Back in the Saddle

I note that my blog has been inactive in September.  No excuses.  I'll get it up and running again in October.

Eternity

My mother made her final step in life this morning at 3:00 a.m. and joined God in eternity.

I am the Captain of my soul ....

Brad's good friend Greg Kelly was wise enough to pass this on.  I know you will appreciate this as much as I do.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.


In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.


Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.


It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley (1849 – 1902)

We are what we love ....

"We are what we love.  If we love God, in whose image we were created, we discover ourselves in him and we cannot help being happy: we have already achieved something of the fullness of being for which we were destined in our creation.  If we love everything else but God .... we cannot help being unhappy ..."

Thomas Merton

Success & Values

"Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value."

Albert Einstein

Try to become a man of success who gives back to the world more than the world gave to him, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, become a man of values.

E.S. Kraay

I am not alone ...

A new friend introduced me to a wonderful poem by Sister Joyce Rupp.  When we face challenges in our lives, it's quite reassuring to know that we are not alone.

"The Exodus in me is marching again
and I fear the nearness of slavery,
I yearn for some unnamed freedom
and the quiet assurance of promise land.

"The days stretch into sand and barrenness.
I do not taste the manna or see the cloud,
the tiny path of my faltering foortsteps
tells the tale of a long, lonely journey.

"Are you near, God-who-never-abandons?
In my weakness, I can barely whisper your name,
in my weariness, my hand does not outstretch,
will you come, God-who-never-fails?

"The Exodus in me is marching again
and I am caught in struggle and pain,
fighting the demon of discouragement
who tags along and haunts my heart.

"God of the wandering ones and my God
protect me from the Egypt of my own making.
Pillar of Fire & Cloud of Light,
assure me that I am not alone."

Sister Joyce Rupp from her book

Dear Heart Come Home

The Book of Eli

I really appreciate unique stories and storytelling.  The Book of Eli certainly qualifies.  I knew nothing about it other than it stars Denzel Washington,  Your Mom and I really like him and I can't remember the last film we saw with him.  Ten minutes into the flick and I was hooked, and the conclusion is well worth the two hours of speculation.  I note that Denzel Washington produced the film, and it occurred to me that had Mel Gibson starred as Eli, the film could have been titled Mad Max IV: The Book of Eli.  Having said that, I though Denzel Washington was terrific.  The film also reminded me of The Road, another film we recently watched and really enjoyed.  Here's another interesting note ... Grandpa has been watching our Friday night movies with us.  Two films, both over two hours, that he never dozed a single time through are Kindgom of Heaven and The Book of Eli.  He found this very interesting and had no problems with the handful of F-bombs.  Five stars from this boy.