Men and Women

Advent: Awaiting Illumination

"Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is my light" (Micah 7:8)

Read a lovely article by Eitan Fishbane, PhD, titled "From darkness to light: Entering holy time."

"God is the radiance that dwells at the soul of existence, the rock upon which the weary might rest. Even as we travel in the dark places, the spark of an inner divine flame may sustain us with a measure of hope."

Pray for Patience

Stumbled upon this tonight at the perfect time.

Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of my life, in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in the insincerity of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied. Let me forget myself so that I may enjoy the happiness of others. Let me always hide my little pains and heartaches so that I may be the only one to suffer from them. Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it that it may mellow me, not harden or embitter me; that it may make me patient, not irritable; that it may make me broad in my forgiveness, not narrow or proud or overbearing. May no one be less good for having come within my influence; no one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble, for having been a fellow traveler with me on our journey towards eternal life. As I meet with one cross after another, let me whisper a word of love to You. May my life be lived in the supernatural, full of power for good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity. Amen.

Perhaps this shorter, more easily remembered one will be good to learn and keep handy in the spiritual toolbox.

My dearest Jesus, teach me to be patient, when all day long my heart is troubled by little, but troublesome, crosses.

...but I'm trying!

Equation of life

Wanderlust

Wish I was here: Paris at night

Cleanin' and Greenin' in Philly

This morning's reading turned up some good news in Philadelphia. Other cities, take heed.

A study published this week focused on more than 4,000 vacant city lots that have been cleaned up and planted with grass and trees under the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Vacant Land Stabilization Program. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found there were fewer gun crimes in neighborhoods where lots had been "cleaned and greened." Some residents also reported experiencing less stress and exercising more.

Among its many progressive programs is the community garden and city harvest efforts.

There are more than 400 community gardens in Philadelphia, each one an oasis. Besides being attractive, these serene spaces promote health and nutrition, improve local economies, and allow neighbors to come together for a common interest.

(How cute are these lil' peppers?)

Philly is such a magnanimous city, full of warmth and fight. There's a reason they call it the City of Brotherly Love, right?

Insatiable

Shocker: Fox should be called Sheep

Talking Points Memo reports that Fox News viewers are less informed than those who read NO news at all.

“The (poll’s) results show us that there is something about watching Fox News that leads people to do worse on these questions than those who don’t watch any news at all,” said Dan Cassino, a political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson and an analyst for the poll.

Read on and laugh (or cry - both are appropriate)...

Je t'aime

Self-improvement

Success & Donuts

5 Simple Rules

Are you listening?

another new music curator at work

A tune I love that DN loves, too: The National's cover of The Philistines Jr.’s "Twenty Miles to NH Part 2," arguably better than the original and part of the compilation album "If a Lot of Bands Play in the Woods...", which features such lovelies as Jonsi (of Sigur Ros), Tapes n’ Tapes, Tokyo Police Club, Mice Parade, Mates of State, Guster, Frightened Rabbit, Dazzled Kid (AKA Tjeerd Bomhof) and so on. It's a companion to The Philistines Jr.'s own October release, "If a Band Plays in the Woods..." Listen to more of the remixes over at Pitchfork.

Your own self

"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of
improving, and that's your own self." ~ Aldous Huxley

Deer crossing

Anyway

People are unreasonable, illogical and self centered.
LOVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
SUCCEED ANYWAY.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.

What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
BUILD ANYWAY.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
THINK BIG ANYWAY.

People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have, and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT ANYWAY.



Mother Theresa's version of Kent M. Keith's "The Paradoxical Commandments." Found on a sign at Shishu Bhavan, her children’s home in Calcutta and in the book "A Simple Path."

Zombies don't eat zombies

Thinkers everywhere are in grave danger.

Talk geeky to me

Talking About Talkeetna

Truly a favorite blog of mine.

When I need to quiet my mind, or take it someplace else entirely, I daydream of life in Talkeetna, the way Laura lives it.


One of her shots...

Ashes

"People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes."
~ Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby)

Must See

"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

Enlightened

Must brighten up my patio immediately. Hubs, where's your drill?

via Craftzine

High fives all around!

Bad spell check. Bad.

Dear iPhone spell check wizard,

You are wrong.

I did, in fact, mean "woohoo" not "Elohim." Whatever that is.

And "LOL" should NOT be "polio." Nobody gets that anymore!

Please back off,
Me

When did we forget our dreams?

J'adore, xkcd.

Comma sutra

Punctuation is damn sexy.

Creation

"It is wonderful to be in on the creation of something, see it used, and then walk away and smile at it."

~ Lady Bird Johnson

And so little time

{wedding inspiration} Garden Roses

Italian Humor

Well, Good Morning, Cuteness!

I Just Wanna...

Please Don't Flush It

Happy Love Day

100 Years

Sweet Dreams