Emerging Courageous Newsletter 77
Marilyn Dixon Pfanstiel, Editor
Oct. 2, 2005
Today's Message: Memorable
Bonjour!!! I've just returned from two weeks in France.
Two other artist friends and I went joined a bus tour through the country.
We started at Paris, then down to Beaune, Lyon, Avignon, Nice, Monte Carlo,
Cannes, Nimes, Carcassonne, Lourdes, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Dordogne Valley, Tours,
Mont St. Michel, Omaha Beach, Giverny in Monet's Gardens, and back to Paris for
the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay. As you can see, we covered a lot of territory but
each day was more intriging than the previous one.
We saw many cathedrals along our trip and I was amazed with the magnificant structures, ornate architecture and beautiful sculptures and paintings. Not being Catholic, I was unaccustomed to this style facility for worship. However, something happened when I went to Lourdes. Before we arrived, our guide refreshed our memory about the history of Lourdes. She reminded us about a 14 year old girl, Bernadette, who saw the apparition of the virgin Mary in the grotto. She told her friends and then other townspeople who also witnessed the appearance over many days. After 14 appearances, Bernadette knelt down and began digging with her hands in the soil. Soon water appeared and an unending supply of water has been forthcoming ever since. Many people come on pilgrimages there to drink and use the healing waters.
I was shocked to see the waters coming from spigots instead of pouring
over the rocks as I had anticipated. But after washing my face and splashing the
waters over my head, I uttered a prayer to release me of my afflictions: my
bi/polar, my panic attacks, my tremor, my mini seizures, my irregular brain
waves and whatever they cause, my chronic bronchitis that I've had since
childhood...As I entered the grotto, I sensed a presence there and as it filled
my very being, I began silently sobbing. Tears streamed from my eyes, as a peace
overcame me. I slowly moved to light a candle and continue my prayers. I felt at
peace. I knew everything would be okay. This moving experience will be forever
etched in my mind.
Marilyn Dixon Pfanstiel
Thought for Today: Sometimes when things take longer than you thought they
would, it's just a gentle reminder, that you have more time than you thought,
and that there's a journey to enjoy...Yeah, like all the time in the world. TUT
"What do you want out of life?"
Josh Hinds, in his recent newsletter, asked the question "What do you
want out of life?" He was amazed that few people knew what they wanted.
Think about that question for a while if you haven't done so recently. Then
decide what you want out of life and go and get it. Make it happen. You will be
amazed at the direction your life will take when you have focus.
Inspirational woman "No Arms" - Click Here To Download This Clip
Bonsoir. Marilyn Dixon Pfanstiel
[email protected]
www.emergingcourageous.com
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