Social Commentary
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Living a Gracious Life
We may be excused for not always being bright, but we are not excused for not being gracious, yielding and considerate. St. Francis de Sales I recently ran across a book titled, Gracious by Kelly Williams Brown. It advertises itself as, “A Practical Primer on Charm, Tact and Unsinkable Strength.” The copyright is 2017, but…
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Compromise
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break. Jane Wells I took this photo of the New York skyline during a business trip in 2009, nine years after 9/11. Today, 24 years later, we are still traumatized by this unimaginable act of terrorism. But, this isn’t about…
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Setting Priorities Amid Technology
Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters. – Margaret Peters Sometimes, for me, the job of setting priorities becomes daunting. It’s like climbing this steep wall outside of the St. Regis Hotel. Even the birds are trapped. How do we extricate ourselves from the myriad of options assaulting us at every…
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Finding Joy
weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalms 3O:5 “Joy cometh in the morning.” As encouraging as it sounds, there has been a decided lack of joy in my circle. This has been true for much of the summer. Our world has been surrounded in a haze of catastrophic predictions.…
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The Friendship of Hugo and Pierre: A Tale of Loyalty and Courage
No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted. – Aesop Hugo, is thirteen years old. He has lost most of his eyesight and doesn’t hear well. I would describe his demeanor as that of a stubborn, sometimes grouchy, old man. He feels as though he has earned the right to be catered…
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Finding Inner Peace: A Reflection on Sacre-Coeur Basilica, Paris
To be peaceful does not mean being in a place with no troubles, noise or turmoil, but to live in the midst of those things and still feel quiet and calm in your heart. – Author Unknown Some days I sit down to write and the words come with ease. Other days I write and…
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Religious Beliefs and National Identity: The 4th of July Dilemma
Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by a difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought to be depreciated. I was in hopes that the enlightenment and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians…
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Navigating Aging: Overcoming Limitations and Embracing Happiness
You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at everything that barks. Winston Churchill Glancing at Facebook, as I drank my morning coffee, I was greeted with a large photo of Rachel Maddow. Written across the image was the message, “Rachel Maddow is dumb.” My first reaction was,”no”. Or “non”, on…
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Summer’s Children
School Grounds I wondered what it would be like to live in a world where it is always June. L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island Elementary schools have changed a great deal since I was a student. The school across the avenue from our condo is private, with lush green lawns and ancient trees, surrounded…
Aging with Grace 