IF TONIGHT

IF TONIGHT

If tonight this is it,, my last day on planet earth,
I am ready, prepared and happy.

I have been enormously blessed beyond all deserving.
I have spent my life using my gifts for others.

I have sought wisdom and found wonder
--and amazing grace everywhere.
I am lucky in life, in love and family, in faith and grace.

I have found a life - companion who loves me very much
with whom I find and still discover meaning and joy.

I have lived my life with compassion and some
courage, risking myself and loving new challenges.

Faith, wonder, and the ability to love with my heart
have been my greatest gifts.

Here I am, Lord.
I am not looking for some reward in the next life
because I believe that
loving with courage is its own reward.

I have been willing to be in the fray, without
counting the cost or nursing wounds.

I have faced and not always overcome the angels of
my darker nature.
But the journey has been one of great fun, and
I am extraordinarily blessed,
Noblesse Oblige.

Thanks to all, especially those dear to my heart
and they know who they are.

Namaste.
Paschal Bernard Baute
age 76.
December 24, 2005 at home, ready for sleep.
>

Christmas Eve, 2005

Christmas Eve, 2005.

It is that time of the year once more to find and renew the song in our hearts.

In a world filled with fault finding, denial, and rampant abuse of power on so many levels, yet our hearts crave healing, hope and love.

When we are lucky, we can find the song in our families, in cherished relationships, in friends, songs of wonder, appreciation, gratitude and humility. This year, I feel like the luckiest man alive. Truly I believe myself to be.

The gift of faith and the generosity of those who love me is beyond deserving. To whom more is given, more is expected. I can never love enough, generously enough, passionately enough for all that I have received.

I cannot begin to thank all of those persons who have been part of my life this year. They will have received some token by now.

It is not what happens, but how we take it, what we do with it, that determines the future.

I choose to live my life daily in wonder, appreciation and amazement.

I will celebrate amazement in my stories and storytelling.

When love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can we keep from singing? (Hymn)

Let this verse be my epitaph. I will celebrate the giftedness of all that is.

And the wonder of this piece of clay.

Namaste!

Paschal Bernard Baute, December 23, 2005.

Recent Workshops Offered, past five years.

Title: "Beyond Words: the Language is Mystery"
Setting/Audience: Online Conference of the Wayne Oates Insititute, Finding a Common Language: Spiritual Dynamics in the Care of Others. www.oates.org /Medical, Nursing, Pastoral, Psychological, Social Work professionals
Date November 1-16, 2002.

Title: "Win-Win Finesse: The Art of Dealing Positively with Negative Feelings"
Setting/Audience, several: Xavier University Regional Symposium for Women /Audience: educators, women, administrators, general and students; Ohio Psychological Annual Convention / Psychologists and other professionals. April and October, 2004

Title: "Sex and the Sacred"
Setting/Audience: Ohio Psychological Assn Union of Psychology and Spirituality Retreat / Psychologists and invited professionals
Date: February, 2005

Title: "Celtic Spirituality "
Setting/Audience: Ohio Psychological Assn Union of Psychology and Spirituality Retreat / Psychologists and invited professionals
Date: October, 2005

Title: "Discerning of One's Spiritual Gifts" Basics of Ministry in the New Paradigm for Laity and Clergy
Setting: Spiritual Growth Network of Kentucky, Knobs Haven, / Laity and professionals.
Date: 2001

Title: How We Color Reality: How the Mind Works to Shape Our Views
Setting: Various / Various Groups, NPOs, HR, Fire, Bus Drivers, etc
Date: 2000-05

Title: Understanding Human Diversity: the Systematic Differences Among Us (The DISC language)
Settings: Various / Fire, SGN, School for Career Development, Midway College / adult students, all levels
Date: 2000-05