9-1-99 Story of the Week Seeds from Church Within #47
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Welcome
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Greetings my Dearest Sisters and Brothers, and welcome again to Church Within Story of the Week ["SOW Seeds]

This week's SOW Seeds - #47 , contributed by: Cynthia Taylor

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Story of the Week
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If I had my life to live over again,
I would try to make more mistakes next time.
I'd try not to be so damned perfect;
I'd relax more, I'd limber up,
I'd be sillier than I've been on this trip;
In fact, I know of very few things
I'd take quite so seriously;
I'd be crazier
and I'd certainly be less-hygienic;
I'd take more chances
I'd take more trips
I'd climb more mountains
I'd swim more rivers
And I'd watch more sunsets;
I'd burn more gasoline,
I'd eat more ice cream -- and fewer beans;
I'd have more actual troubles
and fewer imaginary ones.

You see,
I was one of those people who lived
prophylactically,
and sensibly,
hour-after-hour and day-after-day;

Oh, that doesn't mean I didn't have my moments,
But if I had it to do all over,
I'd have more of those moments,
In fact,
I'd try to have nothing but wonderful moments,
side-by-side.

I was one of those people who never went anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle,
a raincoat and a parachute;
If I had it to do all over again,
I'd travel lighter next time.

If I had my life to live all over again,
I'd start barefoot earlier in the spring
and I'd stay that way later in the fall;
I'd play hooky a lot more;
I'd ride more merry-go-rounds,
I'd pick more flowers,
I'd hug more children,
I'd tell more people that I loved them,

If I had my life to live over again;
But, you see, I don't.

(The preceding poem is typically attributed to an 85-year-old man who had just learned he was going to die. It was apparently written by Jorge Luis Borges, a well-known Argentina writer.)

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The Prayer
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Dear God,        
        Remind me to enjoy this life you have provided for me. I can get so Blindly Serious sometimes...

You ALL are Within the Infinitely Loving Embrace of our Universal
Parent,

The Creator's Eternal Love, through me, to all of You,
Pastor Daniel