Definition #119 Religion

Obama speaks of US Religion

Obama speaks of US Religion

I believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt — not being so full of yourself and so confident that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn’t speak to others, that God only cares about us and doesn’t care about others, that somehow we alone are in possession of the truth

Our job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of truth — our job is to be true to Him, His word, and His commandments.  And we should assume humbly that we’re confused and don’t always know what we’re doing and we’re staggering and stumbling towards Him, and have some humility in that process.  And that means we have to speak up against those who would misuse His name to justify oppression, or violence, or hatred with that fierce certainty.  No God condones terror.  No grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives, or the oppression of those who are weaker or fewer in number.

Humility; a suspicion of government getting between us and our faiths, or trying to dictate our faiths, or elevate one faith over another.  And, finally, let’s remember that if there is one law that we can all be most certain of that seems to bind people of all faiths, and people who are still finding their way towards faith but have a sense of ethics and morality in them — that one law, that Golden Rule that we should treat one another as we wish to be treated.

The Torah says “Love thy neighbor as yourself.”

In Islam, there is a Hadith that states: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”

The Holy Bible tells us to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”  Put on love.

Definition #118 Birthday Tractor

John Deere Bday Gift Oliver's Fourth Birthday Built by Jeanne and Don

John Deere Bday Gift
Oliver’s Fourth Birthday
Built by Jeanne and Don

Front loader lifts snow

birthday boy, blizzard’s dampness

forward, reverse, brake!

Definition #117 Temptation

Kaitlyn QuenbyMichael9-2014

What we learn from watching our relatives

Three ways to avoid

temptation: clear boundaries,

truth, and self-respect!

Definition #116 Ceremony

tablesharing

Michael Pollan is a big advocate of the family meal.

Divide household duties to make home cooked meals possible.

“There’s something magical that happens when people eat from the same pot…The family meal is really the nursery of democracy. It’s where we learn to share; it’s where we learn to argue without offending. It’s just too critical to let go, as we’ve been blithely doing.”

Definition # 115 Filters

OrangeHair01

OrangeHair04OrangeHair07

OrangeHair08

OrangeHair09

Definition #114 Rough and Tumble

bikesnarlby Bao Pham

To Margo

by Gavin Ewart

In life’s rough-and-tumble
you’re the crumble on my apple crumble
and the fairy on my Christmas tree!
In life’s death-and-duty
you’ve the beauty of the Beast’s own Beauty—
I feel humble as a bumble-bee!

In life’s darkening duel
I’m the lighter, you’re the lighter fuel—
And the tide that sways my inland sea!
In life’s meet-and-muster
you’ve the lustre of a diamond cluster—
a blockbuster — just a duster, me!

“To Margo” by Gavin Ewart from The Complete Little Ones. © Hutchinson, 1988. Reprinted with permission.

Definition #113 TSA

Ma'am, I'm going to have to pat you down........

Ma’am,
I’m going to have to pat you down……..

Homeland Security’s Ten Commandments

1 Honor the travelers. They are not suspects.

2 Assign one agent only to wheelchair travelers. He or she shall face the traveler at all times.

3 If a carry-on needs to be examined, it should be viewed with the traveler seeing all contents with the agent.

4 No medical supplies will be handled by said agent, including all prescription drugs, supplements, dietary supplies, water and whole foods carried on for the journey.

5 The boarding and security pass rendered by the Airlines shall be honored by TSA. There will be no “pat downs”, removal of shoes, or outer garments, emptying of pockets,or other “suspect”treatments, while the carry-on is being examined. No handling of food or medical equipment with sensors or wands.

6 The traveler’s  evidence and statements will have equal weight with the agent’s statements.

7 A wheelchair traveler should have either a handicapped assistant or airlines person to assist her with the TSA pass-through.

8 There should be a way to report an inordinate delay through TSA which affects one’s ability to pre-board the airplane at the gate.

9 On future flights, there should be a recognized status noted on the boarding pass of a traveler who has undergone such intimidating treatment so that it never reoccurs.

10 Travelers will seek out airlines which honor their integrity.

Definition #112 Candle

JeanneMichaelDon

Candle

It’s Birthday month: I’m 74!
The short wicked candle burns.

Between Nor’ Easters,wind and snow
My family comes, adjourns.

The elders bring their rattled bones
And ticklish touching smiles

They know a moment’s all we’ve got
Embrace and touch awhile.
Jeanne Poland

Definition #111 Nor’ Easter

image-4

Boston Down Under

Drifts a plenty sculpt

the steps- the landscape cloaks edges;

shoveler frolics!

Definition #110 Selfie Snow Goggles

Winter Sports Enthusiasts

Winter Sports Enthusiasts-2015

Owen, Annika, Oliver  Winter 2014

Owen, Annika, Oliver
Winter 2014

ATV, skating,

sleds, snowboards, winter warriors:

enthusiastic!

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries