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The above
photo is D003 141010 7463 from my primary pictures of the week page.
It was used on October 16, 2014.
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The following
are basically the words from Peace Pilgrim's Steps Toward Inner Peace
booklet. They are found under the heading The Freedom Of Simplicity
toward the back of the booklet. For some time I read them every Sabbath
morning. Then one morning I changed the first person text, where she is telling
us what she does, or believes, to a third person text, as if she were teaching
the basics to me, or you. In the large print edition I use they are on page
55. The first line on the page is actually the last line of the On Fear
topic from the previous page. Here is how I read it:
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"How much this world needs the message and example
of love and faith!"
. . . . know the freedom of simplicity. Know enough
about food to nourish your body properly, and have excellent
health. Enjoy food, but eat to live. Do not live to eat, and know when
to stop eating. Be not enslaved by food. Choose clothes
that are most comfortable as well as most practical. Be
not enslaved by fashion. Be not a slave to comfort and convenience.
Be not burdened by unnecessary possessions or meaningless activities.
Your life can be full and good, but not overcrowded, and
you can do your work easily and joyously. Feel beauty
all around you and see beauty in everyone you meet
— see God in everything. Recognize the laws which govern this universe,
and find harmony through gladly and joyously obeying them. Recognize
your part in the Life Pattern, and find harmony through gladly
and joyously living it. Recognize your oneness with all mankind
and your oneness with God. Let your happiness overflow
in loving and giving toward everyone and everything.
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In the above paraphrasing of her text, the italicized words are where I made
the changes. Occasionally, all I needed to do was eliminate a word or two.
I still read portions of it daily or on the Sabbath, but rather than just
a description of her life, it calls me to a greater simplicity, and freedom,
in my life.
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I also recently added some items to my daily reading from
her "Thoughts" section. A number of these were already being displayed in
the original pages here. But, I
thought I would share them anyway on this new opening page. The first paragraph
is a combination of three* related thoughts on page 39. The last are from
pages 40-41.
*Nothing threatens
those who do God's will, and God's will is love and faith. Those who
feel hate and fear are out of harmony with God's will and are likely
to have difficulties. *All difficulties in your life have a purpose.
They are pushing you toward harmony with God's will. *There is always
a way to do right!
Judging others will avail you nothing and
injure you spiritually. Only if you can inspire others to judge
themselves will anything worthwhile have been accomplished.
Never think of any right effort as being
fruitless
— all right effort bears good fruit, whether we see results or not.
Just concentrate on thinking and living and acting for peace, and inspiring
others to do likewise, leaving results in God's hands.
You cannot change anyone except yourself.
After you have become an example, you can inspire others to change
themselves.
I talk about spiritual truth, and spiritual
truth should never be sold — those who sell it injure themselves spiritually.
The money that comes in the mail — without being solicited
— I do not use for myself; I use it for printing and postage. Those
who attempt to buy spiritual truth are trying to get it before they
are ready. In this wonderfully well-ordered universe, when they are
ready, it will be given.
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