5.9.2025 – never understand

never understand
how nation suffered themselves
to be cast so low

If we study the history of Rome and Carthage, we can understand what happened and why.

It is not difficult to understand and form an intelligent view about the three Punic Wars; but if mortal catastrophe should overtake the British nation and the British Empire, historians a thousand years hence will still be baffled by the mystery of our affairs.

They will never understand how it was that a victorious nation, with everything in hand, suffered themselves to be brought low and to cast away all that they had gained by measureless sacrifice and absolute victory.

Winston Churchill on March 24, 1938 in a speech delivered in the House of Commons.

Looking back at this era … the Trump Age … the Lost Age … the time when a victorious nation, with everything in hand, suffered themselves to be brought low and to cast away all that they had gained by measureless sacrifice and absolute victory, it will be hard to understand.

Yet, that is what I am hoping for.

That we yet arrive at an time where we look back … and wonder … something went wrong here.

Lets hope its more of bump than a stumble and not a full face plant.

5.8.2025 – rejoicing always

rejoicing always
praying continually
give thanks in all things

Based on: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New International Version)

The reverse side of the penny was no more attractive than the front.

This was not the way to work off the gloom that threatened to engulf him.

Over there was Venus, shining out in the evening sky.

This sea air was stimulating, refreshing, delightful.

Surely this was a better world than his drained nervous condition allowed him to believe.

From Hornblower and the Hotspur by C. S. Forester, New York, Bantam Books, 1963

Surely this was a better world than his drained nervous condition allowed him to believe.

That about sums it up for today doesn’t it.

5.6.2025 – alter? redefine?

alter? redefine?
To this court, answer to each of
those questions is ‘no’

In the article, Federal judge says Democrat’s North Carolina election win must stand by Sam Levine in the Guardian, Mr. Levine rights:

Richard Myers II, a district judge and Trump appointee, agreed with Riggs and said that Griffin was essentially trying to change the rules of the election after election day.

“This case concerns whether the federal constitution permits a state to alter the rules of an election after the fact and apply those changes retroactively to only a select group of voters, and in so doing treat those voters differently than other similarly situated individuals. This case is also about whether a state may redefine its class of eligible voters but offer no process to those who may have been misclassified as ineligible,” Myers wrote in his opinion. “To this court, the answer to each of those questions is ‘no.’”

How far that little candle throws its beams!

So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

5.5.2025 – we are such stuff as

we are such stuff as
dreams are made on, little life
is rounded with sleep

The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

Tempest (Act IV, Scene 1) by William Shakespeare.

Or for further thoughts on a new born grand daughter …

But among the reeds and rushes
A baby girl was found
Her eyes as clear as centuries
Her silky hair was brown

Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time

From Born at the Right Time by Paul Simon.

For myself, a teeny, tiny little girl, less than a few days old, hadn’t known her for more than a few hours … and I cannot imagine a life without her being in it.

5.1.2025 – changes in our lives

changes in our lives
accidents, happenstances
the slightest pushes

It was the first truly important night of my life.

Despite my aching bones and blistered feet I sensed a possibility of strength, of a mission that drew solace and the chance of success or victory from the fire, from the dog, from my fellow human Fred, the night, the bright moon and stars, even the owl we were hearing intermittently.

This sounds vaguely absurd now but then so many changes in the direction of our lives come as a result of accidents, happenstances, the slightest pushes in any direction, and on the more negative side the girl you met at a gathering you didn’t want to attend who infected your life to the extent that the scar tissue will follow you into old age.

but then so many changes in the direction of our lives come as a result of accidents, happenstances, the slightest pushes in any direction

From True North by Jim Harrison ( Grove/Atlantic, New York, 2004)

So many changes in the direction of our lives come as a result of accidents, happenstances, the slightest pushes in any direction.

Then toss in the forward march of time.

Like the tide that twice a day comes in and sweeps the beach clean and leaves a clean slate wide open for accidents, happenstances or the slightest pushes in any direction.

All blank and wide open for changes that will infect your life to the extent that the scar tissue will follow you into old age.

Maybe this is where Jesus was going when mounted up on that hill side and sermonized saying, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Trouble enough for each day that will infect your life to the extent that the scar tissue will follow you into old age.