Get Your Hopes Up and Keep Them That Way - Just Don't Be So Attached to Outcomes

By Pete Koerner

Every living thing wants something. When we get what we want, or when we receive something that we like, we say that we were successful, or that we are content, fulfilled, or happy. And every living thing wants to be content, fulfilled, happy, etc. So HOW do we get what we want? How do we turn our desires into reality? By holding onto the possibility, or hope, that your desires will one day become realities, you can create anything you choose. It is the energy of hope that will keep you moving forward toward your dreams -- unless, or until, you let attachment slow you down, divert you, or stop you altogether.

Some people suppress their desires, or limit the things they want, in one way or another. People can often be heard to say things like, "Don't get your hopes up," or, "Don't expect too much," as a way of protecting against disappointment; but this is very bad advice if you are trying to create something new. Hope and Positive Expectancy drive and color our thoughts and perceptions; and our thoughts drive our actions. Of course you have to take steps toward any destination you hope to reach; but you don't want to be taking steps "inspired" by pessimism when you could be walking - and living - in optimism and faith.

People who say things like, "Don't get your hopes up," usually mean well. They've seen many disappointments and want to prepare you for yours. But, unless you want disappointment, you shouldn't take advice from disappointed people; and you certainly shouldn't "prepare" for it. The fact is, though, that most of these people are right in their own way - though they are misspeaking their concerns. "Don't become too 'attached' to your hopes," is a very wise piece of advice that will help your hopes bear fruit. It is attachment that causes suffering. You wouldn't be bothered by the rise and fall of the stock market, for instance, unless you owned stock, or were attached to the outcomes of the stock market in some way. Poor people don't jump out of skyscrapers because their portfolio just became worthless; because they simply don't have such attachments. But not all stock owners opt-out of life in response to financial downturns; most of them remain hopeful -- and alive to trade another day. Hope has inspired great men to do great things; but, when hope is lost, people behave in completely different ways -- and do drastic, and even senseless things.

Hope is only a word that denotes an awareness of a possibility; and, by itself, hope is hardly enough to generate a lot of action or movement. But when we concentrate our thoughts in the direction of our hopes, we receive more thoughts - including inspired action-thoughts which stimulate the specific actions we need to take in order to reach our goals and desires. The Wright brothers didn't take action to build an airplane before thinking about it; they thought about it until they received ideas about what to do next. Then they acted on those ideas when they received the inspiration to act.

Did the Wright brothers know what outcome they would achieve or experience? No; but they had a vision of it, and the awareness or knowledge that, if they kept that vision firmly in mind, and faithfully took steps in that direction every day, that they would eventually realize their dream - or make their vision "real." The mental, emotional, and physical resource states created by the energy of positive expectancy are highly creative and productive states of mind and body - states which have been known about, taught, and used throughout history by the greatest minds humanity has known.

Prophets, philosophers, industrialists, inventors, physicists, artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators in every area of human endeavor have utilized the power of mind, thought, and positive expectancy to see their ideas become reality. People without hope simply do not press on. People without faith in their vision gradually see it fade. And negative, pessimistic people don't usually attract the people and situations that can help our visions become reality in ways that seem almost miraculous. Either you get your way or you don't; but, between now and then, you can be a pleasure to be around, or a wet-blanket people avoid so as to not be infected with your negativity. Give hope a chance; and, once you become a hopeful person, you just might find it difficult to justify converting back to the ranks of the "faithfully negative." Keep hope alive by taking steps toward your dream every day and cultivating happiness. You'll be glad you did whether things turn out the way you hope they will, or not; and, more and more, you'll probably notice that things are going your way more often than not.

*To download your FREE, Illustrated Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Manual, go to: http://www.ExploreExpandEvolve.com/free_download/(It only takes about 10-seconds to get your Free EFT manual and start erasing fears and limiting beliefs!)

Pete Koerner is the author of The Belief Formula: The Secret to Unlocking the Power of Prayer. The Belief Formula is a look at how you can use ancient wisdom and modern scientific awareness to learn how to use your mind to reclaim your health and create the life of your dreams.

For a Free Report on Making The Belief Formula Work for You, visit: http://www.TheBeliefFormula.com

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Hope Is A Great Gift - Faith Is A Spiritual Treasure Or Is It?

By Tony M Jackson

A gift is not always treasured, but faith as a treasure is an everlasting fortune that few possess. We are living in one of the most challenging times in human history. Answers to life problems and issues have proven evasive to say the least. For many are searching for hope, only to realize that faith lies within each of us to discover who we are in the wake of societies' ills. The challenges appear to mount as answers to seemingly complex questions continue to elude us. Referencing the term "appear" in this instance is used because an appearance of hope deferred, is actually a prelude to faith. You may asks, faith in what or who, this leads us to undertake a "quest to affirm" which is greater: hope or spiritual faith in the unseen and unknown.

In each instance of hope, and a more everlasting term "faith," each could give rise to fear, or as it has become known to those that realize the real meaning behind faith; FEAR is "False Evidence Appearing Real." Fear then is one of the most destructive emotional characteristics of human nature because it destroys both hope and faith. Yet, when used appropriately, fear is a good exercise in keeping us from events that could lead to personal injuries or even death-in this instance, fear is a life sustaining property that keeps us alive. The use of fear in any other manner of emotional expression, could lead to misery, misfortune, and utter destruction of the soul. Life can be scary with its many unknowns, yet releasing fear begins with an understanding that you do not have to know all the time-in fact, not knowing leads to the spiritual treasure of "faith."

So, you may ask, how does these three prevailing components of life fit into an eroding society that place a great amount of credence on winning at all costs, greed, over abundance of accumulating material possessions, and the lack of humility that destroys hope and faith through fear of loss--this becomes a relevant question for the times we live in.

Ultimately, comfort and peace of mind is synonymous with hope in a future, sustaining faith when the appearance of a failed society or your immediate circumstances are eminently unfortunate, and releasing fear into the hands of the universal law that controls the outcome of every act committed without restraint to understand the impact of our decisions on others. So, who are you, do you have hope, where is your faith, and finally, will you allow fear to extinguish these two evasive mediums on which our very existence is sustained.

Could one have hope devoid of faith? Hope now takes on a new meaning in which we can conclude that, "expectation and optimism is a "gift" that is internal to each human at birth. It is therefore, a yearning that is predicated on non-evidentiary thoughts with the potential for unlimited outcomes. The reference to hope as a "gift at birth" is an indication of non-spiritual connections between futility and evidence of things "not in existence." This is why it has been said, that a lack of hope destroys the people-more importantly, a lack of hope destroys the person's inner being and even a whole society that is at the mercy of actions that underlines selfish intent. Hope then, is a prelude to faith, for a lack thereof--nothing or no one could exist without this eternal presence within each of us.

Faith is a spiritual "internal knowing" that defies conscious thought and goes beyond physical or outward perceptions into a ream of subconscious "affirmations." This instinctive treasure causes everything to excel the five senses and our surroundings-a six sense that is so evasive that few have ever discovered the spiritual discernment and affirmations that materialize with a simple act of faith could have in this earthly existence and beyond. So where is fear when it comes to exercising faith, where is faith in a society that has loss all humility in pursuit of vast materialism and personal gain, and without faith, how could we bring into existence what is most important-discovering who we are, and the spiritual connection with the original and only "breath of life?"

Unfortunately, hope and faith are often confused and even used interchangeably. This is a grave mistake, for hope will never materialize what we want in life. Faith on the other hand, is the single most important treasure that one could seek, find, and use to the benefit of individual and collective outward expression of future affirmations. Because after all, faith in the unseen goes beyond hope and the prevailing fear that could rob you of your spiritual birthright and discovering who you are. So finally we come to the one question that you would love to have the answer right, "who are you?"

This is an age-old question that humankind have sort after from the beginning of our human existence. Fortunately, this is sometime you must discover with much spiritual supplication and prayer on your own-for it is not anyone's place to tell you who you are save "One." Do not despair or be disappointed-for this is one of our most critical individual "quests" in life--a journey that few seek or even understand the importance of affirming our spiritual birthright. However, if you remember what is written in the inspired word, paraphrasing, we are encouraged to undertake three important declarations:

1) Ask through heart-felt prayer, and it shall be given to you by "faith" in who and what first breathe the breath of life into all things both seen and unseen.

2) Seek and ye shall find out who you are; this ancient knowledge is sacred beyond measure and worth your continued existence to distinguish truth from mass deception; and

3) Knock and the door will be open onto you with unlimited possibilities to discover life's treasures of which there is no "fear" of loss.

Begin to see with your mind (spirit) and not with you eyes. Consider the unseen just as real as the seen-this is your faith that cannot be measured for it defies sensory understanding and break with the physical world that is an inherent illusion. Among the findings, you will discover insight into incredible affirmations of the heart (spirit) and soul (essence of life)-of which, no one could ever claim authority save "One" with faith in the same to deliver us all from societies' and this physical world's ills. Faith then is indeed a spiritual treasure beyond measure-worth exercising, internalizing, and ultimately possessing as an affirmation that "Faith" is the lifeline of hope deferred.

Tony M Jackson is an expert on "loss prevention strategies and tactical safety solutions" to prevent devastating consequences for life and property assets--he is committed to assisting in saving lives in dangerous environments through incident management best practices. He is located in Atlanta, Georgia USA. To learn more about proactive safety solutions, "Being Safe Is No Accident" and/or to receive Tony's free monthly "newsletter," please visit [http://www.globalnologies.com] You may also contact Tony directly at tonyj@globalnologies.com

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Never Let Go- How to Hang On to Hope When Mourning

By Lou LaGrand

Does everything look hopeless? No future? No place to turn for the help you really need deep within? Is there anything that can make a difference in the way you feel? Despite the image and meaning you carry right now when you see the word hope, trust the following: It is a sure-fire way out of your emptiness and despair. You simply need to turn it on.

Hope is often considered to be a will-of-the-wisp, an often talked about, but hardly practical factor in dealing with the various problems of life. This belief is spawned by the fact that hope is little understood, and it seems to work best when you don't realize it is behind your positive behavior.

So what can you do to generate hope, keep it alive, and use it in dealing with your great loss? Consider the following.

1. Start the process of building and maintaining hope by never forgetting the following advice from William James, the eminent psychologist, professor, and author: "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." Paste his quote where you will see it often. What you think is the cornerstone of hope.

2. Hope is first and always a choice. We all forget that thoughts are extremely powerful in the way they affect the mind and the body. Right now, make the decision to choose one hopeful thought. Here it is: I am starting the process of getting through the darkest night of my soul. You don't have to know how at this moment, only that you are intent to be on the move through it. Keep saying to yourself that you will prevail.

3. You can start generating hope right now by seeking connections. There isn't a psychiatrist alive today who would not tell you how critical it is to find connections in your life, especially at this time of loss. Make every effort to be with the most loving people you know; they are filled with hope. Go to them if they are unable to come to you. Their presence alone will be a hidden source of hope that on an unconscious level will help you immensely.

4. Hope is all about possibilities. No matter what the nature of your great loss, there are always possibilities for dealing with it and sources to tap into for the information needed. You can uncover many possibilities by finding a quiet place and writing them down as you examine alternatives. You will find even more by doing the same thing with a best friend, a counselor or a clergy person. The possibilities are always out there; finding them is the work of grief. And it is fueled by hope. Keep making a pervasive search.

5. You will also find hope in one of the least suspected places--a grief support group. It takes courage to come to a support group. Once there, you find others with similar struggles. Your hope level rises as you see them confronting their pain and gaining. You will feel a palpable hope emerging when, after four or five meetings, members begin to ask if anyone in the group would like to go to dinner after the meeting. A bond has been formed and hope is the hidden motivator.

6. An infinite source of hope is another connection: your awareness of and belief in a power greater than the self. You may call this your Higher Power, God, Allah, the Almighty, the Absolute, the Great Spirit, or the Universal Source. However you view this Power, it is an eternal connection to hope. It is there for you to turn to and ask for wisdom and strength, even if you have been lax in your commitments.

This Power is always with you, in the darkest of nights, and especially if your spiritual progress has been slow. It may also manifest in a vision, a sense of divine presence, or an Extraordinary Experience involving your deceased loved one.

Hope requires practice if it is to provide its fruits in time of great need. Therefore, you must take action and reach out to connect whenever you sense that hopelessness is creeping into your life, especially at this difficult time of loss. And then make the search for hope come full circle. Review each day how you are progressing in loving, serving, being kind, and strengthening the connections to your social network. All of these will instill hope in your life as you cope with your loss.

Dr. LaGrand is a grief counselor and the author of eight books, the most recent, the popular Love Lives On: Learning from the Extraordinary Encounters of the Bereaved. He is known world-wide for his research on the Extraordinary Experiences of the bereaved (after-death communication phenomena) and is one of the founders of Hospice of the St. Lawrence Valley, Inc. His free monthly ezine website ishttp://www.extraordinarygriefexperiences.com

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Bob Hope TV Shows Timeless Classics

By Ben Anton

"I'm so old, they've canceled my blood type" quipped Bob Hope, upon reaching the age of 100 in July 2003. Indeed, Bob Hope has been around throughout the 20th century, becoming immortal to so many generations by entertaining the masses with countless films, TV and radio shows and of course his appearances with the troops overseas.

Bob Hope was born on May 29, 1903 in Eltham, England although his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio when he was four years old ("I left England at the age of four when I found out I couldn't be king"). His first modest success in show business came in 1915 when he won a Charlie Chaplin imitation competition.

He began to work in vaudeville in the early 1920s and during the early 1930s was appearing on the stage in Broadway. His first film role was "The Big Broadcast" in 1938 in which he sang the song "Thanks for the Memory" in a duet with Shirley Ross. That song would become Bob Hope's signature tune.

Bob Hope appeared in over 75 films throughout his career although he only won two honorary Oscars. He even joked about his lack of Oscar awards - "Oscar night at our house is called Passover!" He may not have won many Oscars but he enjoyed bringing his unique humor to the awards ceremony - he presented or co-presented them on a record 18 occasions up until 1977.

His most famous movies, of course remain the series of "road" movies that he made with Bing Crosby during the 1940s. He also starred in "The Paleface" along with Jane Russell which many consider his best film. Today, many of his classic movies are available on DVD or regularly shown on cable TV channels.

Hope took to TV fairly late in his career, not entirely convinced that the still fairly new medium would succeed. "Television - that's where movies go when they die," quipped Hope once. However, it was television that really made Bob Hope a star and a household name throughout the United States.

Easter Sunday 1950 was a memorable day. It was on that day that Bob Hope made his formal television debut. In addition to Hope's appearance, the "Star Spangled Revue" featured other popular entertainers and stars of the day including Dinah Shore and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

The show's formula was immediately successful and Bob Hope's television shows remained successful for the next 40 years. NBC was his network of choice and Bob Hope appeared in many of the network's Christmas and other holiday specials. His last TV special was in 1996 appearing alongside Tony Danza. Today these programs are rightly considered classic TV shows, television programs that translate for multiple generations.

Perhaps Bob Hope is most famous for his appearances with the troops, a gesture that almost certainly boosted morale far more than any appearance by the president. His first such appearance was in May 1941, when Bob Hope, along with various friends, appeared at March Field in California to entertain the airmen.

The rest, as they say, is history. Bob Hope was soon christened "G.I. Bob" by the troops and went on to perform all over the world during the next 60 years. He has entertained troops and broadcast from Europe, the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. He nearly always appeared in army fatigues as a further gesture of support for the soldiers.

Bob Hope has been honored five times by the United States Congress, has been made honorary mayor of Palm Springs and an honorary veteran. He also has several theaters, a battleship and an airport named in his honor and his love of golf lives on in one of the sport's major events - the Bob Hope Classic.

But his biggest legacy is the wealth of entertainment he has given us over the years. And of course, his sharp wit; his one-liners and quotes are almost as well known as his TV shows and movies. As he accurately remarked once, "I've always been in the right place and time. Of course, I steered myself there."

~Ben Anton, 2007

We invite you to learn more about Bob Hope's television [http://www.classictelevisionblog.com/tv/bob_hope/index.html] and movie career as well as other classic TV show [http://www.classictelevisionblog.com] personalities.

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Hope It's How You End Your Story

By John Tebar

Hope some say is foolish. Where there is hope though fleeting may give us the reason for possibilities to become a reality. Maybe we have a fool's hope, some hope that a better future whether in our careers or personal life will arise. A good story or aspiration will always inspire hope.

Is it so wrong for one to have a hopeful future? You do have to start somewhere. Sometimes we must start all over again and that hope seems to escapes us. In the silence of the evening or during our dreams, hope raises itself and embraces our imagination.

Nothing is carved in stone and our destiny or future is always in our own hands. We are equipped to cope and we want to reach for something better, it is in our nature to do so. It has been said that everyone wants freedom, yet we already have that. We didn't purchase our freedom as we can see for ourselves; it was given to us by birthright.

This hope, that thing we hang onto, starts as a small kindling in our very souls. It grows in time and at the right time explodes to our own amazement. Some people discount it, while others have nothing left but hope. Hope is that "x" quality that can and will pull us through the worst times in our own lives.

Hope is our wish, it is our want for something, and it allows us to feel a slight expectation of what we want. If we have hope, then we have life in the face of outrageous circumstances. Hope gives us a glimmer of what can be. It will give an idea of how to end our story. Our story is not fully written, but it will be written in time.

As children we did not have any problems in hoping for anything. We hoped and wished for the things that bring meaning into our lives. We didn't think about having a house or car, we dreamed about being someone. We dreamt about being a cook, a president, fireman or a police officer. We didn't look at any of these things for how much money they would bring and we didn't even know that much about money. What we did know is what moved us.

We can chart our life and write what we have done so far. Look at the world through our own eyes, recall and record, what was and what we perceive is. The next moment you have in your hands, write what you will by your thoughts, feelings and actions. What is the end of your story, when you have not paid attention to the story you leave behind or are experiencing now?

The end of your story is the goal achieved; the journey is the path you chose. Funny thing is that you can always change your path, maybe not the past, but your future, no matter where you are, is always available for change. There is a difference in waking up in the morning and feeling a hope, seeing a new horizon, knowing that everything is going to be alright. Hope gives us that belief of the possible.

Hope is not a chain of words or a collection of illustrations, hope is the way we will always begin or end our day and our story. If there will be a hope, let it be something miraculous for you, for your future, for the world and how you see it.

John Tebar Life Coach, Author, Business and Personal Consultant, Entrepreneur for more information contact johntebar@msn.com

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Find Your Lost HOPE in the Sacred Space

By Diana Williams

Imagine a happy person skipping through a beautiful forest on a great adventure. This person has no fear, looks forward to all of the twist and turns along the pathway, and is equipped with a backpack full of provisions for the trip.

Somewhere along the way, she loses the precious backpack and is distraught. Besides a collapsible tent, extra clothing and food, there were powerful virtues like love, joy and peace inside. Furthermore, this once happy traveler realizes that hope was lost as well.
This metaphor depicts what has happened to so many people. Somehow, the challenges and curves in life have caused folks to lose hope. Without hope what was once beautiful and full of promise becomes burdensome and a huge chore.

Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in life. When one has hope, he or she supposes that something desired may happen. The person is not hopeless; rather he or she is hopeful, expecting good things and looking forward to the future.

Typically, life gives each person hope. However, when disappointment, discontentment or even tragedy happens, one may be in the depleted position of trying to get it back. If this is your circumstance, go to your Sacred Space to recapture your hope and create a new normal for your life.

The Sacred Space prohibits the escalation of negative emotions like anger, confusion, fear and hatred. There, the therapy of calm and stillness acts to exchange the bad for the good. It replaces anger with forgiveness, confusion with guidance, fear with courage and hatred with love. Negative emotions may drive you to seek refuge in your Sacred Space but the solace there fortifies you when you leave it.

Use prayer and meditation as a means to regain hope. Remember that pitfalls are only temporary if you get up and continue to move forward. Don't become distracted by where you've been and what happened in the past.

Instead, take a page from newly elected president Barack Obama's book and embrace the Audacity of Hope as an agent of change for your life. His inspiring story is of a youngster born of mixed heritage in an era when interracial marriages were outlawed in some states. His parents divorced when he was two years old and his father returned to Africa seeing his son only once more before his death.

The daily details of spending most of his earlier years with his maternal grandparents could have caused an identity crisis, instead Barack Obama chose to apply himself academically, earn a law degree and work to improve his life as well as the lives of others. It was not easy and required effort on Barack Obama's part.

For others to overcome adversity today, it will also require action. Action taken in your Sacred Space starts the process of resuming agency for your destiny. You can look to the Bible story of Abraham where scripture is quoted, "Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping-believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!" Romans 4:18, NLT

In other words, just believing the promises given by God was reason enough to hope in something not yet seen. If you already have it, there is no need to hope for it. But if we hope for what we do not yet have, the Bible encourages us to wait for it patiently.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

Now go back to the metaphor of the happy traveler in the first paragraph. Wouldn't you advise her to think back to the places visited to find where hope was lost? If she reflects on all of the wonderful things experienced along the way, she may recall lying her precious backpack down in front of a magnificent waterfall. It was an awesome experience and instead of unhappiness, she is grateful that everything during the journey wasn't bad.

With a thankful heart, she can retrieve her lost hope as well as all of the love, joy and peace that rightfully belong to her. Like the happy traveler, when you retreat to your Sacred Space, you have refused to allow hopelessness to thrive in your renewed spirit. You can reclaim the hope to change your life and create a glorious future!

http://urtransformed.blogspot.com

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A Ray of Hope

By Larry Matthews

Hope is a funny thing. You can't see it or touch it but you see it all around us. Many people have so little that all they have is hope. They hope for a better day. They hope they will get better and recover from illness. They hope they will get a job. I could go on and on. All of us seem to hope for a better day no matter what our circumstances. Yes even people with money.

Johnny Cash once said "having money just means having to worry about everything except money". I'm sure with the present state of the world economy there isn't anyone who isn't hoping things will improve.

I sometimes call Hope God's eternal carrot. Through out life it seems hope for a better day gets us up in times of struggle and keeps us going when there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Hope and faith have one very similar trait. That is they are the only two things in life that no one can take from you. By that I mean in both cases you have to make a conscious decision to give them up. Every thing else in life can be taken from us. Our loved ones can die, our money can disappear, we can lose our health and friends can disappoint us or let us down.

As we go through life our youth and enthusiasm are eroded by time and disappointment to the point all we have left is hope and/or faith. We become cautious and wise and our experience can become our handicap. A old gentleman once said. "Young people they go ahead and do things before they realize they can't be done. "I remember when I drew my real estate sign home on my kitchen table and said I was starting a real estate company. Most people thought I was crazy but I was too young to realize it couldn't be done. I had just read the book "Think and Grow Rich" and had enough faith and hope for 10 people. I knew I was going to succeed. Little did I realize that was the easy part.

You see our family had always been poor. I thought if I could get a business going I could help my family become better off. When I started my business I was 27 years old. My father had died when I was seven. We lived in a little house in Nine Mile River and Mum received $80 dollars a month widows allowance. Mum had 4 boys and I believe her rent was $40 a month. No power, plumbing and just a wood stove. Mum married again and when I was 19 our step father died and now there were 6 boys. My 5 younger brothers were ages 17, 11,8,3 and 2. As the oldest I became responsible along with my mother for my brothers upbringing. I loved my brothers dearly and have wonderful memories of those years.

I married my wife Peggy when I was 22 and my brothers were a big part of our lives the years flew as they do and Peg and I had two daughters of our own. My first adult experience with losing hope and narrowly clinging to faith was when my brother Brian was killed in a car accident. He was only 13 and like a son to me. My mother never got over this tragic event but life doesn't go away. We moved on. I tell this to outline some of my background and life experiences to help you understand the back ground of this story. You see I learned early in life that faith and hope are all you can rely on to get you through this life. It started for me when I was 7 when my father drowned and my grandmother took me in her room and explained why I had to have faith and go on with my life. I lost my mother in 1996 and although hard my faith carried me through. I didn't realize my biggest test was yet to come. In June 2003 my brother Ron only 48 went into a coma and as a result had brain damage and required 24 hour care. My wife Peg and I kept him at home for 3 years hoping and praying he would get better but he didn't and is in the hospital and as his guardians we are fighting a heartless bureaucracy that only cares about money. I didn't realize how hard it would be to look after someone you love and hope for a recovery that doesn't come. Then the last straw I lose my brother Rog. He calls me Thursday evening and his last words to me were "I love you Luke with all my heart ". The next day he's gone. Also gone are my faith and hope. I'm not sure how I can continue to function. I operate in a fog running my business and carrying out the motions but I'm dead inside. My brothers were my best friends. All through life we had been there for each other. I was consumed with guilt. I would sit alone and cry uncontrollably. Nothing was making sense. In my mind I had failed miserably at life and any business success meant nothing. I was a failure and my spirit had been broken.

I decide I have to get away alone and think. I go to our cottage to spend the night. Alone I read my bible and pray for help. In desperation I cry out. "Rog let me know if you're okay. Knock three times if you hear me like this. I knock three times on the table and wait. Nothing happens and I pray some more and go to bed. The next morning I hear a knock and then two more. I get up and go to the door and nobody is there. I look at the clock and it's 6am. Then I realize. Roger always got up at 6am. I thought. I must have been dreaming but I feel better. I go home and tell my wife the three knock story and she agrees I must have been dreaming. That night I go to bed at home. The next morning again I'm awakened by a knock at the door. Three of them. I get up and go downstairs and no one is there. I look at the clock and it's 6am. Was I dreaming. Was it real. It didn't matter I had found my ray of hope and my faith was restored and I was okay. You see you have to have faith. Even with all the bad economic news I'm hoping 2009 will be a better year and I have faith it will.

Larry Matthews

Dec 30th 2008

Larry Matthews is a successful entrepreneur and has operated various successful business ventures for the past 30 years.Over his life time has risen from poverty to being a multi millionaire . He and his wife Peggy have been together since teenagers and his two grown daughters are active in his business along with his wife's sister and her son. Larry has been awarded a certificate of recognition by the local municipal government for 25 years of quality service to the public and a resolution was passed by the government of Nova Scotia recognizing Lary and Peggy for their perseverance and hard work.

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