The blessing of a healthy day

Feb 10, 2012 | Life

After a miserable Tuesday, a lousy Wednesday and a slightly better Thursday, today was almost completely pain free. Nothing I ate gave me pains, I worked almost a whole day at work, went to the Compton-Newberry concert tonight and worked in the refreshment area, and...

Is Civility the social/political equivalent of Pacifism?

Feb 9, 2012 | Life

I have admired those who profess a belief in Pacifism, even while not being able to adopt that philosophy myself. I appreciate the consistency of those who refuse to participate in violent actions even to to accomplish a desirable good, even if it results in their own...

Conflicting feelings

Feb 8, 2012 | Life

It’s been six months since my mom passed away. The distance of time gives a broader perspective, perhaps; but I have not been able to consolidate the events of that time into a consistent, coherent narrative. The week I spent with Mom before she died, I knew she...

Upcoming events

Feb 4, 2012 | Life, Uncategorized

Tuesday, 2/7: Practice with “Blue Pastures” after appointment with eye doctor, 4:30 pm Wednesday 2/8: BFOTM meeting, make brownies for Friday night Thursday 2/9: Practice with “Free Range Blue” in Jarrettsville Friday 2/10: BFOTM concert, Mike...

Philippians 2:3

Feb 3, 2012 | Quotes

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. This is part of a longer passage (Philippians 2:1-11) dealing with what is often called the “kenosis” of Christ — his emptying himself of all...

Excavating the living room

Feb 2, 2012 | Life

Yesterday Dave and I took 9 of the storage bins up to the attic. There are still boxes in the living room, but now it looks like a living room with boxes, not a storage area with a piano and two loveseats. Today I cleaned off the piano, moved the stereo off the top...

Sometimes you just have to say it

Feb 1, 2012 | Life, Uncategorized

A friend posted on Facebook about withdrawing support from Susan G. Komen for their withholding funds from Planned Parenthood. This is a very visible friend with many followers. I invited him to inquire privately why I would now support Komen. I hoped he would be...

Gospel irony

Jan 31, 2012 | Quotes

from LeadershipJournal.net: The gospel is ironic. When we are weak, Christ is most strong in us. When we rely on our strength and strive to be successful for impure motives, we dishonor the one we’ve been called to represent. Jean Vanier, founder of...

Mom's birthday

Jan 30, 2012 | Life, Uncategorized

Today was the first time Mom’s birthday came after her death. Death. I still have a hard time thinking of her that way, even though I saw her laid out in the funeral home. It didn’t look like her, not really, just someone’s idea of what she looked...