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Every July as my birthday approaches, I’m goaded by these words of the writer Scott Russell Sanders: “Once there’s food on the table, clothes on one’s back, a roof over one’s head, and once the children are standing on their own feet, the main task remaining is to figure out what it all means.”
Thankfully, all of this has been fulfilled in my life and I’ve been given more than enough time to come up with some answers. But at this late date, I can only say that my conclusions are partial, still in process, and far from being embodied. Like Sanders, I continue to read and write “not because I understand so much but because I understand so little.” After all these years, I’m more of a seeker now than ever.
I refuse to accept the dark conclusion drawn by Shakespeare’s Macbeth that Life is “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” – although sometimes that seems to be the case. Instead, I choose Sanders’ assertion that “there is a moral as well as a physical grain in things, and that our chief business is to discover what we can of that pattern and to align ourselves with it.”
As I journey into another year, these are some of the thoughts that want further thinking and that bode action, deed, and alignment:
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
“As the Father has sent me, so send I you.” (John 20:21)
“We have been sent into the world to be living witnesses of God’s unconditional love….In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds.” (Henri J. Nouwen)
“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” (Albert Schweitzer)
“We are not so important; we are simply dust and spirit – at best loving midwives, participants in a process much larger than we. If we are quiet and listen and feel how things move, perhaps we will be wise enough to put our hands on what waits to be born, and bless it with kindness and care.” (Wayne Muller)
“Do small things with great love – ordinary things with extraordinary love.” (Mother Teresa)
Lord, may the only end in sight be the edge of the light that You continue to give.
Amen.
John Paul Carter’s “Notes from the Journey” appear in the Democrat on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. Carter is an ordained minister who attends Central Christian Church.
Viewpoints
COLUMN: Still seeking the meaning
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NOTES FROM THE JOURNEY: Survivors are heroes, too
Recently, we attended the production of two one-act plays at Weatherford College, both under the excellent direction of Nancy McVean. The first, entitled simply “New York,” was set in a Manhattan psychiatrist’s office shortly after 9-11 as 10 different patients who had either been present at the Twin Towers or had lost loved ones in the disaster came seeking solace. Each survivor struggled with their own grief and internal conflict as the doctor listened and tried to help.
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TISIONE: We worship the triune God
Many Christians recently celebrated the feast of Pentecost, which is sometimes called Whitsunday. Pentecost as you may know was celebrated in the Old Testament. The Bible refers to it as the Feast of Weeks. It was ordained by God to be one of the three mandatory celebrations in Israel along with Passover and the Feast of Booths.
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Honor Flight Fort Worth – the trip of a lifetime
WOW! What an experience! I have done many things, been to many places, but I must say that the Honor Flight ranks right up there with the best of those occasions.
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Letters to the Editor – May 23, 2013
America is being destroyed by voter fraud and the buying of votes by the followers of Karl Marx.
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CNHI EDITORIAL: Seizure of AP phone records an insult to independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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NOW HEAR THIS: ‘What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate’
This famous quote addressing communication failure is a classic line from the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” starring Paul Newman. Strother Martin, who played the role of the warden in a southern prison, would use this phrase every time he gave Luke a good whack with his baton. The concept resonated so well with moviegoers that it was voted No. 11 of the 100 all-time favorite movie quotes according to the American Film Institute.
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Letters to the Editor – May 19, 2013
Do you remember the “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” sign that the personnel on the USS Abraham Lincoln displayed to greet President Bush when he went out to greet them?
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Guest opinion: Campaign with honor
All politics is local and personal! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful summer, filled with relationship building experiences and times of relaxation. As you do all the things that re-charge us for the next round at work and involvement in community and political activities, let’s reflect on the 2013 local elections for a moment.
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TISCIONE: Woe for calling evil good
You don’t often see “woe” used in an article. It’s a word that has fallen out of usage in our day. But it’s a word that ought to be understood and taken seriously.
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Letters to the Editor – May 17, 2013
As mercury pollution threatens our waterways and carbon pollution-fueled climate change worsens extreme weather, we need someone in Washington who knows how to get things done.
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