Life's Loving Memories

FATHER FIGURES " Someone once said that every man is trying to live up to his father's expectations or make up for their father's mistakes....” ― Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope What memories do you have about your father? Was the relationship a fond memory, a nightmare, or a fleeting one? Being the youngest child in my family, I don't remember seeing a lot of my father. We moved from state to state as he followed the job market. He started in the automobile industry in the Midwest, and when I was nine, we moved to California and the aerospace industry. He was a design engineer and we always moved to where his next job was. I know he loved me, but I don't think I ever appreciated him until I was an adult, looking back. He was easy to smile, and he gave me a love of books and reading. My career for twenty-seven years, was teaching speech and drama, and my students had a way of opening up to me. I realized how lucky I was to have the Dad I had. I also realized tha...

EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY  " Even in darkness it is possible to create light. — Elie Wiesel Ever have one of those days, weeks, years where nothing seems to go right? Sometimes you find yourself so focused on what went wrong that you can't see what possibly could go right? I've had my share of dark nights of the soul in my lifetime, and I've realized that I have to see that every day is a new day, filled with possibilities.  There is a story about a woman who asks the Budd ha about the troubles she is going through. He asks her to knock on a few doors in her neighborhood  to find out if there is anyone she can find with no troubles. She thinks this is a strange request, but she follows the Buddha's advice. The first door she comes to, she finds a woman who is ill and cannot tend to her children. The woman decides to help and stays for a week to assist. She moves on to the next house, and the next, and the next. Eventually she is so involved in helping the individuals ...

  SUN, SAND, AND SANITY "Seasons keep showing up, year after year, no matter what. It can sometimes feel as if summer comes around again before we have cleared up some of our issues, and then life itself becomes hazy and confusing." Life's Garden of weekly wisdom,             -- Sandra Lindsey Smith Does life seem a little hazy to you right now? Do you look at unfolding new events that are occurring and find yourself saying, 'Oh my word, what next?' Our United States Preamble to the Declaration of Independence reads: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The first amendment to the Constitution reads: " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of ...

BE THE LOVE, PEACE, AND KINDNESS YOU WISH TO SEE   Sometimes the world around us does not seem kind or loving; and wars, bombs bursting mid-air, is certainly not very peaceful. Often we are thinking, what to do, what to do, what to do? As the posted above says, be calm, be loving, and be kind. Start with your family and friends, are they healthy and safe? What about your neighbors, are they safe and healthy? Who needs a little help with something, call or knock on a door to see if all is safe and well. Lend a helping hand if you can. What's happening in your community? Does your faith center have places they contribute to? Do you feel strongly about:  justice for all; children who are homeless or going hungry: teens who live on the street: LGTBQ friends rights; discrimination of any kind,  resulting in not being treated fairly; or animals who have been neglected? Many organizations are just waiting for volunteers. Do your part in being Peaceful, Kind, and Loving. Pay it f...

  THE PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING " “You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us.  And the world will live as one. ”      ―  John Lennon Think of all the great peace advocates in our history. Martin Luther King Jr., who spent a lifetime working for justice, equality, and equity for all human beings through peaceful demonstrations and actions. Nelson Mandala, who demonstrated for an end to Apartheid, and was imprisoned from 1964-1982.  Upon his release, he brought an end to Apartheid, and eventually became the first president of South Africa from 1994-1999. Mahatma Gandhi, an anti-colonial nationalist  who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule. What did all of these great men have in common?  They were peaceful activists that spoke about what was true, just and fair for all human beings.  Sometimes our own peace in family si...

  SHARING THE LOAD MAKES THINGS LIGHTER “The miracle is this: The more we share the more we have.”                                                                        — Leonard Nimoy Can one person, by his or herself, build an entire house? Well I imagine it is possible, but I also think it would take a very long time. If you move from one house to another, is refusing any help from others the best option?  There are many things in one's lifetime that become easier when we actually ask for help when we need it.  What is it that keeps a person from asking for a little assistance when it is needed? Is it the day and age we live in? A hundred years ago I have heard of neighbors getting together to raise a barn together, or members of a church group building a church from the ground up. Is sharin...