The Path of Love
Sunday, February 21st
The subject tonight is Love
And for tomorrow night as well,
As a matter of fact
I know of no better topic
For us to discuss
Until we all
Die! ~ Hafiz
Of course, this sentiment is pretty much what “Paths of Heart” is founded on/grounded in and it’s what we talk about in one form or another every time we meet! However, February is always especially steeped in love with Valentine’s Day smack in the middle of it (however you may or may not celebrate), so we figured our stated subject this week would be LOVE. Feel free to join our Love Fest this Sunday on ZOOM, 11 a.m. Mountain Time. We are really enjoying seeing your smiling faces from around the country and the WORLD (JnJ joined us from Spain last time!). It’s a little silver lining in this time of COVID, as a much wider group of folks can join us, regardless of geographical location. We continue to work on improving the online experience and have yet another set-up this week to try. Thanks for your beautiful patience with us (and thanks to TB for helping us test it out!).
Please RSVP (via email preferably) for this Sunday’s meet-up, as only those folks who RSVP will be sent the link (on Saturday).
See you then with loving and grateful hearts,
Colleen and Mark
Quotes to ponder
“The most important aspect of love is not in the giving or receiving: it’s in the being. When I need love from others, or need to give love to others, I’m caught in an unstable situation. Being in love, rather than giving or taking love, is the only thing that provides stability. Being in love means seeing the Beloved all around me.”
~ Ram Dass
“Your task is not to search for love, but to find a portal through which love can enter…
Feeling the Oneness of yourself with all things is true love.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
“From where we are there is always a path toward love. What takes discipline is continually choosing that path.” ~ Jesse Pender
“Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.” ~ Henri Nouwen
Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest
Remember to RSVP if you’d like to join us for our Paths of Heart Zoom meeting on Sunday, Feb. 21st at 11 a.m. Mountain Time. Only those who RSVP will be sent the link to join. Going forward, we plan to meet via ZOOM on 3/7, 3/21, 4/4, and 4/18. Maybe by then we’ll be able to meet in the backyard again! Even then, we are planning on keeping a once a month ZOOM meeting, especially for those out of town folks who have so enjoyed the opportunity to join us from across the country and the world!
Sending “Good Juju” and prayer ~ If anyone ever wants to receive our collective positve thoughts and prayers on a Sunday morming, please ask! We can be as specific or as anonymous as you’d like. Let us know if we can surround you in love and light!
Paths of Heart and Mark and Colleen were incredibly honored to be featured in the ChooseLoveMovement.org ‘s “Daily Dose of Love” newsletter, along with a YouTube link to Mark’s song “I Choose Love”. Thank you to Tamara S. for letting this amazing organization know about Mark’s song! The Choose Love Movement is inspired by 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, his final acts of love, and his mother’s path of forgiveness after Jesse was killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting. Paths of Heart and the Choose Love Movement are so aligned in our mission to simply “choose love” in whatever situation we find ourselves in!
“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth – What a joy it was to envision and oversee the creation of our labyrinth and Zen Garden this spring/summer! This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day!
Giving Opportunities – We wanted to remind you of two ways you can support Paths of Heart without costing you an extra penny. 🙂
King Soopers Community Rewards Program – if you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up!
Amazon Smile – We do love shopping locally and very often do, but Amazon sometimes fits the bill. If you are an Amazon shopper, you can make a difference by shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/81-4175487 to generate donations for Paths of Heart!
Online donations are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. You can even sign up for monthly giving, which we deeply appreciate. Thanks so much!
Gratitudes
We are tickled by the photos you send us or that we come across, featuring beautiful paths and fun hearts found in nature! Thanks for allowing us to feature them in our newsletters. Today’s newsletter features 3 such photos – what good eyes you have for Nature’s treasures and serendipitous whimsy! If a photo doesn’t have a credit on it, it’s most likely Colleen’s. 🙂
What are you grateful for today?
“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” ~ Brene Brown
“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.” ~ Steve Maraboli
“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” ~ Meister Eckhart
About Paths of Heart…
Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world. Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.
We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation!
Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!