These two signs seem more like indications that none of us will ever achieve inner peace.   Our days are filled with judgments.  Indeed, in our country, we have a huge judicial system from federal to municipal.   Even my pacifist nature cannot conjure up what would happen if thieves, rapists, terrorists, murderers, abusers of all sorts were not brought to justice.  Wait a minute! In a few weeks, we are urged to vote.  Isn’t that also a form of judging?  I think the reader who sent me these was seeking to confound me. Consider me confounded.

But wait, it said “a loss of interest in judging others”.  Perhaps this is intended to be on a personal basis.    I suppose one might not only stop, but actually lose all interest in, finding fault with others.   I remember that I have for quite a long time observed that harboring resentments hurts the grudge-holder more than it hurts the holdee.  We have a tendency to keep drudging up our injury and re-experiencing the pain, rejection, etc. with all its attendant acidity - something

like purposefully subjecting ourselves to a reflux disease; or touching a tooth to see if it still hurts.   Forgiving others may sound like a righteous thing to do but the fact is that in the forgiving process, the forgiver gains also, perhaps the most.   No wonder we hear, “Get over it, or “Move on.”   I have given myself a consequence.  When I regurgitate an old resentment, I must immediately think of ten positive/likeable traits or acts of the person(s).   This is not easy, but it works.

As for a loss of interest in judging self, first I have to stop expecting more of myself that any human can produce.  I know I share this weakness with others because we have discussed it.  After all, I tell myself, more and more frequently, I am only human; give me a break.   I am learning.  Slowly.

After all, even Homer Simpson knows better.  He says, “You can't keep blaming yourself. Just blame yourself once, and move on.”

Reminders of first two of twelve signs of Inner Peace:

• A tendency to think and act deliberately, rather than from fears

 based on past experiences.

• An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

“Judge not that you be not judged” is a bible verse that is immediately followed by  “first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”   This makes me think that we are advised, in judging, to be less critical of others as we, ourselves, are not exactly perfect.  My

excerpts from World Scripture:   This tome is the result of a five-year project in which an international team of 40 recognized scholars representing the major religions of the world collaborated.  I found these citations interesting:

·     Islam:  “Happy is the person who finds fault with himself instead of finding fault with others.”  Hadith; 

Buddhism:  Easily seen are others' faults, hard indeed to see are one's own.  Like chaff one winnows others' faults, but one's own one hides, as a crafty fowler conceals himself by camouflage.  He who sees others' faults is ever irritable--his corruptions grow.  He is

far from the destruction of the corruptions.  Dhammapada 252-53

Confucius said, "The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects.  The small man does just the reverse of this."     Analects 12.16

Hinduism:  The vile are ever prone to detect the faults of others, though they be as small as mustard seeds, and persistently shut their eyes against their own, though they be as large as Vilva fruit.

             Garuda Purana 112.

Our friends Delores Murphy, “Mr. Jonathan” Craig, Amy Sidelinger, Debra Ambrsiro have gifted us with their advocacy and many donations including Cereal,  Sneakers,  Lamps, children’s tapes, back packs and antique paper dolls.  The Cranbury Methodist Women, and the Jewish Children & Family Services & Beth El Synagogue donated many educational materials and school supplies.  Assenka Hoffman donated many educational toys and other items.  Annabel Wyhanez made a generous contribution. 

When you visit and notice how fresh and beautiful our hallways are, you will be seeing the work of our friends from Deloitte & Touche who volunteered to paint on Oct. 8  The craftspersons included Dana Jannetti, Laureen Jackman, Arshia Najeeb, Christina Noonan, Robert Teffenhart, Karl Nicosia, Paul Holte, Kathleen Lind, Amy Pradhan, Lawarence Maier, Suman Dhar, Ribyn Doncsecz, Patricia Geurds, and Abraham Valliath.

These “Days of Caring” are sponsored by the United Way of Greater Mercer County.

Gertrude & Harry Horowitz have made a generous contribution in the name of Laura Johnson for her birthday.  To this we add our “many happy returns!”.  A certificate will be sent to Ms. Johnson as well and the Horowitzes, and her name will be placed in our Book of Honors.  The contribution

will be placed in our endowment fund, still small.  The interest drawn will be used to help assure that Better Beginnings’ will be able to continue in its mission of providing a top notch early childhood education for its children, while tiving their families the opportunity to work and provide for themselves and their families.  This is truly an enduring gift.

A very generous contribution from the East Windsor-Hightstown  Area Ministerium is much appreciated. 

St. Paul's Lutheran Church via our loyal and faithful friend, Amy Pennenga, collected an astonishing 1,550  pennies to add to our collection which now exceeds 1,500,000.  A penny may be small alone, but together they can be formidable!   Thank you, Amy, it is good to know that you are thinking of us still.

Seaking of remembering, our own Rebecca Goodman, donated some wonderful childrne’s books in the name of our faithful friend, Shining Star, Beverly Goodman.

Thank you everyone for finding so many ways to support the mission of Better Beginnings.  Without you, we would not be.  Your compassion and generosity affects positively the lives of many.