March eNews

Welcome Beautiful Summer
(a time for healing grief)

Whether your grieving results from a recent personal loss of a loved one or friend, or if it finds root in the continued violence and deaths from wars and disasters throughout the world, perhaps it will help if you keep focused on what's really going on.

We are all smack dab in the middle of our eternal lives. This visit to planet earth is but a small paragraph in our journey toward awakening to Divine love.

To accelerate this process, we each made a choice to visit graduate school on planet earth where the curriculum is Pain & Suffering-101. We learn most of our soul growth lessons by experiencing a variety of difficult situations.

Fortunately, there is an advanced course, Overcoming Pain & Suffering. It brings us to the understanding that everything, war, death, loss of any kind, injustice, poverty, and all the things we perceive to be negative experiences — everything lends toward our moving forward on our spiritual journey.

None of it is bad. Especially not death. For any who are dealing with a personal loss, consider the caterpillar and the butterfly;

A butterfly rested upon a flower, Happy was he and light as a flake
And there he met a caterpillar, sobbing as though his heart would break

It hurt the happy butterfly to see the caterpillar cry
Said he, whatever is the matter and may I help in any way?

I've lost my brother, wept the other, He's been unwell for many a day
Now I discover, sad to tell, He's only a dead and empty shell

Unhappy grub, be done with weeping, Your sickly brother is not dead
His body's stronger and no longer crawls like a worm, but flies instead

He dances through the sunny hours and drinks sweet nectar from the flowers

Away, away, deceitful villain, go to the winds where you belong
I won't be grieving at your leaving so take away your lying tongue

Am I a foolish slug or snail to swallow such a fairy tale?

I'll prove my words and you shall see, Now listen well and look at me
I am none other than your brother alive and well and fancy free

Soon you'll be with me in the skies amongst the flirting butterflies

Oh, cried the mournful caterpillar, 'Tis clear I must be seeing things
You're only a specter sipping nectar flicking your ornamental wings

And talking nonsense by the yard, I will not hear another word

The butterfly gave up the struggle, I have, he said, no more to say
He spread his splendid wings and ascended into the air and few away

And while he fluttered far and wide, the caterpillar sat and cried.

You have a choice to live your experiences through the eyes and the thought process of either the butterfly or the caterpillar. Pray for truth to be revealed to you, and enjoy this wonderful life.

A Message From Mother Mary

Greetings My Beloved Ones...

Listen, my child, and you will hear the quiet voice of Love in all things.
For God speaks to you every moment of every day.
Even in the mundane tasks of life.
God lives in each moment. Every moment is sacred.
Every moment is God. Every moment is Love.

God lives in the moments of hopelessness and despair.
Listen and you will hear His quiet breath of Love upon you.

God lives in the moments of joy and happiness.
His love for you does not change.
His Love is eternal in each and every moment of your existence.

Listen and you will know the heartbeat of God lives within you.
Steady and sure the heartbeat of Love continues on,
whether or not you are aware.

Listen, my child, and you will feel the magical reunion
of Divine Love merging in your heart.
Your spirit will be renewed and your heart will become whole.

Listen, my child, and know God lives.

Mother Mary

Through her messenger
Susan Sanderford
June 1, 2007

To Forgive is Divine

Thought for the Week: Guest Commentary
Mark S. Husson

I've stated many times to you the difficulty I have 'forgiving' others for their acts. It's especially difficult as I learn more about forgiveness, which is NOT saying, 'You did something wrong and I (being the bigger person) now forgive you', that kind of forgiveness is just arrogance. It's me, the martyred and wounded one, bestowing my kindness and graciousness on 'you' the sinner. Great for movies but pretty slimy for real life.

I'm learning that forgiveness is finding a way to see that no crime was ever committed by more deeply understanding the motive of the other person. The problem for me is not that I can't go there, for I can. I can easily see doing the very things I get angry at people for doing, which is a key to seeing that I'm not a victim and if I'm not a victim then there can be no perpetrator. The problem for me is in WANTING to go there. I think I'm addicted to dismissing those 'evil doers' as idiots and loving the superiority that comes as a result.

YIKES! What a revealing concept. I like not forgiving, it's like Revenge and the sweet aftertaste that comes with it. Now, I do have a part of me that rationally knows that no real peace can come from anything that promotes guilt and I also know that every time I don't honestly change my perception I feel guilty about it (and often revel in the fact that I make the other feel guilty, too) and guilt is the key factor in perpetuating a life of fear. If I feel guilty, then I on some level believe I should be punished and the thought of punishment produces fear, etc.

This thought for the week is just making a point. Most of us like projecting our anger onto others so that we can feel 'off the hook' from our own judgments. Of course, the first step to correcting anything is just to admit it. Most of you know that I'm not the model of loving, monk-like sainthood, but I'm not trying to fool you or myself either. There are just certain people that I'm probably too afraid to forgive (though I tell myself that I just don't want to). I remember saying that about quitting smoking, 'I'm just not ready' but it likely was the nicotine talking. With regards to Forgiving Everyone, my addiction there says the same thing, 'I'm just not ready'. But like they say in those addiction classes, 'You can't heal what you can't admit.

This week, be honest with yourself the rest will come in time.

Thanks to our dear friend Mark S. Husson, creator of 12th House store in Denver, Colorado, a place that welcome all beliefs under the umbrella of one truth, "Life works". (12house.com) for his insightful look into such an important topic.

Indeed, forgiveness is one of the main lessons we're to learn while here on planet earth.

Last Months Casa Visitors


Susan Feves of California doing her Tai Chi on the Casa grounds. (Or practicing for a role in A Chorus Line.) Actually Susan is helping pull out sage brush roots.	Susan Sanderford's son Jon visiting mom and Milt all the way from Orlando, Florida. Questioned Jon, "This is a vacation?" Actually, it was a fun visit!

We stuck this one in of Milt planting trees cause we failed to take a picture of Mary Sandy and Lorna Stuart of Tidewater, Virginia during their recent visit:-(	Joe and Pat Lemmon of Longmont, Colorado wondering "Why are we here?" Truth be told, "Mother Mary told us to visit Susan and Milt at the Casa — So we did!"

Thank You Casa Angels!

Our number of Casa Angels continues to grow. There are 28 of you who have received your "Wings" (along with a Mother Mary medal from Medjugorje, Bosnia, and your official certificate.)

Our Casa Angels will soon become the backbone of our growth here at Casa de Santa Maria. Won't you consider joining. We're hoping to hit that 50 mark soon.

All it takes is a commitment from you to pledge a $10 or $20 monthly gift (Or more) over the next twelve months. Doing so will earn you your Angel Wings, a Mother Mary medal from Medjugorje, Bosnia, and very generous discount on special Casa offers throughout the year.

Check out the details by going to www.casadesantamaria.org/angelwings.html

Thanks for your loving support.

Last Chance to Sign Up for the Sacred England Tour

stonehenge

Join us on the Sacred Sites of England Tour
Imagine this. It's dusk, the moon is rising and the smell of freshly mowed grass is heavy in the air. You are standing in the center of one of the most powerful and revered of ancient sacred sites, the majestic megaliths of Stonehenge. Walk among them, meditate, touch, sense. Not just a walk-through but a full hour of private contemplation just for our tour group.

Now you have a second chance to join this amazing group of like minded people on this once in a lifetime pilgrimage to some of the world's most sacred sites. Just two spaces are available so act today.

Visit www.casadesantamaria.org/england.html for the trip details.

Yes, just two spaces left for this trip of a lifetime. Susan and I would so love to have the pleasure of your company. Email us to claim your place. We promise wonderful experiences along the way.

www.casadesantamaria.org

The Casa de Santa Maria is a not-for-profit organization and currently exempt under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax deductible and may be sent to:

Casa de Santa Maria • P.O. Box 64 • San Luis, CO 81152
Email: casadesantamaria@mac.com

Please feel free to share the Casa Newsletter, website or Mother Mary's Messages with others!