Finish ...
My resolution this year (yes, just one) is to finish something. That's it. I'm a great starter, but a poor finisher. Call it ADD, distraction, aimlessness, being busy, preoccupation - whatever you call it, there are a hundred and one things started that could be finished. And just maybe if I can finish one thing, I can finish another.
Silence ...
When a beloved voice is silenced, be sure its echoes are heard through the years to come.
Good or Evil?
Traveling through Ireland you see a plethora of beautiful old churches, both Catholic and Church of Ireland. The stonework is intricate; the rooms, cavernous; the rafters soaring, the windows, radiant. Looking at these fantastic building which usually dwarf all surrounding structures and dominate landscapes, I think about when these were built. God fearing monks/priests/holy men would organize the people to build a church. The church became a community with the builders, workers, supporting roles, families all focused on erecting a building where they could worship God.
You would think - this is a good thing, and yet that devotion to a right meaning cause in a way often blinds the descendants of those right seeking people who can't or won't see opportunities to learn greater truths.
Ireland - again
Well, we're home from Ireland. It was wonderful. I'll include the daily reports I posted on Facebook. Selected pics will come later.
Day one - Newgrange, lunch at Poppie's in Enniskerry, Powerscourt gardens, Four Season's Dublin, me learning how to drive in Ireland, and sausage, chips and good music (including my wife singing Kerry Recruit with the band) at Gogarty's.
Day two - Crepes at Lemon, driving across Ireland, Athenry castle and village, Glenlo Abbey, bangers and mash, and a wonderful jam session at The Crane (thanks Craig Maddux!)
Day three - Ashford Caslte, taking a harris hawk named Geimhreadh for a hunt around the grounds, finding a hidden garden, exploring the old abbey in Cong, realizing Cong was where The Quiet Man was filmed, getting lost driving in circles in downtown Galway, and loading up on a ton of Butler's chocolate. Still to come, dinner (somewhere), music, and hopefully uploading some pics.
Day four - Most of the day was spent driving from Galway to Killarney, but that involved a lot of fun. Smoked salmon, onion, mushroom omelet, stopping in at two old churches, bacon, brie, cranberry sandwich, riding a ferry across the Shannon river, stopping for a herd of sheep to cross the road, lots of little towns with colorful buildings and one lane roads, watching Ireland play Andorra in soccer in a pub, and of course the verrrrry windy Cliffs of Moher.
Day five - Another driving day. Drove through Killarney National Park (amazing views) on our way to Durrus. Found the St. James church where probably a quarter of the headstones are Dukelows (yes we took pictures). Most of them are recent, but spoke to the rector and he referred us to Mary Dukelow (married to Richard) who run a dairy a couple of miles up the road. We visited with Mary who is in her eighties and she brought out a folder of info on the Dukelows (and yes we got a couple of pics pertinent to our line). Also, Big Peter is most likely buried in the same plot marked for James Peter - but there are no records *sigh*. The evening was spent picking up a couple of souvenirs, eating fish and chips and listening to some phenomenal trad music (one banjo player about Eric Byrd's age) at Buckley's. Noticed when all the instruments are high, the guitar becomes the bass / rhythm line.
Day six - Well, we head home tomorrow. Drove from Killarney to Enniskerry. Finished the trip at the POSH Ritz Carlton Powerscourt hotel. Visited the Limerick Branch for church. Returned to Gogarty's one more time and saw the singer who we saw a year and a half ago and one of the founders of the Gogarty's music venue. Enjoyed smoked fish and chips - and a carmel almond crepe - and saw a fox on the drive home - walked right in front of the car.
Day one - Newgrange, lunch at Poppie's in Enniskerry, Powerscourt gardens, Four Season's Dublin, me learning how to drive in Ireland, and sausage, chips and good music (including my wife singing Kerry Recruit with the band) at Gogarty's.
Day two - Crepes at Lemon, driving across Ireland, Athenry castle and village, Glenlo Abbey, bangers and mash, and a wonderful jam session at The Crane (thanks Craig Maddux!)
Day three - Ashford Caslte, taking a harris hawk named Geimhreadh for a hunt around the grounds, finding a hidden garden, exploring the old abbey in Cong, realizing Cong was where The Quiet Man was filmed, getting lost driving in circles in downtown Galway, and loading up on a ton of Butler's chocolate. Still to come, dinner (somewhere), music, and hopefully uploading some pics.
Day four - Most of the day was spent driving from Galway to Killarney, but that involved a lot of fun. Smoked salmon, onion, mushroom omelet, stopping in at two old churches, bacon, brie, cranberry sandwich, riding a ferry across the Shannon river, stopping for a herd of sheep to cross the road, lots of little towns with colorful buildings and one lane roads, watching Ireland play Andorra in soccer in a pub, and of course the verrrrry windy Cliffs of Moher.
Day five - Another driving day. Drove through Killarney National Park (amazing views) on our way to Durrus. Found the St. James church where probably a quarter of the headstones are Dukelows (yes we took pictures). Most of them are recent, but spoke to the rector and he referred us to Mary Dukelow (married to Richard) who run a dairy a couple of miles up the road. We visited with Mary who is in her eighties and she brought out a folder of info on the Dukelows (and yes we got a couple of pics pertinent to our line). Also, Big Peter is most likely buried in the same plot marked for James Peter - but there are no records *sigh*. The evening was spent picking up a couple of souvenirs, eating fish and chips and listening to some phenomenal trad music (one banjo player about Eric Byrd's age) at Buckley's. Noticed when all the instruments are high, the guitar becomes the bass / rhythm line.
Day six - Well, we head home tomorrow. Drove from Killarney to Enniskerry. Finished the trip at the POSH Ritz Carlton Powerscourt hotel. Visited the Limerick Branch for church. Returned to Gogarty's one more time and saw the singer who we saw a year and a half ago and one of the founders of the Gogarty's music venue. Enjoyed smoked fish and chips - and a carmel almond crepe - and saw a fox on the drive home - walked right in front of the car.
Evil Designs
Read an article in Discover magazine recently. Turns out that moral decisions are hardwired into the brain. That is it takes conscious effort to overcome, or not do the "right" thing in a situation.
I would propose that hard-wiring is the Light of Christ / conscience / the tendency to do right.
Yet the article went on to say that advancement in society / civilization is due to logically overriding some of that moral programming in our brain. Completely following that hard-wiring would stagnate society, would prevent advancement.
The greater point that seemed to base the article - if conscience / morality is hard-wired, then there is no higher power. If there is no God, there is no right or wrong, just decisions, either following what instinct tells us to do, or following what logic tells us to do.
I reject that. If morality is hard-wired into our brains - then I say science has found the conscience / the Light of Christ given to all men that the world would have us reject. God's gift to us to try and get us to step off on the right foot.
The world would deny and destroy God to eliminate our responsibility for our actions. Instead we should glorify the evidence of God found all around - and inside - us!
I would propose that hard-wiring is the Light of Christ / conscience / the tendency to do right.
Yet the article went on to say that advancement in society / civilization is due to logically overriding some of that moral programming in our brain. Completely following that hard-wiring would stagnate society, would prevent advancement.
The greater point that seemed to base the article - if conscience / morality is hard-wired, then there is no higher power. If there is no God, there is no right or wrong, just decisions, either following what instinct tells us to do, or following what logic tells us to do.
I reject that. If morality is hard-wired into our brains - then I say science has found the conscience / the Light of Christ given to all men that the world would have us reject. God's gift to us to try and get us to step off on the right foot.
The world would deny and destroy God to eliminate our responsibility for our actions. Instead we should glorify the evidence of God found all around - and inside - us!
Busy
There's a simple quiet solidity in being busy. Not overworked or frantic, just busy enough. Things get done, you feel a sense of accomplishment, and look forward to the next activity.
Thoughts for next Sunday
So just a thought on content for Sunday School lesson next Sunday. In the parable of the talents it's almost a shame that the Roman wages for a day's work are called a talent. It's been taken to mean so many times that we need to magnify our talents. A true thought, but it's way too limiting for me. In the parable of the talents the men are given talents, money, substance, a thing - and left to do what they will with it. What has God given you? Talents? Sure, but also time, health, family, friends, employment, opportunities, any number of things which we are expected to make the most of.
Works both ways
A while back the boys had some debate topics in their AP Lang class. One of the topics was the Patriot Act. I gave them an argument that could be used for either side.
Because we have no idea where the next attack will come from, we have to do everything in our power to gather all information to protect ourselves.
Because we have no idea where the next attack will come from, nothing we can do will make a difference. Sure we might get a break because of additional surveillance, but who's to say that information couldn't be gathered through conventional channels.
It seems the world has become a muddy place where many issues can be argued based on subjective criteria.
The only black and white anymore is when you look inside and compare your actions against your values. If it's not black and white, then what goes on outside doesn't matter in the long run, because you really don't care.
Because we have no idea where the next attack will come from, we have to do everything in our power to gather all information to protect ourselves.
Because we have no idea where the next attack will come from, nothing we can do will make a difference. Sure we might get a break because of additional surveillance, but who's to say that information couldn't be gathered through conventional channels.
It seems the world has become a muddy place where many issues can be argued based on subjective criteria.
The only black and white anymore is when you look inside and compare your actions against your values. If it's not black and white, then what goes on outside doesn't matter in the long run, because you really don't care.
Faces
I used to see faces.
Given any random pattern of spots on a wall, or swirls in a wood grain, or really any common thing, my eye would pick out faces. Smiling, mischievous, angry, bored - they were all there somewhere.
I remember once when I was about 5 I couldn't sleep, because I could see a scary looking face in a basket of toys. I didn't sleep until my dad came and rearranged them for me.
I've noticed I no longer see the faces, and I wonder when I stopped seeing them. I don't know if I'm just too steeped in seeing things for what they are, or if I just have a hard time seeing.
I think I'll look for faces.
Given any random pattern of spots on a wall, or swirls in a wood grain, or really any common thing, my eye would pick out faces. Smiling, mischievous, angry, bored - they were all there somewhere.
I remember once when I was about 5 I couldn't sleep, because I could see a scary looking face in a basket of toys. I didn't sleep until my dad came and rearranged them for me.
I've noticed I no longer see the faces, and I wonder when I stopped seeing them. I don't know if I'm just too steeped in seeing things for what they are, or if I just have a hard time seeing.
I think I'll look for faces.
The Faith of a child
There's nothing more inspiring than absolute faith. Ian prayed "bless my runny nose, that it will stop running."
Miracles
Miracles are not necessarily events beyond understanding. They are just events beyond YOUR understanding.
Sigh ...
I'm broken
I can't see beyond myself
Cowering under crushing gloom
Terrified of the portents of an imminent storm
I can see where and what I should be
Glimpses of a better me
I look farther
Perceiving the golden opalescence
The larger sky beyond the tempest
Life is the whole
Eternity is the goal
Dark clouds add dramatic counterpoint
I can't see beyond myself
Cowering under crushing gloom
Terrified of the portents of an imminent storm
I can see where and what I should be
Glimpses of a better me
I look farther
Perceiving the golden opalescence
The larger sky beyond the tempest
Life is the whole
Eternity is the goal
Dark clouds add dramatic counterpoint
Wandering
The greater the imagination, the richer the mental landscape, the harder it is to get out of your head and live in the real world.
Morning Funnies
Son's friend on the way to school - "I think Harry Potter would have been a better movie if I'd gone to the bathroom before the movie.
Son's other friend (wearing ski cap and shorts - "What!? It's slushing! It's not supposed to slush. Where's the snow?"
Heard on the radio concerning an imminent winter storm -
Anchor 1, "I hope this isn't a haberdashery of the year to come."
Anchor 2, "What? We're all going to be wearing hats?"
Son's other friend (wearing ski cap and shorts - "What!? It's slushing! It's not supposed to slush. Where's the snow?"
Heard on the radio concerning an imminent winter storm -
Anchor 1, "I hope this isn't a haberdashery of the year to come."
Anchor 2, "What? We're all going to be wearing hats?"
Type A ...
I am not.
Thought, gee, with this NaNoWriMo thing, I could use it as an exercise to make better use of my time. I know the principles of time management and goal setting - I've even taught classes on it - but I am a hardcore Type B person. More so than I realized.
I've been trying to set a schedule for myself - and I can't even get around to making the schedule. I just do. No plan. No goals. If something needs to be done - I do it. Otherwise there is no urgency.
I know it's possible to force a Type B into Type A mode - at least I think it's possible - maybe, but from where I sit I've been entrenched in my mode of operation waaaay too long. Time for a reboot.
Thought, gee, with this NaNoWriMo thing, I could use it as an exercise to make better use of my time. I know the principles of time management and goal setting - I've even taught classes on it - but I am a hardcore Type B person. More so than I realized.
I've been trying to set a schedule for myself - and I can't even get around to making the schedule. I just do. No plan. No goals. If something needs to be done - I do it. Otherwise there is no urgency.
I know it's possible to force a Type B into Type A mode - at least I think it's possible - maybe, but from where I sit I've been entrenched in my mode of operation waaaay too long. Time for a reboot.
Back Story
OK, trying the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) - so I might have a few more thoughts than normal. (Insert empty head joke here) I am rapidly growing a healthy, nay admirable, respect for the author that can reveal a complex back story without resorting to a load of exposition. How do you reveal the details without killing the pace of the story?
"He hit him."
"The grey-green sun shined off the sweat specked scales of his opponent as the boot-camp entrenched typical gut punch landed."
I've got to find a happy medium in there.
"He hit him."
"The grey-green sun shined off the sweat specked scales of his opponent as the boot-camp entrenched typical gut punch landed."
I've got to find a happy medium in there.
HOV Lane
Think about it. The only reason HOV lanes work, is because the vast majority of vehicles on the road only have one person in them. Create an inexpensive stylish green small-footprint/profile one-person vehicle and you've created lots of room on the road.
Sight Seeing
I dreamt I was working in a city. I was in a subway station. I had an appointment and I knew exactly how to get there, which trains to take and where to transfer. I walked up to the ticket counter and asked for a series of tickets which took me to several stops where there were sights I wanted to see, all at the cost of delaying my arrival for my appointment.
Why is it so many time in life we choose to delay our progress. We don't stray off the straight and narrow, we choose to turn aside and walk away.
Why is it so many time in life we choose to delay our progress. We don't stray off the straight and narrow, we choose to turn aside and walk away.
Kite Flying
A dream tethered by reality
A patch of color swimming in an azure sea
A goal at it's limits always straining to go farther
A piece of quiet exciting a grounded spectator
A patch of color swimming in an azure sea
A goal at it's limits always straining to go farther
A piece of quiet exciting a grounded spectator
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