community | Carmela Snelbaker

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Stop Breathe and Listen

Posted at 6:51 AM by carmelasnelbaker

Nov 6th

It is customary to focus on the breath in yoga, training the mind to quiet the daily chaos and focus on the internal breath that sustains life. Not only does it calm the senses but also focuses the mind and opens our heart to messages of Divine Wisdom and Understanding.

Wide awake or sleeping we don’t think about breathing it happens automatically. Each day we breathe about 20,000 times.

When we practice mindfulness with each breath we become aware of the common link in all humanity. Without breath we cannot live.When we stop to focus on the breath we can quiet the busy thoughts in our minds that cause anxiety, worry, fear and hate. Until we quiet “self” we cannot hear “Divine”.

Job 32:8“But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding”.

John 15:5 ⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Another common part of a yoga practice is the Tree Pose. I find it fascinating that within the human respiratory system the bronchial tree is significant to the breathing process. The Bronchi themselves branch many times into smaller airways. The airways resemble an upside down tree.

Much like the bible verse states the branches of the bronchial tree cannot survive without the “trachea vine”, and without breath we would not have life.

Although our minds may continue trying to make us focus on human differences if we choose to stop the thoughts, concentrate on the breath and listen to the Spirit within us. Our thoughts can turn from negative “selfish thoughts” to positive “Divine inspiration”.

With Respect, Hope, Joy and Love,

Carmela

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-0EgzOWkvc

Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged #blog4peace, #Life, #liveinpeace, #LivingInPeace, #loveoneanother, Blog, blogger, blogs, breath, Christianity, community, divine guidance, Divine Love, faith, finding inner peace, focus on the breath, inspiration, Just Breathe, love, peace, technology, Truth, unity, yoga

Celebrate Differences

Posted at 7:49 PM by carmelasnelbaker

Jul 30th

Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Each one of us is totally unique. As I am writing this I am remembering a pair of silly socks one of my children had growing up. It had a little stick figure hanging upside down with the quote “Normal Is Boaring”, and I truly believe the world is certainly a more beautiful place because of our differences.

Why then are there so many people who spend so much time and energy forming “hate groups” showing great animosity, hostility, and malice against people who act differently, or believe differently than they do? I can’t help but wonder what is behind that? Could it be because they are that insecure in their own lives that they fear differences are contagious? Do they think that living beside someone who believes or acts differently then they do, may cause them to one day wake up mysteriously acting like and following the beliefs of their neighbors? Or are they so inclined to influence and rule the lives of their children and grandchildren that they feel the need to make everyone else in the world act and believe as they do so there is never a possibility that their child will ever stray from what they feel is the proper way of life?

I sometimes like to ponder things such as this in other areas of our lives to get a different view. I live near the Amish community. I often will park near the buggy hitch and go over and pet the horses and talk with the Amish individuals. One day as I was talking to a friend we began to wonder, when they all meet and go to church do they ever come out and take the wrong buggy home? What if the world we live in required that we all drive exactly the same vehicle? I truly do not think I would do well with this. I recently was driving a white rental vehicle. My day was quite busy and a little stressful. I came out of the store and tried to get into two wrong vehicles before I finally found the one I came in!

What if we all had to where the same outfit, or if we wanted a pet and the only pet we could get was a Black Labrador? I choose to believe that we all were created with beautiful unique qualities, physical abilities, and likes and dislikes. We need to celebrate our differences and learn to accept and respect each other.

Most certainly the world would be a better place if we all began understanding each other. We need to move beyond simple tolerance and embrace and celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

With respect, hope, joy, and love,

Carmela

Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged Amish, Christianity, community, diversity. uniqueness, God, hope, joy, love, Pennsylvania, people, Religion and Spirituality, respect, understanding, United States