Monday. July. 25th. 2011

Happy Monday!!!

I would like give a very special Thank You to the New London Water Days committee for such a warm and friendly welcome. We had such a wonderful time participating in the Water Days parade.

We are in for a busy week again! 

We are still working on the pathways for the Fountains of Hope. Please watch for upcoming information. And watch for the pathway progress at the Fountains of Hope in Spicer (next to the DQ).

Thursday July 28 from 6-8 pm at Melvins on the Lake in Spicer, MN

Come celebrate a Night Out on the Town with Wings of Hope! We will have vendors for you to visit with including Tastefully Simple, Avon, Ali J boutique, The New U plus many others! Please join us for this fun filled evening.

 August 14, 2011. 

We are very proud and excited to have our Grand Opening for the Fountains of Hope! There will be food, fun and games for the whole family. Please watch for more details to come!!

September 24, 2011. 

Join us for Out of the Dark walk at Robin’s Island in Willmar, MN. Start time is 10 am. We welcome you to join out team, donate money to the cause or just come cheer us on! The proceeds benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).              

~Stacy.

 While there's life, there's hope. ~Cicero 

Why Now?

The first answer that comes to mind is another question... Why Not? Should you stop doing something just because you are being questioned on your timing or what inspired you to start in the first place?

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 w/ Pastor Paul

Ever done the right thing, but it turned out to be at the wrong time? Even the right thing at the wrong time will probably not have the desired effect. Ever needed to tell a friend something, but should have waited for a better time? In life timing can be everything – the difference between failure and success, or greater success.

Businesses time their news releases for maximum effect to positively impact stock value. Politicians hold press conferences at the optimum time to make the evening’s national news. The nervous teen agonizes over the best time to ask that special girl on a date. A hopeful suitor carefully plans the words, place, and time to “pop the question” to his prospective bride.

It is always a good time to open our hearts to Jesus Christ. We will never be too good; we can never be too bad; we will never do so too soon, nor have waited too long. This generation, needs men and women with a loyal and intimate relationship with God, a working knowledge of God’s Word, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit to understand our times and know what God would have done! The question for each of our hearts is: “Are we willing to be one of those?”

For those interested in receiving Pastor Paul's messages, please e-mail Pastor Paul (pastorpaul@willmarag.org) and mention you would like to be included.

Why Now? As I think about the question more, I find that it IS all about the timing. "Now" is a equal and opposite reaction to an action. It's a consequence or better yet a reflex to an act(s) that will affect the lives of others and cause a ripple effect of positive change. Whether big or small, organized or unorganized, we all can make a difference. We just have to want to.

Our prayer for this week is that we learn the times and seasons of life, and live wisely.~ Amen

Sara Lester
Wings of Hope

Worth.

Imagine this:  A two-year old girl falls down a well and is in danger of drowning.  Without hesitation, the community invests incredible amounts of time, effort, and money into saving this young girl.  And fortunately for everyone involved, they do.  But why would they do this?  Why would they save this baby girl, who has done nothing of note, contributed nothing to society?  I mean, she has no money, she is often self-centered and naughty, and she doesn’t have many friends or loved ones besides her immediate family.  So why would people care about her well-being?

As you well know, it is because this two-year old girl, this loveable toddler, has unconditional human worth.  Regardless of her age, her status, or her contribution to society, this tiny little person has worth, and she is just as precious as any other person on this earth.  Perhaps she has not done much of “worth” in her two years, but she certainly has worth as a human being.  Regardless of who she is, she has a core-self, and that core is worthy of love, respect, and positive regard.  Just as everyone’s is. 

…As it is defined by psychologists, self- or core-worth means that all people are indeed equal.  It means that we are equal because we are human.  This kind of value or worth is not comparable.  It is not competitive.  And it is not conditional.  The worth or value of a person does not need to be earned, nor does it need to be proved.  It just exists.  It always has, and it always will, so long as this person is human.  And as long as they are human, their worth needs to be recognized, appreciated, and accepted. 

So, if it so easy to answer such questions about saving a two-year old girl, to see her value as a person, I wonder why so many people do not value themselves in such a way.  I wonder why so many people do not have self-worth, or question their value, even while they recognize the value of others.  Why they might think that because they may not fit a certain mold, that they are not as worthy as those who do.  I wonder why people are so hard on themselves when they make mistakes, when something does not go as they had hoped, or when people treat them poorly.  Too, I wonder why some people assign more or less value to a person because of what they do or do not have, how they do or do not behave, the mold that they do or do not fit.

…Quite often, we allow ourselves and others to be defined by externals: by successes and achievements, families and friends, abilities and appearances, social status, material belongings, and the perception of other people.  Of course, externals may influence many parts of our lives.  They may impact our thoughts, our feelings, or our behaviors, and they may influence how we relate to others and the world that we are surrounded by.  They may influence how we experience our worth, but they do not change our value in and of itself.   

So what happens when such things do influence our core worth?  What happens when we allow external factors to define or equate who we are, be it for better or for worse? When we undervalue ourselves, and overvalue our surroundings?

When this happens, when our core value is based on something extrinsic rather than intrinsic, we become unstable, conditional, and undervalued.  This happens because we have allowed something outside of ourselves to trump the internal, most true parts of ourselves.  We then lose sight of our core essence, of who we are and the beauty within us.  We lose our authenticity and our security. 

…When worth is separate from externals, however, we experience life much differently.  All of a sudden, we are much more resilient, much more stable, objective, and reasonable.  Our perspective transforms and our thoughts and feelings become more positive.  We are able to distinguish feelings about events from feelings about ourselves.  We are kinder to ourselves, more patient, rational, compassionate, and loving.  When we separate our worth from externals, we experience both ourselves and our world much more openly.

And so, my precious birds, look within yourselves and see your worth.  Embrace your human core and the essence of who you are.  Appreciate that which you are surrounded by and have gratitude, but do not measure your worth by these things.  Instead, hold them tightly to your heart and revel instead in the beauty that is uniquely you.  Remember that your core, your worth, is whole and complete, but it is not completed.  That you are an ever-changing work of art of immeasurable value to the world, to your loved ones, and to yourself. 

Happy Monday!

Here is you what’s happening at Wings of Hope!

· July 18, 2011. We are picking rocks out at the Duininck Gravel pit at 6 pm for our cobble stone pathway at the Fountains of Hope. The pit is located on Co. Rd 9 near Eagle lake. Come join us if you can! Make sure to bring plenty of water to drink as it will be a hot evening!

· July 20, 2011. We will be planting trees donated from Green Lake Nursery at the Fountains of Hope in Spicer, MN at 6 pm. Plus doing a little sprucing to the landscaping. We are very excited to announce that channel 8 news will be filming footage for their Community Happenings broadcast while we are there!! Please join us if you can!

· July 23, 2011. We are will be in the New London Water Days parade. The parade starts at 11 am in New London, MN. We would love to see you there!!

· July 28, 2011. We are hosting a Night on the Town with Wings of Hope. We invite you to join us at Melvin’s on the Lake from 6-8 pm. We will have vendors for you to visit with including Tastefully Simple, Avon, Ali J boutique, and The New U! Please join us for this fun filled evening.

· August 14, 2011. We are very proud and excited to have our Grand Opening for the Fountains of Hope! There will be food, fun and games for the whole family. Please watch for more details to come!!

· September 24, 2011. Join us for Out of the Dark walk at Robin’s Island in Willmar, MN. Start time is 10 am. We welcome you to join out team, donate money to the cause or just come cheer us on! The proceeds benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Please continue to watch for more upcoming events. We appreciate your support!!

~Stacy
Wings of Hope

Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve

Different is Good

As many of you may know, I work with clients as a life and wellness coach at a wellness center in Willmar. 

…This week, a new client walked through my door that really stood out to me.  She was one of those people that is hard to miss, both because of her appearance and her out-going personality.  She is sweet, has a great sense of humor, and has the capacity to be incredibly sensitive.  After talking for only a few minutes, we found ourselves laughing along with one another while also discussing several heavy topics that are normally not so laughable.  At one point during our session she said to me, “I know this isn’t funny.  But if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry.”

And that was how our session continued.  This woman shared many details that I found positively heartbreaking.  It was not because her life had been traumatic, tragic, or defeating in any way.  Rather, it was because there were so many aspects of her life, some even minute that had compounded on one another to create the life-consuming problem that she had come to see me for.  She had so many issues that had been going on for many, many years and they had finally caught up with her, slowing her down and making it quite difficult for her to function as a healthy individual.

What exactly was it that moved me, if she made no mention of catastrophe, crisis, or disaster? 

I was moved by the courage she displayed when she walked through my door.  To finally take her life into her own hands.  To ask for help.  I was moved by her willingness to face uncertainty dead on and try to do something differently.  By the insight and awareness she displayed when she finally realized that her problem had gone on too long.  That it was too big for her to handle alone.  That in order for her to live life happily, she must take control and make a change.     

As many of us know, this is no easy thing to do.  It is not easy to live life staring such problems in the face every morning.  Nor is it easy to make a change.  When we have been doing things “our way” for so long, it is difficult to relinquish that perception of control, to ask for help, and to imagine doing something differently, much less knowing what to do differently and actually doing it.

…Change can be hard.  Change can be scary.  Change can be confusing.  And sometimes, change is none of these things and it is just different.  Regardless of what change feels like, though, it is quite often necessary.  It is necessary in life because change leads to progression.  To growth.  To the betterment of one’s self and one’s life. 

Just as my client had recently learned, the journey of life does not happen in our comfort zone.  There are times in our lives that we must venture out to unknown territory and test our limits.  There are times in our lives that we must be uncomfortable.  For it is these times that we learn what we are made of, discovering who we really are and what incredible feats we are capable of. 

Spread your wings a bit higher today, my fearless birds, and do something differently today.  Remember that you would have never learned to fly had you never made a change. 

Ellie Otteson

Wings of Hope

journey. it is long...but so very short.

....as you journey through life choose your destination wisely  ---- but don't hurry there.  

you will arrive soon enough.  

wander the back roads, the forgotten paths, the unknown ways,  as you keep your dreams in your heart as the light that guides you.  

seek out new voices, strange sights and bold ideas.  

such things are rich for the soul. 

....if upon your arrival you find your destination is not exactly as you dreamed it would be, don't be disappointed - think of all you would have missed if not for the journey there.  

know that the true worth of your travels lies not just in 

where you come to be, but in who you became along the way. 

-written by linda stanton

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

who we become along the way...
that is so huge.
who we become along the way...


a couple years ago - very soon after making some very poor decisions in my life someone wrote THIS on their FACEBOOK page.
and my heart KNEW it was just for me.

i had heard it a MILLION times.

read it often

i had quoted it MYSELF..... 

however.  

due to CERTAIN circumstances at that moment in my life.....this was a HUGE REMINDER - and it really MEANT something.  

light. bulb. moment.

i think we just need to know that really, without doubt. we are perfect in every way.
EXACTLY
where we are at.
....the VERY MOMENT we are there.
no matter WHERE everyone else is at the very same time.

in the last couple years....
i have made decisions - lots of them that were not all necessarily aligned with WHO i am.
...and guess what  - finally - i have realized,  that is alright.
it is more than alright - it is perfect....
in every SINGLE way.

creating ourselves is a VERY beautiful thing.
with every RIGHT decision - or quote, unquote - "WRONG" decision - not to mention - EVERY typical decision in between,,,
we are painting the canvas of our lives.
a MASTERPIECE.
 a story.
whether it be moments of tragedy.  or beauty. mystery. simplicity. or just plain boring.
it is all necessary to get to where we are going.
ya know?

last night i attended a sweet little party.
so many different walks of life where there.
80 years old down to....the youngest in the room - perhaps 30?
that is a 50 year time span!!!
50 YEARS.
yet.
we all laughed...and appreciated every minute together.
i took a moment to look around at the wealth of experience.
from the woman that could not have ice in her drink due to health reasons in her old age, to the mama sitting on the leather recliner nursing her first tiny baby.
yet.
each one of them, inside....feels the same.
wanting to hold on to dreams, life, full of anticipation of what is to come.

no matter what -
we ALL continue to CREATE OURSELVES - at ANY and EVERY age.
so as you take your adventure forward in this life.
keep in mind.
YOU are your very own artist, .
a canvas is in your hands at EVERY moment.

MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL.
add every color you desire.
over and over and over again.
i know you can.
i know you will.

no matter where you are at on your journey.
enjoy.
create.
live.
and really try to LOVE every single step.

xoxo, 

angela

Please hear what I'm not saying...

Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear
for I wear a mask, a thousand masks,
masks that I'm afraid to take off,
and none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that's second nature with me,
but don't be fooled,
for God's sake don't be fooled.
I give you the impression that I'm secure,
that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well
as without, that confidence is my name and coolness my game,
that the water's calm and I'm in command
and that I need no one,
but don't believe me.

My surface may seem smooth but my surface is my mask,
ever-varying and ever-concealing.
Beneath lies no complacence.
Beneath lies confusion, and fear, and aloneness.
But I hide this. I don't want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weakness exposed.

That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind,
a nonchalant sophisticated facade,
to help me pretend,
to shield me from the glance that knows.

But I don't tell you this. I don't dare to, I'm afraid to.
I'm afraid your glance will not be followed by acceptance,
will not be followed by love.
I'm afraid you'll think less of me,
that you'll laugh, and your laugh would kill me.
I'm afraid that deep-down I'm nothing
and that you will see this and reject me.

So I play my game, my desperate pretending game,
with a facade of assurance without
and a trembling child within.

So begins the glittering but empty parade of masks,
and my life becomes a front.
I idly chatter to you in the suave tones of surface talk.
I tell you everything that's really nothing,
and nothing of what's everything,
of what's crying within me.

So when I'm going through my routine
do not be fooled by what I'm saying.
Please listen carefully and try to hear what I'm not saying,
what I'd like to be able to say,
what for survival I need to say,
but what I can't say.

I don't like hiding.
I don't like playing superficial phony games.
I want to stop playing them.
I want to be genuine and spontaneous and me.

Do not pass me by.
It will not be easy for you.
A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.
The nearer you approach to me
the blinder I may strike back.
It's irrational, but despite what the books say about man
often I am irrational.

Who am I, you may wonder?
I am someone you know very well.

~Charles C. Finn

Psalm 94: 18-19~When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Sara Lester
Wings of Hope