You know, I sometimes think that the small blessings most accurately depict our lives. They're the things that constantly remind us of a reason to wake up in the morning. As I get older, the more I cherish them.
In Flanders fields the poppies grow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae
(Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote it in 1915, after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before, May 2.)
Through effective change in myself, first and foremost, I can effect change in my surroundings in a most genuine and compassionate manner. This means challenging my self to compassionate, encouraging, genuine and hostile-free exchanges. It also means contemplating my reaction to the thoughts, feelings and expressions of others, prior to acting upon them. When negative energy and thinking threaten to darken my path, I can brighten my way through the light of acceptance and positive energy. I choose ~ it starts with me.
~written 04.10.2008, revised 20.03.2009~
"Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things." ~ Okakura Kakuzo, The Book of Tea
"All of us live in exile in a real way. As St. Paul puts it, we see as 'through a glass darkly,' through an enigma, separated always partially from God and each other." ~ Ron Rolheiser, OMI
"Truth is shattered into a thousand pieces when God throws it down to earth." ~Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg
"If you ask me 'How did Jesus raise the dead?' I will kiss you on the lips, and say 'like this'..." ~Rumi
"Everything you can imagine is real." ~Picasso
"Writing is a form of memory." ~Unknown
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” ~ Steve Jobs
"An illustration of activity in stillness is in the spinning of a top. At its greatest speed there is most apparent stillness, and we say the top is then ‘asleep.’” ~Isabella Mears
"A certain skinlessness goes with the ability to observe and describe feelings. This does not make for blithe unconsciousness. Writers are doubters, compulsives, self-flagellants. The torture only stops for brief moments." ~ Erica Jong, Fear of Fifty
“The act of building is the physical tangible expression of promise.” ~ Unknown
'The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' ~ Dorothea Lange
5 comments:
You know, I sometimes think that the small blessings most accurately depict our lives. They're the things that constantly remind us of a reason to wake up in the morning. As I get older, the more I cherish them.
first of all ..
that's a really beautiful photograph.
and isn't it the truth ..
there's no victory without loss and mourning.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae
(Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote it in 1915, after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before, May 2.)
Oh, yes, there really is no victory and no victor, is there?
Gorgeous photograph!
Are you managing to stay dry today? *sigh*
But there is victory. Very expensive victory in terms of life and suffering. But the world didn't end up living under Hitler.
We need to remember .
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