PHENOMENON

Welcome to Phenomenon!

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HAPPINESS is yours as you read and interact with the members of this site. It is an opening to find friendship, ideas, books and people to communicate with.

It is an opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings about many things.

It is an invitation to tell your story, anonymously or personally. You will be welcomed either way.

There are many things to be learned here and some to celebrate with joy!

Above all is the mystery you may enter into.

All are welcome to this site. Read, post a comment, or send an e-mail. We will reply to your questions or arrange to receive your story. Thank you for your interest.

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

Getting to know me is part of navigating this web site. On it you will find many things I have written and a great deal of wisdom I have learned over the decades of my life.

I characterize my life as being lived in three stages:
• A woman ahead of her time
• A woman in time
• A woman beyond time

As an author, teacher, President of a Management consulting firm for 20 years, President of the Administrative Management Society, Director of a House of Mercy, Director of Religious Education, Member of many community boards, Consultant for a media production company, Mother of three adult children, Grandmother who raised a grandson and is now raising a grand daughter, I am launching what will be my sixth career, as “Gramma Z", on this website.

The important question I'd like to ask is: Do you know who you are? That mystery may be unfolding for you as you read this. Or, you may have already discovered it. Perhaps you've not even thought about it. Either way we all need to hear the stories of others to bring richness and perspective to our own life. Whether you are a person of faith in God (by any name) or not, you are an important person. So we welcome your story.

(Click on “About Gramma z” if you want more Details)

TREKS AND TRAJECTORIES

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Every connection you make is personal. You connect with an idea and that idea sets you off on a trajectory. A movement on to a search, a path to travel on while you explore that idea. You may think of it as research because possibly someone, somewhere else had a similar idea and you want to find out what they did with it. But the main impetus is: “ its your search. You are looking for the connections involved in pursuing this idea. You are searching for what it will mean to you, to your life, to how this idea will affect you.

How might it shape you, make a difference in you and for you? How might it actually transform you? So everything about relating to this idea or inspiration stimulates the life force in you. It stirs you to respond, act, become charged with the energy that is somewhere within you, just waiting to be seized upon, toward some purpose. When an idea hits you, there is a great mystery going on inside of you. The idea acts as a trigger that sets you in motion. If it was possible to make a movie of all the chemical reactions going on in your body, all the complex connections going on in the different parts of your brain as it is connected with every part of your body, and of all your senses, you would see the affects of this sudden and overpowering surprise.

If you could also recognize all the responses of your soul—that eternal nucleus that connects you personally as the source of your life and of all life, you would be also filled with awe at the mystery of it. And if you became aware of the simultaneous mystery of the Spirit that moves the totality of your being, you would be even more amazed at the power within you, suddenly striking like lightning.

That idea would be setting in motion every process in your being as a whole person that could ultimately change how the world and its dynamics reacts because of it.

If we were to go through the history of great ideas brought into the world, by those who gave birth to them and connected them personally to those around them, we would be even more astonished.

One idea brought out, given form and substance, put outward, could reverberate throughout the world, not only in one moment of time, but impacting people, places and processes for generations to come.

That “lightbulb” that went off inside of you, has value beyond your reckoning. Put out there for others, it is a treasure you will have contributed to the universe. Given to you to give for the common good, its trajectory will make its own journey into the vast treasury of hope, as a potency waiting for all who may become enriched by it.

Your real capital

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What is this real wealth we need to recognize, value, talk about, increase, multiply and share. When is the last time you really looked at your personal capital? Not in your bank account or stock portfolio or pension plan but in your very self. Who you are and what you know? What can you do? What could you create? How could you use all your talents right where you live, or anywhere in the world, now that distance is less of a barrier than it has ever been before?

Aren’t there ways we could actually be kinder, nicer, gentler, quieter, a better listener, a thinker, an inventor, an artist, a poet
a musician, an inspiration for someone, an encourager, a grower, a healer, an advocate for someone who can’t speak for himself or herself? Sing a song, whistle a tune, and smile at someone you don’t know. Say a kind word to someone who looks sad. Are there ways we could even give a portion of our services, or exchange them, with someone in a particular need?

Your real capital lies in who you are, in what you can do, in the heart of your being, in your hopes and dreams for the future, in
the goodness that is within you. Dredge it up out of the reservoir
that is your life. You will begin to see how rich you really are.
Then put it on display for others to see and recognize. Put it into some kind of action. Grow it. When you do, the rest of the world
will see it too.

From Gramma Z Oct. 24, 2009

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MEETINGS OF MINDS

How are we using our minds? When all is said and done where and how will we have used our minds to serve humanity? To have loved one another truly? To have cared for the widow and the orphan? To relieve the mental pain and anguish so many among us are suffering? To create something really great?

Are we using our minds to ingest a lot of trivia, so that we end up knowing more and more about less and less? Are our senses feeding our minds so that we are attracted to discovering what is of value in, on, over and under our earth? Are we paying attention to what is of real value for us to spend time with, especially for the children in our lives? Are our minds being fed, drawing from what lies within us in our soul and spirit? Are we meditating on and contemplating the God who knows us well and is available to teach us, feed and nourish us?

Are our minds locked into neat compartments of things we consider and think about?
Are we living in those mental boxes where everything we know is laid out neatly and perhaps
permanently?

I wonder. So I'm asking people around me "what are you doing with your mind?" I get a lot of
different kinds of answers. So I'm wondering if you would like to post a comment? It can be anonymous or you can send me an e-mail. Are you wondering too?

Visions--Beyond Time and Space

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The Father's House and the other "visions" that came to me to write down are included in this Section of the website. (A vision is not necessarily visual but can also be a description as it is in this case). It came after a long period of praying to better know The Father who is the Creator of heaven and earth and all of life. I was so filled with love as I received this. It came in two sections: My Father's House which was very symbolic and then The Interpretation which made the symbolism so clear. I found my place in His House is as a doorkeeper. One who should stand ready to open doors for people both on earth and inner doors that only God opens for us to enter His Presence and heavenly states of "Being".

I talk more bout what "Being" really is in "Meetings of the Mind" on this website.

MY FATHER'S HOUSE

What is my Father’s House made of? It is made of the cedars of Lebanon for cross beams.
It is surrounded by the vine and the branches are strong
It is in a grove of olive trees
It is made of living stones
The corner stone is the Son of God.

The banner flows high over the house. it is the banner of love.
All who enter are welcomed by the door keeper.
There is a court yard for the children to play in.
There are roses everywhere.
In the interior there is marble and brass, high ceilings and much glass.
The choir sings an infinite song.
The birds fly in and out between the gables,
The roof beams are strong and rest on the capstone.
There is a sign of glory about the house.
There are rich appointments in the house--many treasures, heavy carpets, rich rugs.
The vault of the ceiling is high.
The place is airy and the wind blows through it at will and none can compare with the wisdom that flows through this house.
There are many sections to this house so that all are comfortable in it.
There is a big kitchen.
Tall reeds are planted near it and herbs and medicines grow in the sunshine.
There is a cure for every disease known to man under the sun.
Grapes grow outside.
and none is in need.
Rest is essential in this house.
The rest that God gives to those who live in His mercy.
And the children are blessed all day long.
There is goodness and quiet and nurturing work.
High above the ramparts, the wind blows a song of peace.
It is a gathering song for all to hear to draw them near.
Chimes ring to signal the hours of the day.
All nod at the sound of the bells in keeping with the world wide mission
Eloquent words are spoken and resound throughout the house.

So come now and discern the truth, for to live in this house is a great blessing.
Those bringing in the sheaves will come gladly.
The barn swallow and the owl will rejoice at vespers.
This is my Father’s House where the gentle breeze bloweth and all the words are true.

Come, come high up to see it and higher still to live in it.
Where there is peace and joy.
Strength is in it and love abounds.

The victory is yours for you have heard it.

INTERPRETATION FOR “MY FATHER’S HOUSE”

The cedars of Lebanon are the strong supporters. They support the great cross to be carried. They are committed to giving every kind of support that is needed to carry the work.

The vine is the Lord. He is everywhere needed and spreads quickly to surround every new work of His, the branches He has called and made strong by His presence and in His power.

The grove of olive trees signifies the plenty of God. The oil from the olives provides in great measure. It is the provision of God for His people.

The living stones are the people put in place by the Lord to carry out the work according to His plan and in His ways. Always ready and available to answer His calls and to move in the Spirit with the graces of God, acting in and on them.

Jesus Christ is the corner stone of and for each new work. A building cannot begin nor a foundation be laid without a corner stone. Thus Christ is that for each new “building” the Lord God makes.

The banner flying marks two things: (1) the Lord making His presence known over the “house”, the work being carried out in it a sign of His love and (2) the waving of the banner as the movement of the Holy Spirit over it.

The Lord gathers His people to the work He has laid out. They will take their places as He welcomes them in. They will know their places and will recognize each other in their greetings. The Lord gathers through the saints (Mother theresa). Those who lay out the work or make it happen and those who follow. These saints are the doorkeepers. They lay out the work, the rule, the way to be followed, all in Christ, through Him and with Him in the Unity of the Holy Spirit. (Dorothy Day) saints not yet recogniZed (Catherine Doherty) and many more.

The children come to be blessed and cared for. They are not the workers. The court yard is their place of freedom to grow, in safety and learn of God. To be secure in their faith in Him. Given the materials they need, they are largely self-taught and need only encouragement and love given through wisdom, in the presence of God.

The roses are a sign of the presence of the Blessed Mother holding the children and the workers before God perpetually, in love and waiting upon Him for His interventions as needed.
The roses are also the sign of the blessing and support of St. Theresa, the Little Flower, blessing the work as it proceeds. A shower of roses falling from heaven as she promised.

The interior of each person is signified by the beauty and splendor of God within them. The nobility of Christ alive in them, of each one called to be His dwelling and to live it and be shelter for others.

The marble signifies being carved from the rock, the foundation on which the work is laid, pure and strong, its beauty laid into its grain and its purity in its color--white (or sometimes a more golden or pinkish hue). The brass signifies that this worker is polished, rubbed by life and trials until it shines.

The high ceiling connotes being lifted up into the high places of communion with God in prayer and in actions. Into the recesses of the mind of God. And the glass is the vision God affords to those raised up by Him to see, as God sees and as He would have them see.

The choir is the praise of God, given to those who perpetually sing of His praises, adoring Him and loving Him in all His movements in them and for them, forever, and in the choir of angels perpetually adoring Him.

The birds are the creatures of God’s will, cared for by Him and provided for their every need, free to move with the times and seasons. With the winds of the Holy Spirit, singing their song, in flight, soaring and returning ever to earth to bring new life as they nest in the shelter of the most high. They are part of the sign of glory returning again and again to the work and the workers.

The shelter of the most high God is always and forever over these works of His and the workers, protecting and providing. Shelter set upon the capstone, which is the Christ present as protection and love unending, in the charity of God.

The workers of God are themselves a treasure and they receive treasures from God which they exhibit to others. These may be personal attributes or qualities but also their works of art, music and writings, their crafts and all that they grow in beauty and love. Their example is the heavy carpet on which all may stand and trod. The rich rugs are where people may stand to see the beauty of the worker they have come to admire and learn from.

The workers, gathered together, lifted up together in the Spirit of God in praise, thanksgiving and adoration, form the vault of the high ceiling.

The Mass forms part of this high ceiling. The consecration and adoration are all the perpetual praise being given of God, by God and to God in union with the peoples of faith in their recognition of the sacrifice of the Son and in his resurrection. The wind of the Holy Spirit blows through all the works of God and fills the workers of God in a special way. They are the power and the glory of God in their manifestations of His sovereign acts upon the earth and with them and through them in the fullness of His wisdom and not the wisdom of man apart from Him.

The Father’s house is huge and all encompassing and so all find their rightful place in it, who are called by His Name. They may dwell in peace in it and under it and their comfort is their relationship with God.

The kitchen signifies where God prepares the nourishment's and foods for His people. Some exotic foods are prepared here too to give life and health. To sustain the people in their needs and to enliven their pursuits, especially when they grow weary. The food of God is also medicinal and healing for he soul, which must be fed ever more clarity to bring it closer to God in its under- standings. Filling it with love and wisdom in the sauce of truth that God brews for it. Thus God has a cure for every ill of the mind, the body and the soul.

The grapes signify the wine that is to be pressed from them. The vintage wine from the grapes of God’s house. This is the wine for valor for those who will drink it.

All are given what they need when they need it, out of the storehouse of His riches, so the fullness of His giving is exemplified in all the treasures surrounding and in His house.

The rest of God is the stillness in which He is known. This is the rest for the soul which desires to contemplate God and be ever ready in its movements to respond to Him and be in union with Him, in everything it is and knows and does. Blessed be God in the stillness of God that He gives His children who are blessed all day long by His simple presence to them.

The goodness of God is ever present in the work of His hands as He lays them upon His children and those who work for him and are about His business.

The peace of the Lord is with you who hear His word and write it for others. It is their song being sung and it is the music of the spheres resounding and being carried by the Holy Spirit throughout the world to those who find favor with Him and to those who gather to be near Him.

The angels ring the chimes of the hours, calling all to prayer who will listen to them and hear them. These are the calls to prayer for all in need of God’s pleasures, favors and mercies. The ever present cry of those who ask and receive. The ever present cry of the poor and the sick and the dying.

The bells ring out against the the destruction of humanity, against cruelty and sin, against dishonesty, against rebellion and wars, against man’s intolerance and against His inhumanity to his fellow man, so that the Kingdom of God may come. So that it may be on earth as it is in heaven in the perfect will of God.

God speaks and His children listen and learn from Him and act on the eloquent words He uses to move them in their hearts and souls, as they go about the Father’s business of loving in grace and charity. In the truth of their being they receive as they give and they bless, as they are blessed, living in their Father’s house, in the House of the Lord.

The workers of the fields will bring those they have gathered for the Lord. They will bring them in for healing and blessing and to know the Lord in the fullness of His mercy. Many will come in from the fields to fill the Father’s house, to be welcomed in and to be cherished and taught, given instruction, shown the way and sent out as workers of the fields everywhere. Blessed and strengthened they go and supported by those of the House.

The barn swallow flies by day and the owl is vigilant by night. Each brings its vigilance to the Father’s house to snatch away the spirits of evil that would attack the works of the Lord, devouring those that light upon the workers and their works for God. Vespers is the time of evening and the changing of the guard. Those who will sleep rejoice after the day’s labors and those who awake for the night watch will rejoice in fulfillment of their call.

The Father’s House reaches from the heavens and stretches toward the sun and brings light to the earth. It fills every corner with its goodness and love, sheltering those whom the Lord God wills to protect and bring to Himself.

As the gentle breeze blows so does His Spirit fall upon them as a gentle mantle clothing them in the richness of His glory.
The Father is ever calling from His house, ever calling in, ever singing the gathering song of welcome, ever dispensing peace and joy that are His Strength, permeated with love unending for the victorious life lived under His ramparts.

© Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved

A VISION OF HOPE

Picture a world where all children are safe. Where no one would harm a child. Where children are free to grow and learn. To play and sing. To dance and leap into the air. To invent games and play them. To discover, to behold, to make and create, to find. To share and to love. To help one another. To become who they are and to bring to this world the treasures of themselves and their ideas, their talents and all they can be and will do, into the future, enriching the earth with their presence, making way for a new world.

Picture them freed from every kind of bondage, allowed to be and become.

So much laughter. So much hope. So much joy. So much confidence in what could be.

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The INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS was made into a movie quite a few years ago. Ingrid Bergman starred in it (for you movie buffs, she also starred in Casablanca and Notorious).

It is the true story of an English servant girl who longed to become a missionary. People of her class rarely got such chances. Her employer (master, really) caught her taking books our of his library. When confronted, she explained that she was reading all about China because of her desire to go there to serve. He saw her sincerity, her passion and he helped her to get to China. The rest of the amazing story is about her living at THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS. Of all the ways she came to know the Chinese peasants and be respected by them. She did such remarkable things for them including rescuing hundreds of children from a war. They called her GENNAI which meant “the one who loves the people”.

The INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS I am about to tell you about is a VISION of something that could be, of a place that could actually exist. But it is also of a state of being, with and in union with the mystery of God. A state where we can experience and know transformations in ourselves.

For me it helped me become open to people of all ages, of every nation, race and tongue, in a way of love and hope similar to Gennai.

Read on and see that THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS could do the same for you. I was led to open and run a House of Mercy for several years. Who knows what it might do for you.
It might inspire you to create something similar somewhere
in these difficult and tragic times.

THE FIRST ROOM AT THE INN:
You see yourself with a parent. She is crying. You bend down to comfort her. She does not see your “cloak”. (a garment given you by God, supernaturally) but the crying woman feels warm when you touch her. Her soul is aching. Her son is gone. He has left her. He is far away. He is young, l4. He has run away. Tell her that God knows where he is and is taking care of him.Tell her you will pray for him to return. She knows that what you say is true.

This is the FIRST ROOM in the INN. It is the consoling room, the place where people come to be comforted and consoled.It is a gentle room. A place where the aching heart finds mercy and compassion.

The SECOND ROOM is QUIET. A great inner quiet deep inside fills the one who comes into it . That quiet remains for at least a day. It is a room filled with colorful scenes in nature. One can feel and see interiorly, the beautiful sunsets one might be dazeled by under a western sky or looking out over an ocean. All is very quiet. Nothing going on inside of you , no thought or sounds or words. Totally peaceful inside. A pervasive stillness. Somehow, the doors to inner rooms are being opened for one the who enters here. This inner stillness can last for an entire day.

When I entered this “room” it I felt as though I wanted to be there always. Words were buried so deep I could not bring them up and out and had no desire to do so. I felt I knew what God meant by “Be still and know God”.

Reflecting on this the next day, I wished and prayed I could always be in that state. My grand daughter was much more responsive to my quiet tone and my whole being, which felt in harmony with everything.

I was reminded of a time long ago when I experienced time standing still when I became totally absorbed in some drops of
water as they slid down my glass shower door, I was watching them for what seemed eternity, seeing them in their essence and beauty. I also found that I could not speak. Words were so deep inside then too.

THIRD ROOM; THE RED ROOM
(There is also a white room and a blue room)

The Sacred Heart Room where promises are kept. (St. Mary Margaret Alaquoque) I couldn’t remember what the promises were but I knew there were 12. Later a friend e-mailed them to me. (available if you want them. I could e-mail them to you).
So this is also a Promise Room.

The RED ROOM is also where wounds are healed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Deep wounds. There are many that must come into this room. It is the room where deep, deep wounds are healed forever. This is a special room and only a few enter. One must seek God with his/her whole heart to enter. Yes, many more could be motivated and moved to do this if they knew what God could do or them. Paradoxically, if they desire Him and not just what He could do for them. No lock on the door!

FOURTH ROOM: WHITE ROOM

This is Mary’s room where purity of heart is. The lily of the valley. The fragrance room. All are welcome. Hearts are touched by sweetness, kindness, incomprehensible love. Mary’s apron. She is always ready to serve. A very comfortable room. Soft caressing presence surrounded with love. It is also energizing. One feels accepted, embraced, treasured. The motive of Mary is to love the Son with a tender heart. She sees Christ in every child, every person. Always the Christ child of her womb. Much can be accomplished in this room. All is open to God’s magnanimous heart and His saving graces. Hope abounds, for everything is possible in this room which is visited by the Saints often and the angels dwell here also. There is no manipulation here. God acts unexpectedly and sovereignly. Prepare Him room. Leave everything open.

This is the most open room in the house. Open as to God’s
ways. Mary is the first responder. Always on the scene. Always ready. All kinds of levels. All kinds of needs.

FIFTH ROOM: THE BLUE ROOM

Also HOME ROOM. At the center of the House. The Kingdom Room. Where all is peace and love. The Holy Spirit lives here in power. “And all thy hopes are met in thee” (song). The Holy Spirit falls afresh on thee. Now that minds can be opened
“Here in this place a new day is dawning”. This is a meeting room where open minds meet and much is accomplished here through prayer and otherwise. It is the Inn’s famous room because people leave here with new ideas and are astonished at God’s grace!

I am reminded of a girl I gave a lift to in my car (many years ago when I was experiencing being “in the kingdom” for four straight days), She got out of the car a new person, touched by God to the core in some amazing way. I don’t remember what I said to her but she shouted “That’s it, that’s it! We were’nt even talking about God.

“It will be like that again. Amazing encounters.” No one is ever
the same after that. I know this will happen again through this
web site: PHENOMENON!

THE SIXTH ROOM

This is a very important room in the house. The children gather here in joyous celebraion of life and learning and being. it is everything you dreamed of and it is a part of the day. Childen and parents doing their thing together in love and joy. it is a room that can be visited and used at anytime by parents and children. With older children laterin the day when fathers might want to work with them. An amazing plce. You will have much to suplort thisand you already have some. Who wells here dwells happily!

Learning activities of all kins emanate from here. Adults and children and community peoople are invited to come. A real connection to community. (song) “Where there is joy, joy, joy!”

Home is where the heart is and thee surely will be a dwelling place for the whole heart and the mind as well. A school I already know well. It could be a home school too. You could have the blue print to follow in the inauguration of it and what follows as well. Much depends on you to start this but many will come in as well so the burden does not fall on you alone.

THIS IS A VISION OF WHAT COULD BE AND IN SOME PLACES
IT ALREADY IS!

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Books by Gramma Z

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THE BOOK OF LIGHTS

YOU HAVE AN ANGEL

THE BOOK OF WAYS

DAISIES

GOD SPEAKING. . .

CONTACT ME TO FIND OUT MORE OR MAKE A PURCHASE BY
MAIL.
fran_zubryd@hotmail.com

See Short Summaries of each book following:

THE BOOK OF LIGHTS is an amazing book which offers 29 different lights God gives us to guide our lives. People who have read it have said that as they read they actually receive
interior light in their mind and soul. There are two very short Tracts that go with this book. They may be purchased with the BOOK OF LIGHTS or separately. One is about a different way to think about becoming reconciled with those you may be at odds with. The second one is about the kind of love that is unending.

DAISIES
This book is collection of letters I've written to people of all ages, responding to problems or situations they are having great difficulty with. They have sought my prayerful advice and wisdom. Letters addressed to My dear daughter, or My dear son are not necessarily to my biological children but all the younger folks I have come to know and console. Many of them have become long time friends. Some of the letters are to older people.

THE BOOK OF WAYS

This book describes WAYS we may be led as we make our journeys during our life and even on into eternity. Christ told us "I am the Truth, the Life and the Way." God is infinite and so he has clearly shown me that each unique person has a unique way within that larger WAY. Each individual can best travel theirs with guidance, help and protection to reach their destiny and also to live their life on earth to the fullest.

Read this book and see if you recognize your WAY in it.

YOU HAVE AN ANGEL

This book was originally written for children. The current edition has been greatly expanded. BOOK ONE is meant to be read to children or with a child. BOOK TWO is meant for the parent or adult reading it or involved in the child’s life.

ANGELS are real! There is so much help we can receive in our lives if we finally come to know their mission for us. Read on and find out for yourself and enjoy the responses from your child or children.

There are 13 full color pages of beautiful angels in this book. You can detach any or all of them for hanging in their room, if you wish.

When I told people I was writing this book, everyone of them responded by telling me about the Angel who showed up in their life. If enough of you respond with your stories, I hope to put together another edition entitled “ANGELS ARE REAL”. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this one.

GOD SPEAKING. . . .

People of all ages, nationalities, races, religions or non-religious find themselves speaking to God as they know God, in a variety of situations. More rarely do they HEAR from Him.. However God really does want to have at least a two way relationship with us as His own children (no matter how old we are). So this book shows us the many ways He really does speak to us. Read this book and be surprised.

Then don’t be shy about contacting us to share how you hear from God. Your reply will be confidential but we will ask permission to share the content of your story.

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Meetings of the heart. We Come to tell our stories

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Revelations and Testimonies
Solidarity
This part of the website is intended to receive replies, letters or e-mails, so that your story may be selected to be shared with our readers.

If you wish to join us CONTACT fran_zubryd@hotmail.com

I'm kicking this off with the rest of my story, begun at about Gramma Z

A WOMAN AHEAD OF MY TIME

Later, when I graduated from high school early, I was bound and determined to go to college and picked N.Y.U. My father didn’t have the tuition (believe it or not, it cost only $15 a point. So, I went to work full time in the English Department as a Secretary, there earning $32.00 per week and taking free courses because I worked there. After a few months, I applied for a scholarship and won it, so I could work part time and take more courses. I gave up my religious faith at this point in my life and thought philosophy and particularly Humanism was the truth. I was 17.

I married at 19. My husband was 23. When he lost his job, I had to leave N.Y.U. to earn more. I found a job in a law office, secretary first, then office manager and finally apprentice so I could become a lawyer. ( One could do that then without going to Law School.) I continued taking courses for several years at other colleges and finally got my Bachelor’s Degree ( after I had three children). I continued working (which was rare for a woman with children, at that time.) My husband was 33 when we learned he didn’t have long to live, I realized I would have to take over the full responsibility for my supporting my family. By then I also had a daughter.

In the middle of one night I had the inspiration to become a consultant for law offices. They were generally a mess as far as their management, procedures etc. were concerned. I knew how to organize them and it occurred to me I could do that and get paid well for it. So I announced myself as a Consultant, got my first client and was quickly successful. By word of mouth recommendations, continuing from each firm to the next my clientele grew.

Because lawyers were involved with other types of businesses, I got one referral after the other and branched out to consulting for all kinds of organizations. Computers came on the scene
(not the kind you are probably familiar with) so I quickly attended all kinds of seminars etc. to learn about their potential workings and uses. (punch card days and big reels housed in large closet-sized cabinets. Desk top computers with visual screens were then only a dream.

I met some fabulous people, scientists, people with great vision in the field of management, cyberneticians who really understood how biological systems and physical systems and I began analyzing human service organizations as systems accordingly. It was a fascinating time! I became a charter member of the World Future Society.

I began to see how to apply all this to human social systems, (before anyone else was) and especially to multi-agency child care agencies who were my clients.
I DESIGNED THE FIRST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR CHILD CARE
AGENCIES. It was a break through . It was the 1960s when so many other (the sky’s the limit)
things were happening. I made it into a New York newspaper.

SO ALL AT ONCE I WAS A WOMAN AHEAD OF MY TIME, leading the pack, giving seminars,
writing articles, becoming President of the Administrative Management Society, President
of my own firm, given a weekly newspaper column published in a two county wide newspaper with a circulation of 35,000 people. I traveled a lot, in the U.S. the Bahamas and other islands, 9 countries in Europe and East Africa.

At the height of all that, my mother, my husband and my father all died, within a year and a half. My oldest son, then 20, had a heart attack. My eight cats got sick all at once and six died. I stopped in my tracks. WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON?

I told my kids (now 20, 17 and 8 1/2) that I was going to sit in our library and not move until I knew what this was really about. They pitched in, as did the people who worked for my company, so I could take a few days off (usually unheard for me as a workaholic). Colleagues, some of whom happened to be priests and ministers, told me that God (as the hound of heaven) was chasing me down and that's why all this was happening to me. I thought they were a bit crazy because I was an agnostic. I told them if God was real he would have to show me directly because I wasn't about to take anyone else's word for it.

A WOMAN IN TIME

As I sat on the couch, closing my eyes, I suddenly saw the letters ISAIAH 6 about the size of a great big theater marque. I had no idea what that was. I called a colleague who was then the Dean of Students at Union Theological Seminary. We had been working on a project dealing with making models for social systems. He immediately said that God was calling me to be a prophet and this was the call to Isaiah in that biblical verse. Did I have a bible in the house? Could I go read it? I really thought he had lost his mind, or maybe I had. After reading it, especially: "they have not the eyes to see, or the ears to hear, or the wits to turn and be healed" I called my friend back. "If this is God, he is just telling me that I'm stupid, not a prophet" I told him. But my friend insisted and assured me I would see that he was indeed right.

It was the beginning of a completely new life for me. Many more "messages" came, dramatically. God was indeed real! More dramatically, he was talking to me ! Cryptically at first and then more clearly. I met some people from Taize, France. I felt strongly to go there and learn first hand what was happening there. Brother Roger had, with some 60 brothers, built a church of reconciliation and thousands of young people were flocking there each week, staying in large tents, to join in a dialogue. That was an amazing week for me.

From there on to Switzerland where I stumbled upon L'Abrie another spiritual place that had become well known. It was during the time of the Vietnam War, the shootings at Kent State in the U.S., the drop-out generation with flower power. I knew I simply had to go. I did. This was in May of 1975, with my 10 year old daughter.

By then I knew I had to give up my business, sell my winter home and my summer home and search for a place somewhere in New England to open a House of Retreat. I had seen a an old farm house on 130 acres, in a place called Unity. (The manuscript "The Road to Unity" I had written while there, was lost in transit. It tells this whole story and needs to be re-written).

Eventually I did open that House and among the people who began coming, several stayed to help. We never advertised. A great variety of people came, all searching: graduate students, several priests, two nuns, someone just out of prison, young singles, a couple of families, young and old, a few at a time, all by word of mouth, over the course of about 7 years a couple of hundred people. We became more of a House of Refuge and finally a House of Mercy (because of the amazing things God did there).

I had literally given up everything to enter into this way of life. Here I witnessed, and was part of seeing the Holy Spirit move in great power to bring inner healings to the people who came. Also to give them a new start and to help guide them into better lives for themselves and their loved ones. It was a most remarkable time in which God, in answer to our prayers, also provided for our daily needs in many different ways. He helped us through extraordinary "adventures", including a 3-week trip to Ireland on an authorized healing mission. All of this was not without a good deal of difficulty and suffering included. It was, for me like a woman dancing in time and unison, with God as my partner, dancing to music of the spheres. Truly I had, throughout those years, become A WOMAN IN TIME.

A WOMAN BEYOND TIME
Now, many years later, having raised my grandson from birth (now 30) and now raising a grand daughter who is 11, having been through several careers. By the grace of God, I became a contemplative which I experience as living in the Presence of God in my daily life. Sometimes in a heavenly "state of being" but often doing all the things that most every single mom/grandma/ American woman finds necessary to do.

What is vastly different is my constant companion (the Holy Spirit) and the way I have been changed as a human being, through and in this Trinitarian relationship. I see.! I used to have a great gift for hearing, for listening. Now I see things and people in a completely different way. What I know, I have been led to set down in writing. Hence the books listed and the covers of them pictured as the slide show at the top of this website (blog). (Thanks to my grandson)

A contemplative may be understood, or misunderstood, as many things. Because moving beyond time and space, led by God, one does not have one's own agenda. One is free in the fullest sense of that word. Freed from so many things that one has accumulated during a lifetime. Not just materially but as part of one's own personality, ways of thinking, and expectations. One is freed for the next possibility that opens up, the next encounter with someone (not necessarily of one's own choosing) the next disaster. Mostly, one is freed to love and free not to be afraid to find and face the Truth whatever it may be, as God reveals it. He is truly present to help, guide, move, act sovereignly or in everyone knowingly and unknowingly cooperating.

(My Adventures With God will eventually be published. I keep making entries for it as they occur). I would love to hear yours if you wish to share them.)

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Meeting in the Spirit--The Hope of Glory

2009-10-09T14:55:00.004-04:00

Many of us have been touched, moved and even transformed by the Spirit. For me that means THE HOLY SPIRIT. But I know that different people have different languages to speak about the same phenomenon.

We usually think of heaven as a place we hope to go to after death, at the end of our mortal life on earth. If we are Christians, we anticipate having only one trip from birth to death. For others there is the expectation of many lives–reincarnations.

For those who meditate, pray deeply, are blessed with infused contemplation, we may experience being lifted up to heavenly states while we physically sit in our room or at our place of prayer, and while we are very much alive on this earth.

Thus we come to sense in our innermost being (and sometimes in our 5 senses also) heavenly “glimpses of Reality”beyond our visible world. What happens to us interiorly is beyond our own doing or thinking. We come into the presence of God and in some way into His Glory. I wrote the following piece as it came to me in such a state. I share it with you in love.

THE HOPE OF GLORY

By the grace of God in the power of the Holy Spirit, one may enter into the Glory of God and know Him in His Glory as the Father all perfect, all wise, all knowing. The Father of All, the boundless One, the Creator and Sustainor of the whole Universe. Blessed be the Name of God.

And proceeding from Him, the giver of all gifts, the Holy Spirit, dispenser of sanctifying grace to make holy the peoples of God. The Paraclete promised by the Son, the great Redemmer of mankind. All in the Glory of God in the most loving relationship with each other, as distinct persons of the Holy Trinity and yet eternally as One and only One, as no other is One, in the Unity of Grace and above all things. So, in the utter perfection of love eternal always and forever.

Now pouring out abundant grace on all who call upon His Name and who believe in Him, in the hope of Glory, to share in his divine life and forever more be His beloved children, children of God, begotten not of the flesh but of the spirit of God in new life.

Raised by God in this eternal, holy and blessed Trinity to be ever more in union with Him and blessed to enter the kingdom of God, to receive and share in his power of love and to walk in His glory.

Grace is now raising up the children of God to walk in this glory to share in the divine life, while they yet live upo the earth as the servants of God, holy and impeccable in receiving grace such as ordained by God in the Glory of God the Father with the Son and proceeding from the Holy Spirit. Blessed be the Name of God.

Now to walk in Glory by the Will of God in Christ Jesus, for all Christians to rise up and in union With God, and only in that union, to proceed to renew the ace of the earth in this millennium.

Cling then, children to the Hope of Glory by intent and by firmness of purpose to the practice of prayer and to all humility to render yourselves accountable to God, according to his grace and mercy, and seeking always day by day, to receive the portion He has for you as your daily bread. And being broken in the flesh as earthen vessels to pour forth in great abundance, the power of the Spirit to bring forth the miracles of God. Now, in the midst of the tribulation and in the devastation of the earth, to bring about a new heavens and a new earth, all in the Glory of God. Amen.

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TREASURES

2009-10-09T14:41:00.013-04:00

These treasures are various short writings that you might find very interesting and useful
for pondering. They are available for $2.00 each plus mailing costs.

LOVE UNENDING

RECONCONCILIATION

(Both tracts were written to go with “THE BOOK OF LIGHTS” but can be read independently)

The other tracts (listed below) may be several pages long. (8 1/2 X 11). They can be made available to you by snail mail.
(see Contact Me for prices and information.

Ask about these “TREASURES” below:

The Unifying Power

A Significant Day

Seeds and the New Planting

Catholic Means Universal
(in spite of what you may have heard to the contrary)

Vision for a home school– especially for single moms

Two forces: Attraction and Distraction

Here is a sample of some content.

CATHOLIC MEANS UNIVERSAL

Catholic means universal, to be Catholic means being in a mystical relationship with God, with all humans, and with the capacity and responsibility to care for creatures of the earth and with the created world. This Catholicity is informed by prayer, learning to know God, by trying to live what Jesus taught, and which the Church continues to inform us. We do this by Faith, by science, by the study of the works of others to understand our world, by experience in life. The true meaning of these things comes to as light given from our communicating with God, as the Supreme Being. We do this through prayer, meditation and contemplation, reception of sacraments, (particular graces given by God) and by being open to the mystery of God in so many ways we may not know or understand. Such knowing is not confined to Catholics but is
God's wish and will for everyone.

Points made in this paper:
Science affirms a "Big Bang" as the start of the Universe. To be Catholic is to believe in "the Big Banger", the supreme being, God, who started it all and continues with us as the living God.

Catholics affirm that God intervened in the unique creation of man and woman, intervening in and beyond (but not excluding) the evolutionary processes that may now be accepted. While recognizing the long timetable in which all this happened, a biblical "day" is not considered as 24 of our hours.

The main point is: God chose to communicate to man and woman, making it possible for them to know who He, as God, was, in relation to them. He showed them their custodial duties (to take care of the earth) and what not to do (eat of the forbidden fruit) which would only confuse them about both those things, wrongly thinking they could go it alone without Him. He also gave them the capability to choose: to be one with God always or to separate themselves from Him, which would bring about serious consequences for themselves and the whole earth. He gave them free will as he still gives it to each person. (This is not a license to do your own thing without regard to others or the planet).
However you may choose to look at Genesis in the Bible, as a story or a myth or as truth, there are rare, valuable, and tremendous lessons to learn from it.
God did give Adam and Eve, the capacity to be life-creating, to bring forth creatures like themselves, which continues for most humans.

Catholics do read and study the Bible as the Word of God. They don't worship idols or statues. They do believe in Christ and try their best to follow Him in the teachings he gave while on earth. They do believe he rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will come again. They do believe in the mystery of One God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Catholics are Christians. They believe that the Holy Spirit came upon the people at Pentecost to begin the Church that Christ had been telling them about as part of a new covenant with God. That this Holy Spirit, proceeding from The Father and the Son, and one with them, always was and continues, in ever new and amazing ways to teach, love and guide humans on their way through this life and on to eternity.

Knowing that God loves all persons, they try to be open to the many ways He has led them and continues to sustain everyone. They are cautioned not to be against other ways of believing or other religions, though they probably don't understand them. If they are serious at being Catholic, they try hard to be committed to loving everyone as their neighbor, Christ's first commandment: "love thy neighbor as thyself" and if you really mean it "love your neighbor as I have loved you".

Catholics recognize themselves as sinners, not doing as well as they could in treating each other and everyone else as Christ told them to do. They also believe in being forgiven by God so they can pick themselves up and start over as many times as needed to get it right. God is infinitely
patient with everybody so long as they are trying.

The great effort for Catholics is to see everyone as a brother or sister (someone you really love) and not to judge others. Yes, to make judgments about some kinds of behaviors and actions that are harmful, cruel, or uncaring toward others but to "Hate the sin but not the "sinner". They count on God, on grace, on their Faith in God, on those gifts and graces He is so generous to give them all the days of their lives and on into eternity and everlasting life. No reincarnation for them, just one amazing life to live in love.

Simply put, it's to really know God, to love Him, to serve Him and to be happy with Him now and forever. . . . . and so much more--miracles yesterday and today. Saints who really knew and know Him personally and did such great things for others (and still do). Angels who are real and do offer a tremendous amount of help for humans.

My thing is: Get to know God personally, directly. I did and do and highly recommend it.

Books in the Works

2009-10-08T13:52:00.004-04:00

HOW MY GRANDSON RAISED ME
THE ROAD TO UNITY
A KINGDOM COMING

Note: The original manuscript for “The Road to Unity” was lost in the mail some years ago so it is being rewritten. It is a true story of my journey with many others, after being led to a real place on the map named UNITY in a rural New England.

Some clips of the above books appear in various sections of this
web site.

Earth Landings-Solid Advice

2009-10-07T21:10:00.007-04:00

HOW SHALL THIS BE? How Do we make our inspirations come to life? How shall we make our dreams come true? How shall be bring into being the wonderful ideas we have, the hopes we nourish for ourselves and for others? How do we individually and collectively make a difference in the lives of others to help make them better?

Some of us live mainly in a mind world. A world of words and images and communications. But not necessarily exerting our bodies to take on new challenges, meet new and different
people, or actually offer our services to help those we don’t ordinarily come in contact with.

This summer when I studied “The Theology of the Body” which was masterfully explained by the late Pope John Paul II, I recognized how much I had been concentrating on the Spiritual aspects of my life. Being both a contemplative and an active person (a grandmother raising my 11 year old grand daughter everyday) it moved me realize that I had to be willing to actually spend time with more different people and reach more people than I normally do.

The creation of this web site is a leap for me. Reaching more people and being more available to “meet” with them, whenever and wherever that may become possible. I realize that will most likely take place via e-mail or by phone but I am definitely making time available to be with more people. The big question was: HOW could this be possible at my age and stage of life? How about you? What's keeping you from moving on to new and better things?

I spent many years as a consultant both in management circles and in the field of education, so Earth Landings could consist of still being available to those who respond to this website with their questions and/ or needs for solutions. Depending on the person and the nature of the questions they wish to discuss or explore, some of my time will be free. Some available by consultation for an agreed upon fee.

I'm open to other ways I can dialog with people of all ages and backgrounds because I'm always interested in learning what's new and love solving problems.

About Gramma Z

2009-09-30T20:47:00.016-04:00

Before I tell you more about myself, I want to make it clear that though I am a faithful practicing Catholic, I am not speaking in any teaching capacity on behalf of the Church on this website. I am not submitting what I've written for any kind of review, because since it would be considered "private revelation", the Church does not need to acknowledge or consider it, and no one is required to believe it.

I am sharing my personal way of knowing God, after many years of searching and seeking Him. I truly believe that everyone "hears, or can hear," from God in some way, (by whatever name they may call Him). For me it has been primarily in contemplative prayer. I do not hear His voice or any voices. I simply write down what comes to me, in prayer. This is a gift from God. With what I feel is His permission, I share it with others. Some of what I receive is personal and confidential for one person (see DAISIES). Some are of a broader scope, good advice for anyone. some are clarifications and deep understandings, words, hopefully meant for many.
So Read and browse to your heart's content.

If you are of a younger generation than I am, you probably can't imagine how difficult making this website has been for me. First I was scared to death. Then I was sure I would never be able to do it. Finally, after much prayer (asking for removal of all my fears and barriers), with my grandson's patient tutelage. (He's a whiz at it and could easily write "Website for a dummy"), I am actually getting the hang of it, and starting to enjoy it.

So on that note, I am going ahead to share my gifts with you, hoping they benefit you. Do let me know. You may complain or disagree also. Once again, I'll be listening.

A WOMAN BEYOND TIME AND SPACE

I'm putting my bio in reverse order, starting with the third phase of my life. Until age 39 I was a person ahead of my time. That was true in my education and true as I set out to start a business career of my own, as a management consultant (while being the mother of three children--my husband died young. He was an artist). Having a major revelation at 39 changed me dramaticly. Then proceeding, for the next 39 years to be "A WOMAN IN TIME" that is, dancing to the tune of a different drummer. Leaving home, (my sons were grown by then and my daughter went with me) ending the company I started and was President of for many years) and leaving everything I knew, to enter a new kind of life.

Now as A WOMAN BEYOND TIME AND SPACE I am living this out by recognizing:

A) that all I have learned and know and become, is one seamless garment. It all fits together.

B) That by using technology (my computer, my cell phone, a web camera), with products (books and tracts) I can produce, I am no longer confined by time or space to reach anyone in the world. With words and pictures I generate to share with anyone who wishes to be connected with me and benefit from my works.

C) That as One in Being with THE ONE, I may be privileged, graced and gifted to be one with each and all. This is a huge change in my perspectives, in my heart and its capacities to care and "love one another as I have love you". All of this is well beyond the limits of technology and yet made possible by it, even for generations to come.

To see the matrix of the 5 areas of my know-how and the plan I have for making it available to everyone interested, please CLICK ON THE LINK SYNERGY DIRECT soon to be uploaded.

CONTINUING WITH MY BIO:

The preamble is my CHILDHOOD. I was born in the Great Depression, something many Americans are finding out about personally, right now, with this current economic situation.

My childhood and youth were rough. My father worked six days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to bring home $l8.25 for the week. (Of course things were cheaper then but still that meant one
food item per meal except on Sunday, when we ate a whole dinner. We walked everywhere (no car) or took the train, (for 5 cents) the “El” or elevated. And I went to public school with 48 kids in a class, children of many immigrant cultures: Greek, Italian, German, Jewish, Armenian etc. No frills added to reading, writing and arithmetic. The person who signed me up took one look and said you belong in the l class (the smartest kids) decided by her with no psychological testing whatsoever.

At home there were only boys in my neighborhood so I became a “Tom Boy, pinning up my skirts so I could climb trees, play football and learn how to fight back.

I was “smart” in school so I soon figured out how to get ahead, how to be recognized for my
accomplishments and started aiming for success. This took place in Queens, New York which was a fairly rural place at the time. Plenty of wooded spaces across from our "block" and a big open field to play ball—baseball (I played first base and did not throw like a girl) football without helmets, flying kites made out of newspapers and occasionally having snow ball fights. We had lots of adventures using our imagination (no store bought toys).

I was gifted in ways I did not understand then, but I always seemed to know things no one else knew. Things I didn’t learn in books or from anyone else. I spent a lot of time alone (the boys didn’t always want me around.) I looked to the future and could see possibilities when no one else thought of them. I was sick a lot too, so I spent many days at home in bed (no antibiotics then) or just home recuperating and using my imagination . Somehow I always knew I was special though I had no idea why or how.

The turning point of my life was meeting God in person, quite unexpectedly!

For the rest of my story CLICK ON MEETING OF HEARTS WE COME TO TELL OUR STORIES

PHENOMENON

Welcome to Phenomenon!

TREKS AND TRAJECTORIES

Your real capital

Visions--Beyond Time and Space

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Books by Gramma Z

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Meetings of the heart. We Come to tell our stories

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Meeting in the Spirit--The Hope of Glory

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TREASURES

Books in the Works

Earth Landings-Solid Advice

About Gramma Z