To me, Jesus is compassionate, caring, forgiving, embracing, helping, and someone who is in total command of common sense. Isn’t it amazing how many people Jesus has saved, while, sadly, man has also used His name to destroy. Hate is not a word that Jesus understands because it is inconceivable for Him to see how far a person would go to defend his or her right to hate. Jesus is a friend who stays through the darkest hours, where a candle of light is sometimes all that is needed to restore the power of hope. Jesus is an open hand, always there to feel the flesh of despair and fear. Jesus is a true friend.

Jesus understands Buddha, Moses, Muhammed, and the other Prophets. As He says in the Scriptures, “I am not here to destroy the laws of the Prophets, but to fulfill them.” We could also say Jesus understands Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, and those who follow the path of peace. Jesus wants us to love one another.

Jesus is a Jew who has one of the largest followings of mankind. In His days of life on earth, many called Him “Rabbi”….was He a Rabbi? Perhaps….but also a simple carpenter who came to help save the world. Much has happened since His short time here….but the message grows stronger each day. Why can’t we get it right? Can you imagine how hard this essay is to write? Who gets offended, who agrees, that’s not what Jesus is about. Jesus wants us to get closer…He spoke of Love constantly.

For Christians, develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God. For Jews, embrace your relationship with God, and pray to your heart’s content. For Muslims, by all means offer your prayers to Allah. For Buddhists, pray for humanity to find compassion for one another. These acts of Faith are for the benefit of all mankind, and I believe Jesus would embrace any way for God’s children to break bread together.

Break Bread,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

One of the hardest things to hold onto and maintain on a daily basis is to feel good about yourself. As we know, we all have our share of negativity that we just fight through daily….but I do have a few suggestions that may help you sustain those happier moments…..

1) Let in the contributions you make to your family, friends and community. It’s so easy to forget the differences we make in our own little ways to people’s lives.

2) Hold on to your uniqueness. There is only one of you, not ten, not fifty….one. What you can contribute to make this world a better place can sometimes only be made by you.

3) Embrace the positive. Breathe it in…..you can never have enough of the fuel that dreams are made of.

4) Practice giving Love. It’s good for your Soul. Not only does it make you feel productive, but it justifies to yourself your reason for being. In life we can throw tons of money at a problem, when sometimes all it takes is Love.

5) You are not perfect. Don’t try to be, because it is a losing battle. Yes we can make improvements to ourselves, but as the saying goes, “There are reasons why there are erasers on pencils.”

6) If you are blessed, give thanks and be humble. There is always somebody else less fortunate than you. Life can be hard at times, but it’s important to count our blessings, and embrace what we have.

7) And last, but not least, feeling good about yourself is something that must be practiced…it’s so easy to slip into the negative and spiral down. After awhile things do start to become clearer if you give yourself those moments to relax and feel good about yourself and your life.

Life is not easy….but how many times do we find ourselves hanging on a fence where the choice of the direction we go is decided by us. It’s all a state of mind. I believe God is there to help us….but it is a partnership of learning the best choices to make. In life, Free Will prevails for a reason. Feeling Good helps us see the Past, savor the Present, and look forward to the Future.

Feel Good,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

We all start out as children, hopefully growing up in the right settings… playing with our toys, looking at the world with wonder. Everything is a Big Event. The baggage of life that we carry at this stage, in most cases, is fairly empty. As we progress on through adolescence, each year the weight of that baggage increases. As children, our main concern was being nurtured, loved by our parents, and finding where we fit in the family structure. In adolescence and teenage years we started to form additional relationships and friendships outside the family. Adulthood brings with it the roles of being a parent, a spouse, and a breadwinner, each day making additions to the luggage of life. If all goes well, there’s no problem. But, it isn’t surprising how easily we can get bogged down.

Playing different roles in life can get real tiring. It’s no wonder that as we get older there feels like there isn’t enough hours in the day to accomplish all that we need to do. Our days of childhood feel like a glistening memory when we felt we could handle it all. It’s not hard to understand that as we get older we feel we are starting to forget things…well, it’s no wonder….for many of us our minds are now having to handle at least three times the amount of information as before. We’re not “losing our minds,” we’re just very busy people. Hey, what happened to all the leisure time we were supposed to have…the four day work week? Some do….not many.

So how can we make things a little easier? First, don’t punish yourself for feeling overwhelmed. Second, work on surrounding yourself with as much good, positive input and love as possible. Third, try to let go and cast off some of the clutter that has accumulated over the years. We tend to think, in society, that the more that we accumulate, the happier we will be. But what’s not mentioned is that with each accumulation comes responsibilities that sometimes we may not care to handle. It’s easier to ride a bike then to haul a heavy load.

So why simplicity? Because the simpler we make our lives, the happier we are. If all we had to do was concentrate on what really is important, things would make more sense. For each of us, it may involve different solutions, but you know what I mean. Everything doesn’t have to become a big deal….not everything is life-threatening…no, we won’t die if we don’t do it in five minutes….different things have different priorities. They are not all equal.
We look around for solutions to our problems under every rock, and in every nook and cranny, because our intelligence tells us there has to be a complicated and profound solution to the situation. Have you ever asked a child for the answer to an adult problem? You will be amazed at their answer. They speak from their hearts.

Listen to your heart,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

Many of us have people to share our lives with…spouses, family members, and friends…companions we walk along the road of life with…passing through time and space. These are our Soulmates…the people we share our hopes, dreams and problems with. It’s amazing how many souls face the same dilemmas in their lives…so we seek out those that can help us deal with being human in a world of contradictions.

Each week we make phone calls, schedule lunches, or write e-mails to connect to those that we feel care and understand us…relationships that feed our self-confidence and heal our wounds so that we can become better equipped at facing life’s surprises. Being a Soulmate involves not only talking, but listening too. Some of us have friends that we are very close to, while not realizing just how deeply the level of communication goes. If you are one of those who has been fortunate enough to have had a long-lasting relationship or friendship you know just how valuable the love from these experiences becomes.
There’s a guy who hangs out at the local coffeeshop that I visit most mornings. His name is Benny. Benny was left alot of money by his parents…he owns a beautiful building where he lives, by himself. Benny never got married, and was always suspicious of people his whole life. He used to believe that in order to find excitement in his life he had to travel to the casinos of Atlantic City. He was in business with a man whom he made quite a large sum of money with, but as Benny told me “The guy ripped me off more than I’ll ever know.” So eventually Benny retired to his beautiful home. One day Benny mentioned to me “Isn’t it incredible…I thought all of the excitement and action was outside of my neighborhood…but really, this coffeeshop has the best of life. Friends, food, and good coffee!!” One night while Benny was sleeping he had a mild stroke and was rushed to the hospital. The next morning at the coffeeshop people began to say “Where’s Benny? Has anybody seen Benny?” The word went out and by midday a number of people were headed to the hospital to see their friend Benny. There is a happy ending to this story…Benny is now about, as he puts it, “80% recovered” from his mild stroke, but what he found out was priceless. While he searched everywhere else for happiness, all the while it was in his own backyard. Benny now sees … those people that he shoots the breeze with at the coffeeshop as his “Compadres of the Soul.”

Benny realizes that some of the happiest moments of his life are spent over a cup of coffee, where realistically he could purchase almost anything that his heart desires. Soulmates…the people who stand beside us through thick and thin…cheering us on and reaching out when we are down. What more could bring a smile to the face of God then for His children to celebrate life and get along? Each one of us is a reason for that smile.

Share your Soul,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

We all deal with emotions. Living beings feel things…good and bad. So it’s no surprise how many of those feelings we either lock inside, or pretend they don’t exist. While our emotional surface may look calm and smooth, below the water strong currents may prevail, taking our lives in different directions then we consciously choose. The ocean can be a very deep place.

We express our feelings through laughter, pain, tears and silence. Three of the four are how we react to what we feel…but silence is the one action where suppression lives. Some things we don’t want to look at…we have no words, no reactions…we just stand there, motionless, hoping that the time will pass and all will be well, while somewhere knowing inside that what we fail to express will one day show itself when we least expect it. Where do our illnesses really come from? Somewhere, intermingling with the virus or infection, could be some forgotten emotions that were maybe not really forgotten. Yes, I know some do get sick from ailments beyond their control, but the majority of illnesses can be avoided, if we only find ways to deal with, and better understand how, stress forms and engulfs our lives.

In society today suppressed emotions are released at many levels…some release them healthfully, through exercise, prayer, and meditation. Others deal with these feelings through domestic anger and abuse, while even some choose the road of violence and destruction. One way or another, these emotions eventually come out. If one is to have a healthy and peaceful existence, the handling of these emotions become vital to our well-being.

So as the title says, “Let it out”…peacefully. We don’t have to feel that we have to hold it inside forever. Use exercise, friendships, focusing on goals, or prayer…just get it out. In this world, there is alot to be joyful for, and alot to be sad about. Being human, we have to deal with both. Seek, reflect, mourn and rejoice…all forms of release.

Let it flow,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

We all know that place….where doubts creep in and uncertainty prevails….the tunnel which we all must go through in life to reach the other side. Whether it’s problems at work, problems at home, or a health crisis, once we enter the tunnel it is very easy for us to lose our bearings, give up hope, and become stationery… while in the distance we see this beautiful glowing light that is like a rope dangling for us to reach, to pull us through. That rope could be lowered by a friend, a family member, or God….but in order to reach it one has to focus on that light, while ignoring the turmoil that surrounds us.
The wind howls, the rain falls, and the echo can sometimes seem deafening…but as we move through our tunnels in life we learn about the atmosphere of our existence and the roads that we choose. Inside the tunnel one has to have much Faith…in themselves, and in the belief that the distant light is reachable, even when the walls around you whisper the negative. The Light at the End of The Tunnel grows closer with each step, but the forward motion of those steps must be made by us. The most important thing we must do inside the tunnel is to just focus on that Light, and with each step, it will become not only closer, but brighter.

If you’ve ever seen a burning log fire from across the room, as you move closer the heat from the fire intensifies. So too does that Light that we hope to reach. To me, the essence of that Light is pure Love…for as we are encased in our tunnels, we reach for the rope of Light to pull us through and out into the sunshine. That rope that is lowered to us has been lowered by the Love of God, with the belief that we can make it through.

Faith is a very personal thing….in order to get through the tunnel one must have Faith. Faith is the energy of the Soul to accomplish its mission in Life. The tunnel may be a scary place, but with the Shield of Faith the darkness can’t get through, because Faith acts like a solar panel to receive energy from the Light.

Keep the Faith,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

As this is the second anniversary of my newsletter, I would like to share with you how it all started, and where it is going from here.

Two and a half years ago I began posting some of my essays on the Internet newsgroups. At first, I, like many, was scared….and afraid that I would get blasted by those who disagreed with what I felt. Yes, there were some who wrote back with unkind comments, to put it lightly, but I was pleasantly surprised at how many people felt the same way I did about things. One point I now know to be true…that when one decides to do something positive, there are forces in play to try to stop you. Check out some of the early essays on my essay page…can you believe that some people wrote back to me, threatening my life? So if some of you have posted messages over the Internet and received the same treatment, you are not alone! Anyway, after about six months, through my essays I started to develop a small “group of friends,” E-mailing each other back and forth. As the group grew, some mentioned that I should seriously consider putting together a newsletter. Up to this point I would have considered myself a singer/songwriter…but what was interesting was that my lyrics paralleled some of my essay writings…they were really coming from the same place. So, in September 1997, I published my first newsletter. Yes, I had doubts, but after a few weeks those doubts were washed away. I saw the impact the newsletter was beginning to have on not only my own life, but also on those that read weekly. A wise man once said “It’s not important that someone totally agrees with you, but if you can get them talking about a subject, that is half the battle.”
To this day, I still can get hate mail, but the kind thoughts far outweigh the cruel. Recently, a number of people have mentioned to me about putting the essays on tape for people to listen to at home, or on their way to work…..so come November, the first two audio tapes will be available through my website, in my own voice. I’m also at work on a new original music album based also on the essays which should be ready for release early next year. Last but not least, in the Spring of next year there are plans in place to broadcast a weekly half hour audio/visual Internet show.

I never thought when I started all this that it would reach as far as it has. I hear from people in the smallest of countries, and the largest of continents. One thing is for sure…we all have much more in common than we think. Thank you so much for contributing to the success of the newsletter, and I look forward to entering the new Millennium with you.

Take the time to love,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

We all long to reach the place in life where all the questions are answered, financial difficulties are met, and peace of mind prevails. Most of us struggle daily with all kinds of things, but we always hold out that hope that one day everything will make sense. Some in this world have an abundance of material wealth…yet they will tell you they still don’t have all the answers, while others who may live in poverty can see a brighter tomorrow. So if it can be said that material wealth does not bring about prolonged peace of mind, then how can we obtain it and sustain it?

Each day is a struggle…a new day begins, new problems to tackle, and a few surprises along the way. It seems sometimes that there are forces in play to knock us off-center and have us spinning all over the place. Therein lies the basis and the enemy of peace of mind. While we look to the future to provide us with inner bliss, it is at the present where it can be found. Finding, knowing, and prolonging our purpose here is one of the ways that we can make sense of what we go through in life. Knowing the reasons for our existence helps elevate our lives beyond the sheer numbers, where each individual has a purpose and a destiny. We seem to diminish the importance of human life with each increase in population, while in reality the one is equal to the many. We all matter.

So where is the Rainbow’s End? The Pot of Gold? The Answers of the Universe? The answer may not be so complicated…it could be very simple. A rainbow can only be seen through a particular bending of light…after a rainstorm, though a prism…never directly. And yet we all gasp when we see one…reminded of how magical God and nature can be. If our perception is clear, and we know our reason for being, then within that understanding we are at the Rainbow’s End.

Look for the Rainbow,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

We all have our favorite day of the week…or our favorite time of the year. They represent fond memories, exhilarating experiences, and warm heartfelt thoughts. For me, I enjoy the fall and the last three months of the year….a time of preparing for the holidays, family get-togethers and celebrations. I have to admit if one of these celebrations end up being sorrowful or disappointing, the next year around I can’t help but remember the last time. We also tend to remember the passing of a loved one and are affected emotionally each year by the memory….memories do shape our future.

Our minds, for better or worse, soak in just about everything. After awhile the cumulative effect takes hold and all of our thoughts and dreams are thrown into one big basket, jumbled up together. It’s no mystery that things can get quite confusing at times….but maybe we can have a little more say in the matter. If our yesterdays shape our tomorrow’s, then our todays are the point at which change must occur. So then the point can be taken that as each year rolls around, if we implement the correct changes that we want we then can shape future years and our emotions surrounding them.

We must accept responsibility for our yesterdays, otherwise we are doomed to make the same mistakes. With Free Will in play, I believe God has given us the Gift of having a say over each of our lives, and an influence on others. Yes, we not only can shape the tomorrow’s of our own lives, but also of family, friends and loved ones. The power is in the knowledge that things can be changed. Good examples and being a good role-model are vital to the raising of children….they copy what they see. We all have bad days, but what we learn from them is what matters.
Each year we can make better then the previous year. The best days of our lives don’t have to be behind us….hey, we’re supposed to get better with age, right? Like a fine wine! We can start today to accumulate a new set of memories that can help us ferment into a better tomorrow.

Cheers.

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon

How many degrees do you have hanging on your wall? As we were growing up weren’t these diplomas supposed to provide us with all of the answers and an overabundance of happiness? Perhaps we read too much into the expectations. An education is a wonderful thing to have….and knowledge cannot be overestimated, but that all depends on the level of education and the amount of knowledge obtained. Math, English, the Sciences and the Arts, all meaningful endeavors, but without accumulating skills in life management, finances, parenting, forming relationships, and spiritual growth, one can easily look around and feel that something is missing.

Intelligence in our society today, in many cases, is based on the degree of education that a person has acquired. Surely, a person with a masters degree cannot be a bad father…or go financially bankrupt…but as many of us know, these things do happen, regardless. At a family get-together or party there always seems to be one or two members who seem to have all the answers….surely, there could not be something that they don’t know….until one day you get a phone call and that person that you highly regarded as being intellectually superior to you makes one of the stupidest mistakes that even a five year old could understand is wrong. If all we do is concentrate on certain aspects of life, while disregarding others….net/net a person ends up way below average.

When we make mistakes in life it’s so easy for us to start searching for the one to blame. ‘It’s God’s fault,” “My wife didn’t remind me,” “My children drive me crazy,”….Heaven forbid we turn the gigantic microscope around and point it at ourselves! Dysfunctional families (which most of us are members of in one way or another) are blamed for all of the mistakes we make in our lives. For sure, coming from a broken home is not easy and in some cases is a mountain to climb….but at some point changes have to be implemented to stop the same things from happening again and again, and new ways to handle our problems have to be practiced…..otherwise, we cannot overcome and move on.

How is this done? Seek out books, classes, seminars, Houses of Worship that can set you on the course of change. It’s no mystery, many of us have a sense what’s lacking in our day to day lives, but the hard part is facing it and changing it. This road of life that we all travel on is not a smooth journey and sometimes it can be absolutely rocky….but with the right knowledge perhaps we can diminish the amount of accidents that seem to happen in our lives when we least expect them, and obtain a greater control over our existence. We learn good habits and bad habits….plain and simple. We may not be able to change the past, but we do have a say in the future, and the past doesn’t have to equal the future. For myself, I do the best I can, but hey, I’m not perfect and often find myself asking God to help me overcome my shortcomings.

Anyone who tells you that they have all the answers….get away from them as fast as you can. The maze that we go through in life, at each turn is supposed to provide us with clues that we are meant to uncover to move forward to the next junction in the maze. Unfortunately, some get trapped, but it’s not impossible to clear the blockage and continue on the journey. Those blockages can be overcome if we realize that to move forward it is vital for us to take care of the whole essence of who we are and not just focus on a corner of ourselves.

I believe we come into this world with total knowledge…just look into the eyes of a newborn child. The “trick” is that as we progress in life, to not forget.

Try to remember,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1999 Jennifer Avalon