity you are doing e.g. if you are doing an activity that requires energy and physical movement you can do an upbeat trek that powers your movement.
Mark it off. When you have accomplished a task, mark it out on your list with a pen. It gives you visual confirmation that you are progressing and this gives you a psychological boost.
Reward yourself when you manage to keep to schedule. Not only will this be a booster to help you deliver but knowing that you have finished your tasks will also make it easier to relax and enjoy your leisure time.

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The Dragonfly Story

Death remains the ultimate mystery.

We have no positive proof that anyone ever came back from the dead to tell the story of what awaits us after this life. You might refer to the Resurrection of Christ if you are a Believer and there are also the ever increasing reports of Near Death Experiences that continuously gain more credibility as study after study fails to disprove the possibility that consciousness remains beyond physical existence.

But in the end it is up to you to believe or disbelieve in life after death… and this is my statement that I truly believe that we do survive death… and that life on earth is a journey that provides us with opportunities to develop ourselves and to experience the beauty of life.

Today, one of my Coaching Clients was telling me how much she misses her mother who passed away a few years.

The client was very close to her mum and so I thought I would dedicate a post to her. My client is a very brave lady in spite of some challenges in life and I wanted to write this as a reminder that death is not the final word in the chapter of Being and existence. I am sure many of you know the story but it’s worth revisiting:

The Dragonfly Story

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in awhile one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.

“Look!” said one of the water bugs to another. “one of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?” Up, up, up it slowly went….Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn’t return…

“That’s funny!” said one water bug to another. “Wasn’t she happy here?” asked a second… “Where do you suppose she went?” wondered a third.

No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled. Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together. “I have an idea”. “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why.”

“We promise”, they said solemnly.

One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up, he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broke through the surface of the water and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.

When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn’t believe what he saw. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings…The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly!!

Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before.

The dragonfly remembered the promise: “the next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why.” Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water…

“I can’t return!” he said in dismay. “At least, I tried. But I can’t keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I’ll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they’ll understand what has happened to me, and where I went.”

And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air…….

Thank you God, for the story of the water bugs and the dragonflies.

Remember that your dear relatives who have passed on to a better life may be nearer to you than you realize!

Living Moments of Gratitude

It’s incredible what feelings an elderly man burdened by a lot of pressures from the world media can generate.

Pope Benedict is in Malta – and although initially there was a feeling that the welcome would be lukewarm, the Maltese have risen once again to embrace the spirituality that gives meaning in life.

Although it may seem incomprehensible for some people, the energy generated by the pope… the feelings of love, compassion, excitement respect and enthusiasm shown by the children and the people is just incredible.

The pressure on the pope related to the issue of paedophile scandals is enormous and it must really be a big burden. No one can ever justify such bad behavior by people who should be protecting the innocent – and it is not right that certain authorities tried to hide this.

I think as Christians we should be humble enough to accept that we make mistakes like everyone, and maybe the Catholic Church has an opportunity to look with humility and understand what is happening, what are the signs of the times and what can be done to prevent this…..

Having said this…

I think that even the perpetrators of these acts are humans who need help, even if the act itself was horrible… and we must be careful not to judge the people themselves, but the acts they do, even if they still should pay for the consequences.

Let us also remember with gratitude the great work that the Catholic Church does around the world… the many missionary charities like Mother Theresa’s, the help done in silence by priests, brothers and laymen in Church institutions……

Let’s learn to look at and celebrate what is beautiful, what is good, what gives sustenance and hope to Man’s Spirit.

The reality is that the priests of the Church are humans with good intentions but also with their fragility, and the Media, being what it is focuses only on what’s wrong. And it could be argued that this is the Media’s job, but unfortunately the many good deeds done are rarely recorded… we only want to know what shocks us.

The good news today was that the Pope did meet with the victims of paedophile abuse in Malta and it was a very moving and healing experience as expressed by one of the victims afterwards.

This is the beauty of reconciliation and healing of wounds and it is something that can only happen if we as humans are humble and do not play God by trying to judge people, even if the actions are wrong. We have to be careful not to be cynical by looking at what is negative only.

So, let’s make sure that we address ALL mistakes and acknowledge the damage done to people who suffered because of these scandals.

The victims of paedophile abuse did not deserve this suffering and they were victims who suffered because of the mistakes of others. We must make these people feel that their pain is real and that we acknowledge this and open our arms to love them for their suffering.

But let us also celebrate feel gratitude and acknowledge the beauty of good works that the Church has done over the years and is still doing EVERYDAY in spite of its mistakes.

May God bless everyone and provide us with a structure such as the Church and other genuine Spiritual movements or Religions who provide us with hope, love, connection and compassion for each other…..

And to my Maltese brothers and sisters…. enjoy the moment and enthusiasm of the Pope’s visit and let’s look at how we can connect and live in harmony together.

Let’s make this experience a lasting expression of a small nation with a big heart.

I had to show you this! :)))

Ok! Ok!

It’s not my usual blog stuff but after seeing this I decided to create a Trivia & Laughter section in my blog- just for things like this! After all Laughter is the best medicine!

Enjoy it guys!

The following questions were reputedly set in last year’s GCSE examination in Swindon, Wiltshire (U.K. )

These are genuine answers (from 16 year olds)………..

Q. Name the four seasons
A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar

Q. How is dew formed
A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire

Q. What causes the tides in the oceans
A. The tides are a fight between the earth and the moon. All water tends
to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and
nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins the fight

Q. In a democratic society, how important are elections
A. Very important. Sex can only happen when a male gets an election

Q. How can you delay milk turning sour
A. Keep it in the cow
(Simple, but brilliant)

Q. How are the main 20 parts of the body categorised (e.g. The abdomen)
A. The body is consisted into 3 parts – the brainium, the borax and the
abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the
heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels: A, E,
I, O and U
(What the *!!*???)

Q. What is the fibula?
A. A small lie

Q. What does ‘varicose’ mean?
A. Nearby

Q. Give the meaning of the term ‘Caesarean section’
A. The caesarean section is a district in Rome

Q. What is a seizure?
A. A Roman Emperor. (Julius Seizure, I came, I saw, I had a fit)

Q. What is a terminal illness
A. When you are sick at the airport. (Irrefutable)

Q. What does the word ‘benign’ mean?
A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight

Q. What is a turbine?
A. Something an Arab or Shreik wears on his head

Are these the leaders of the future???

The Power of Gratitude in our lives

As we rush through life I realize how much we may tend to miss out.

Our daily struggles with schedules and achievements may at times deviate us from the powerful reality of the ‘here and now’ – and the things that are really important in our life.

Over the past three weeks I had the opportunity to spend some time out from my normal work and I realized how such time can truly re-create your spirit.

I managed to connect once more with my wife and children and I lived the moments of tucking in my son to bed, kissing him on the cheek and listening to the smart comments he constantly makes!

I also took my daughter and family out to dinner for my daughter’s 18th birthday to a Chinese restaurant that we had never gone to and we truly enjoyed it. Most importantly I made some quality time Coaching my other son about the issues and challenges facing a young 13 year old who is struggling to find his place in life.

It’s not that I normally do not do these things. I do enjoy going out to dinners with my family and my schedule is quite a maddening rush at times.

But when you actually stop and SAVOR each moment in full awareness of what you are doing – the difference is truly remarkable.

And I realized just how important it is for us to have a sense of GRATITUDE.

Gratitude for the life we already enjoy and for the small things that we may not connect with.

Gratitude for the ability to be self-aware and to really experience life like no other creature on earth can.

Gratitude for our family, for the work that provides our living standard, for our friends, for the little butterfly that flies around a beautiful flower, for the noise of children playing in the park …. for so many small things we take for granted everyday.

Why is Gratitude important?

Gratitude makes us aware of the Abundance that the Universe continuously sustains us with.

It makes us more aware of life itself, of each moment that we experience and of each blessing that we enjoy.

Gratitude also opens us up to receive even more blessings. The more we are grateful the more we tap our inner resources and the more we attract new opportunities.

The more we are grateful the more we influence those around us positively and in turn this will rebound back to us.

So make a resolution for the year 2010 – practice being grateful for all the small and big things that you enjoy in life.

Blessings to all!

The beauty of Values – Happy Christmas and Happy New Year!

This Christmas helped me to remember just how beautiful the individual Values of people and societies are.

Here in Malta we traditionally like to keep Christmas as a Family Value.

We go out to evening Mass, and then meet at someone’s house to have Dinner together and just enjoy the company of people we normally do not meet with so regularly.

On Christmas day it is normally more food again! This time possibly at your parent’s house where you get to meet all the family members and you spend time together in a relaxed manner and then watch the excitement of the kids as they open their presents.

The spirit that Christmas creates is something beyond description and it makes you just want to relax with your family and watch Scrooge and Christmassy videos while warming yourself in the cosiness of your living room.

Christmas provides an opportunity for people to manifest their Values of peace, connection and solidarity they yearn to live.

I wish everyone a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND AN GREAT NEW YEAR.

May God bless us all…. everyone of us!

Insight Zone

Christ is the True Way- my realization after dabbling with New Age