The Growth Champ

02/11/2026

We are stewards, not just of money, but of our time, resources, and abilities.

01/11/2026

“Transfigured into eternal form, the dead cannot reverse the journey and even for one second re-enter their old form to linger with us a while. Though they cannot reappear, they continue to be near us and part of the healing of grief is the refinement of our hearts whereby we come to sense their loving nearness.”

The dead are not distant or absent. They are alongside us. When we lose someone to death, we lose their physical image and presence, they slip out of visible form into invisible presence. This alteration of form is the reason we cannot see the dead. But because we cannot see them does not mean that they are not there. Transfigured into eternal form, the dead cannot reverse the journey and even for one second re-enter their old form to linger with us a while. Though they cannot reappear, they continue to be near us and part of the healing of grief is the refinement of our hearts whereby we come to sense their loving nearness. When we ourselves enter the eternal world and come to see our lives on earth in full view, we may be surprised at the immense assistance and support with which our departed loved ones have accompanied every moment of our lives. In their new, transfigured presence their compassion, understanding and love take on a divine depth, enabling them to become secret angels guiding and sheltering the unfolding of our destiny.

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Excerpt from his books, Beauty: The Invisible Embrace (US) / Divine Beauty (Europe)
Ordering Info: https://johnodonohue.com/store

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland
Photo: © Ann Cahill

29/10/2026

"The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them."
~ Thomas Merton

Love is vast, inclusive, respectful, and expansive. Love always welcomes and honors the independent expression of our humanity. It accepts our vulnerability. It cherishes authenticity. It acknowledges our many contradictions - both the light and darkness in each of us, but chooses to love anyway.

LOVE THRIVES WHEN THERE IS FREEDOM. There is an unbreakable connection between love and freedom. True love does not restrict but trusts. It is not insecure.

So, choose to be mindful, reflective, and intentional in showing and verbally expressing your love. Love the people in your life for who they are and not for who they are to you. Love them for their own good and not for the good you get out of them. And the foundation for all of this is loving yourself unconditionally because you cannot give what you do not have.

28/10/2026

You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ~ Maya Angelou

26/10/2026

You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back. ~ Barbara De Angelis

Don’t forget to love yourself first.💗🤗

25/10/2026

Loving speech is an act of generosity. When we are motivated by loving kindness, we can bring happiness to many others through our kind words. When we have a lot of pain, it is difficult to speak lovingly, so it is important to look deeply into the nature of our anger, despair, and suffering in order to be free of it. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

23/10/2026

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.

Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. ~ Marie Curie

22/10/2026

20/10/2026

The Five Remembrances in Buddhism

1. I am of the nature to grow old.
There is no way to escape growing old. (Aging)

2. I am of the nature to have ill health.
There is no way to escape having ill health. (Dis-ease)

3. I am of the nature to die.
There is no way to escape death. (Mortality)

4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change.
There is no way to escape being separated from them. (Separation from loved ones)

5. My actions are my only true belongings.
I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand. (Our actions [karma] as our true legacy)

12/10/2026

To hold the mind still is an enormous discipline, one which must be faced with the greatest commitment of your life. ~ Garry Shandling