December 27, 2012
Joseph's Lullaby by Ron Klug
Sleep now, little one.
I will watch while you and your mother sleep.
I wish I could do more.
This straw is not good enough for you.
Back in Nazareth I'll make a proper bed for you
of seasoned wood, smooth, strong, well‑pegged.
A bed fit for a carpenter's son.
Just wait till we get back to Nazareth.
I'll teach you everything I know.
You'll learn to choose the cedarwood, eucalyptus, and fir.
You'll learn to use the drawshave, ax, and saw.
Your arms will grow strong, your hands rough ‑‑ like these.
You will bear the pungent smell of new wood
and wear shavings and sawdust in your hair.
You'll be a man whose life centers
on hammer and nails and wood.
But for now,
sleep, little Jesus, sleep.
November 21, 2012
Thanksgiving
I can not think of a more needed holiday for the soul, except of course the birth of our Savior. What a splendid idea to take a day, a full 24 hours and devote it to the art of giving thanks. Yes, I said art. I am not sure many of us know what it truly means to give thanks, me in particular. It is something that I have been contemplating in this season of my life, which happens to correspond with a season of Thanksgiving.
I used to think that Thanksgiving was about saying thank you for all that I had and loved. I still do believe this but I am not all that certain if that is what is at the heart of Thanksgiving. You see when you have to take stock of what you have that makes you happy you inevitably encounter a dark corner in our hearts that always wants to take heed of all the "I do not haves" in ones life. You know, the things that keep us pushing on in the daily drudge of life. Hoping that the next job, the next paycheck, the next lottery ticket is going to put us in closer reach of whatever we are lacking so that we can fill that void in our shallow hearts, in hope that it will satisfy a desire to "have". Please tell me I am not alone on this one.
So I stopped and just looked at the work Thanks.....GIVING. There it is. The lynch pin. Not thanks saying, not thanks acknowledging, but thanksgiving. Maybe thanksgiving is something that you give away. But wait, if Thanksgiving is about saying thank you for what I have, why in the world would I give it away...its mine. That is when it hit me, Thanksgiving may not be about saying thank you for the haves in your life, perhaps its about giving to others the best part of you. The content, joyous, gracious part of you. If you notice, contentment, joy and graciousness require no possessions. If fact, one can be lacking a great deal and still be in possession of the aforementioned qualities. In fact, the miracle element of contentment, joy and graciousness is that the act of giving them, causes a not a deficit in oneself but surplus. This could possibly mean that one can not truly be thankful unless one has already given thanks. It is like one of those superluminal particles that goes back in time to endow us with thankfulness based on what we do prior to having that attribute in our repertoire. (Sorry, I have to go there. Got to put some of my limited particle physics knowledge to use somewhere.)
So I would like to think that Thanksgiving is not just about saying thank you for what I have, but a state of mind that choose on a daily basis. I want to be thankful period. Not for anything that I own. Not for anyone in my life. I want to be thankful because. Because that is what we were made to be. I want to give others my thanks by sharing my joy, treating them with a gracious spirit and displaying a contentment that hinges only on the fact that I chose to be.
This is a work in progress, obviously. I still am tempted to just spew off a list of items and people that I am thankful for and call it a day. But I want to live a life that is always eager to give my thanks to anybody, for any reason and definitely for any season.
Have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving to everybody.
I used to think that Thanksgiving was about saying thank you for all that I had and loved. I still do believe this but I am not all that certain if that is what is at the heart of Thanksgiving. You see when you have to take stock of what you have that makes you happy you inevitably encounter a dark corner in our hearts that always wants to take heed of all the "I do not haves" in ones life. You know, the things that keep us pushing on in the daily drudge of life. Hoping that the next job, the next paycheck, the next lottery ticket is going to put us in closer reach of whatever we are lacking so that we can fill that void in our shallow hearts, in hope that it will satisfy a desire to "have". Please tell me I am not alone on this one.
So I stopped and just looked at the work Thanks.....GIVING. There it is. The lynch pin. Not thanks saying, not thanks acknowledging, but thanksgiving. Maybe thanksgiving is something that you give away. But wait, if Thanksgiving is about saying thank you for what I have, why in the world would I give it away...its mine. That is when it hit me, Thanksgiving may not be about saying thank you for the haves in your life, perhaps its about giving to others the best part of you. The content, joyous, gracious part of you. If you notice, contentment, joy and graciousness require no possessions. If fact, one can be lacking a great deal and still be in possession of the aforementioned qualities. In fact, the miracle element of contentment, joy and graciousness is that the act of giving them, causes a not a deficit in oneself but surplus. This could possibly mean that one can not truly be thankful unless one has already given thanks. It is like one of those superluminal particles that goes back in time to endow us with thankfulness based on what we do prior to having that attribute in our repertoire. (Sorry, I have to go there. Got to put some of my limited particle physics knowledge to use somewhere.)
So I would like to think that Thanksgiving is not just about saying thank you for what I have, but a state of mind that choose on a daily basis. I want to be thankful period. Not for anything that I own. Not for anyone in my life. I want to be thankful because. Because that is what we were made to be. I want to give others my thanks by sharing my joy, treating them with a gracious spirit and displaying a contentment that hinges only on the fact that I chose to be.
This is a work in progress, obviously. I still am tempted to just spew off a list of items and people that I am thankful for and call it a day. But I want to live a life that is always eager to give my thanks to anybody, for any reason and definitely for any season.
Have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving to everybody.
November 2, 2012
I Love Fall and I Love Halloween!!
What is not to love about fall. The cooler weather, the changing colors, the smells of harvest and the ringing in of what are the last and best months of the year. I think that is why Halloween may be my favorite holiday. Christmas is actually first but I think, for me at least, Halloween plays an important role in the holidays that follow it.
You see I don't think of Halloween as a children's holiday. I see it as a time for everybody to channel their inner child and watch scary movies that somehow still frighten you after having watched the same one hundreds of times; dress up as your favorite character, because lets be honest, we all need to take a vacation from our everyday self; and sit on the floor after all the trick or treating and figure out which is to be the first of many candies to be devoured.
Halloween reminds me that even though my childhood may have past the essence of everything that is great about being a child does not have to be a thing of the past. That's what Halloween does for me. It releases me from the burden of stuffy everydayness (almost certain that is not a word). Without Halloween, my eyes wouldn't be open enough to appreciate all the things that I am thankful for when Thanksgiving rolls around and I wouldn't have the true Joy in my heart that is necessary to take in the true meaning of Christmas.
I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween and I wish you all a bountiful harvest season.
You see I don't think of Halloween as a children's holiday. I see it as a time for everybody to channel their inner child and watch scary movies that somehow still frighten you after having watched the same one hundreds of times; dress up as your favorite character, because lets be honest, we all need to take a vacation from our everyday self; and sit on the floor after all the trick or treating and figure out which is to be the first of many candies to be devoured.
Halloween reminds me that even though my childhood may have past the essence of everything that is great about being a child does not have to be a thing of the past. That's what Halloween does for me. It releases me from the burden of stuffy everydayness (almost certain that is not a word). Without Halloween, my eyes wouldn't be open enough to appreciate all the things that I am thankful for when Thanksgiving rolls around and I wouldn't have the true Joy in my heart that is necessary to take in the true meaning of Christmas.
I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween and I wish you all a bountiful harvest season.
September 28, 2012
Nerdy and Funny
In celebration of finishing my first test of this semester I thought it would be a good time to relax with a little science humor. Here are some funny one liners for you to enjoy....I am off to study for the next test.
Can you hear that? That's the sound of a hundred nerds somewhere complaining about completely insignificant details.
4/3 people don't understand fractions.
There are 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who know binary and those who don't.
Flying is simple. Throw yourself at the ground and miss.
Energizer bunny arrested. Charged with battery.
Worst excuse for not turning in homework: I couldn't find anyone to copy it from
When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. Thats relativity.
Square root of negative one. I have an imaginary friend.
Alcohol and calculus don't mix. Never drink and derive.
The probability you just read this sentence: 1
The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your action.
Studies show...that starting any sentence with "studies show" makes people more likely to believe whatever nonsense you say.
Meiosis...results may vary
friction is a drag
I'm not lazy, I'm overflowing with potential energy
Biology, the only science where multiplication and division mean the same thing
As a scientist, I am constantly working with materials that threaten life on a global scale. And sometimes they spill...
support bacteria, it's the only culture some people have
Health is merely the slowest rate at which one can die.
Some people are like slinkies. Not really good for anything, but you can help but smile when one tumbles down the stairs.
Health nuts are going to feel stupid one day, lying in hospitals, dying of nothing
Black holes result from God dividing the universe by zero
2 is not equal to 3. even for very large values of 2
Friendship is like peeing on yourself. Everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings.
There are 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who know binary and those who don't.
Flying is simple. Throw yourself at the ground and miss.
Energizer bunny arrested. Charged with battery.
Worst excuse for not turning in homework: I couldn't find anyone to copy it from
When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. Thats relativity.
Square root of negative one. I have an imaginary friend.
Alcohol and calculus don't mix. Never drink and derive.
The probability you just read this sentence: 1
The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your action.
Studies show...that starting any sentence with "studies show" makes people more likely to believe whatever nonsense you say.
Meiosis...results may vary
friction is a drag
I'm not lazy, I'm overflowing with potential energy
Biology, the only science where multiplication and division mean the same thing
As a scientist, I am constantly working with materials that threaten life on a global scale. And sometimes they spill...
support bacteria, it's the only culture some people have
Health is merely the slowest rate at which one can die.
Some people are like slinkies. Not really good for anything, but you can help but smile when one tumbles down the stairs.
Health nuts are going to feel stupid one day, lying in hospitals, dying of nothing
Black holes result from God dividing the universe by zero
2 is not equal to 3. even for very large values of 2
Friendship is like peeing on yourself. Everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings.
Computers make very fast, very accurate mistakes.
Artificial intelligence usually beats real stupidity.
To err is human – and to blame it on a computer is even more so
CAPS LOCK – Preventing Login Since 1980.
September 1, 2012
Take to Time to do Nothing but Appreciate
I can't tell you how many times I have laid my kids down for a nap and thought, "Thank goodness, now I can get something done." Not today. Today I found myself just watching them sleep. Watching their precious little faces as they dream their dreams. Listening to the soft, rhythmic sound of their breathing. You see, this morning a little boy left this Earth for a better place. However, a mother and father are left to deal with the void that is left. I feel ashamed for all the times I have looked forward to having extra time to get stuff done while the kids did something else...nap, color, watch a show. Honestly, I don't think I ever REALLY watched as they did any the aforementioned activities. I used them as an opportunity to wash the dishes, vacuum, fold the clothes, do whatever else needed done. Not today. Today there is a mother out there that will never see her little boy do what children do and I am sure she doesn't give a damn that the dishes are piled up or that the floors are dirty.
I don't want to live in a world where the trivial dictates my attention. I think it is easier to keep ourselves busy as it gives us a feeling of accomplishment, dare I say importance. But the truth of the matter is that it is far harder work to slow your pace down enough so that you can hear, see and feel what is really important; to appreciate what can only be perceived in the stillness of the mind.
So I stood there watching. Why? Because it was NOT a trivial task. There was nothing more important on my to do list than watch and know that I am blessed.
September is childhood awareness month. Lets not forget that there are people that have to wake up every morning to a void that is left by a child leaving too soon. Lets think about all the children that are fighting battles that they should never have to fight.
For more information on childhood cancer please visit:
http://www.curesearch.org/
http://www.acco.org/AwarenessandAdvocacy/Awareness/ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth.aspx
For Linukas Story:
http://www.bmycharity.com/LinasZibasAppeal
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-Linukas/237486976352513
I don't want to live in a world where the trivial dictates my attention. I think it is easier to keep ourselves busy as it gives us a feeling of accomplishment, dare I say importance. But the truth of the matter is that it is far harder work to slow your pace down enough so that you can hear, see and feel what is really important; to appreciate what can only be perceived in the stillness of the mind.
So I stood there watching. Why? Because it was NOT a trivial task. There was nothing more important on my to do list than watch and know that I am blessed.
September is childhood awareness month. Lets not forget that there are people that have to wake up every morning to a void that is left by a child leaving too soon. Lets think about all the children that are fighting battles that they should never have to fight.
For more information on childhood cancer please visit:
http://www.curesearch.org/
http://www.acco.org/AwarenessandAdvocacy/Awareness/ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth.aspx
For Linukas Story:
http://www.bmycharity.com/LinasZibasAppeal
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-Linukas/237486976352513
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