JohnMMooney.com (Treasures in Truth)

Quotes to Nourish Your Soul

books

Angels

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“We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can fly only by embracing each other.” —Luciano de Crescenzo

Reflection: To experience true joy, we cannot ignore our connection to others. By reaching out to one another and relying on each other for support, we can experience God’s joy within us. One very important realization that I have learned over the last 36 years is that I learn more from my patients than they learn from me. Twelve years ago, an 82-year-old woman came into our office for chiropractic care.  One day she asked if we needed any help around the office since she wanted to volunteer her services. Twelve years later, at 94, she still comes in once a week to clean, talk with patients, make a run to Starbucks for the staff, always willing to do whatever is needed. Her example of giving freely of her time spreads joy throughout the office and gives her a sense of purpose.

An Instrument of God

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I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world. —Mother Teresa

Reflection: This giving woman reminds us that we can all be instruments of God and every one of us are part of God’s family. This knowledge allows us to experience peace, joy and the confidence to express love in everything we do. I guess in some small way I am sending my love letter to the world in the form of Treasures in Truth. If these quotes can uplift and help others to persevere when life is difficult, then I feel my book has served its purpose to spread joy and hope where it is needed. My good friend’s son is going through a painful divorce. During their recent conversations, she found herself picking up Treasures in Truth, choosing a quote at random and sharing the quote with her son. They now text each other quotes back and forth throughout the week. These words of wisdom have provided the inspiration needed to lift both their spirits through this ongoing process.

Faith

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What strikes me about all the quotes in Treasures in Truth are not just the richness of the words, but also their deeper meanings. Take for example, the following quote by St Augustine: Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. My take on this quote is that St. Augustine is referring to the spiritual world. It seems as if at times the invisible world is in competition with the visible world. My recognition of God as spirit provides me with the understanding I need to bridge both worlds. Finding a quiet place daily and listening to the voice of God is my preferred method. Faith to me means starting each day with the intention of doing my very best. Reflecting on my day, I realize that my faith and God’s spirit support me even on the most difficult of days.

Education is the Passport to the Future

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One of my favorite quotes in Treasures in Truth is “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Malcolm X.

It is obvious to me that Malcolm X was not just a man of action, but also a man of deep thought. This quote is as relevant today as when it was written. Every generation needs to strive to better themselves through education. I recently held a fundraiser at my home for New Morning Youth and Family Services, a wonderful organization that also runs a local youth homeless shelter. The key speaker at the event was a young woman who was raised in a home with substance abuse and neglect, who found herself homeless and alone at age 13. She spoke to us about her experience of going to the shelter and receiving the help she needed from the kind people who worked there. She went on to attend college and was recently appointed director of the shelter and published a book on her experiences. This young woman’s story of overcoming such extreme adversity is a shining example of bettering oneself through education.

Backstory and Inspiration

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My name is John Michael Mooney and I just published my first book called Treasures in Truth: Quotes to Nourish Your Soul. My journey from an avid quote collector to book author started about thirty years ago when I started reading the Book of Proverbs daily. Over time, I came across quotes from various wisdom traditions that spoke to my soul. To ensure I would remember these writings, I wrote them in between the proverbs in my Bible, revisiting them faithfully. Soon the Book of Proverbs was completely full, so I began writing them between the Book of Psalms verses. Eventually, it dawned on me that if anything happened to my Bible, this entire collection of wisdom would be lost forever. Soon after my son decided to type up my collection as a Christmas present. He had it spiral bound. I had copies made and gave them out to friends and patients, which subsequently gave me the idea to create Treasures in Truth. In reflection, I realized my spirit was the driving force behind this anthology of quotations.

I have been a chiropractor in Placerville, California for the last 36 years as well as a collector of quotes for most of this time. From time to time, I would see patients who felt depressed or overwhelmed about their life. During the appointment, the perfect quote would come to mind that fit their situation perfectly. As the visit ended, I would write the quote down, handing it to them on their way out. Invariably, on their next visit, they would express their appreciation and ask for more. The driving force for me behind Treasures in Truth is to touch people’s lives with these universal truths while understanding that wisdom comes in all shapes and sizes. The book is divided into 55 sections/themes according to their subject matter. A few of the topics include Abundance, Action, Blessing, Commitment, Grace, Perseverance and Trust. The range of authors include philosophers, playwrights, actors, spiritual teachers, Olympic champions, presidents, even Oprah. This book offers the reader easy access to whatever is needed for that day, inspiration, peace or guidance by either choosing a page randomly or reading a theme a day.