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Saturday, January 02, 2016

Articles of Faith ~


And what if there is no afterlife in heaven, or the other places we are supposed to go to? Should that make me love You less? I cannot love You just to make sure I get into heaven.

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Facing Reality ~


What ever became of all my good intentions and determination to center my life on God? Time is running out and I see I have devoted myself to other priorities.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Consumption

I watch the trucks passing by and ask if we need everything their loaded with. Wouldn't we be happier without? If only we could concentrate on the pearl we have.

Saturday, November 07, 2015

Thomas Merton ~


Lauding him as a "representative of the American people "

Pope Francis said: 

"Merton was above all a man of prayer, a thinker who challenged the certitudes of his time and opened new horizons for souls and for the Church. He was also a man of dialogue, a promoter of peace between peoples and religions."

... words in an address before Congress. 

September 24, 2015

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Rammenau Castle near Dresden ~

At a concert here last evening they played some Scott Joplin and Leroy Anderson while on the walls the portraits of nobles who once lived here looked down at us with knitted brows.

Thursday, October 08, 2015

In the Tumult ~


There are places of quiet and rest. 

Munich, Germany 
Lenbachhaus

Friday, August 21, 2015

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Mothers ~



On the battlefield

the wounded and dying men

cried out to God —

or to their mothers . . .

Thursday, August 06, 2015

Insight ? ~


"For me pain has no meaning."

Statement by Peter Hintze 

Vice President of the German Bundestag.

Protestant theologian,

while debating assisted suicide.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

The Time has Come ~


The wheat stands high in the fields waiting for the harvesters with scythes.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Helps in Life ~


What this Carthusian monk does,

in silence and solitude,

is my constant strengthening inspiration.

La Grande Chartreuse, Grenoble, France

Friday, June 12, 2015

Friday, May 08, 2015

To a Razor ~


Praised be you, my razor,

for serving me for six months,

unlike those that needed new blades daily

back when I was twenty-one.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

That the Seed Take Root ~


Stood and watched the farmer harrowing his field, row for row, patiently, in a cloud of dust.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Nazi Concentration Liberated ~ April 15, 1945


Shades of Shoah

One Sunday morning in Munich

Seventy years later

Six suitcases painted white

Stood on a sidewalk

Each with a rose stuck on

And nametags.


People walked past,

Stopped, bent over to read

And continued on

With shoulders stooped—

Wrenched from Sunday calm.

Friday, March 27, 2015

To Understand the World ~


"To understand the world at all, sometimes you could only focus on a tiny bit of it, look very hard at what was close to hand and make it stand in for the whole. . ."

                                                           from: The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt

Thursday, February 05, 2015

Outside My Window ~


In 10 below zero weather a black bird sat in the lilac bush under a canopy of snow for one full hour, all hunched and meditating . . .

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Merton's 100th Birthday ~


There was supposed to be a weekend seminar held at this Benedictine monastery here in Germany about Thomas Merton which I was excited about and signed up for. It was called off because of lack of participants.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Mothers of the Fallen ~




Take your hands from your eyes wet with tears, dear Mother, to show us the beauty there that your suffering has caused.

Sunday, January 04, 2015

We Are All Brothers ~


Spent the day in Stuttgart visiting museums walking around downtown. I saw thousands of people but not one of them would look me in the eye or show any sign of recognizing me as a fellow human being.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Civil Courage ~ Good Angel


She was a 22 year university student here in Germany. One evening last week she intervened to help two girls, 13 and 16, who were being harassed by three men near the rest room in a McDonald's restaurant. She helped to free the girls but shortly thereafter an 18-year-old attacked her in the parking lot hitting her so violently that she fell and suffered a brain concussion when her head hit the pavement. Taken to the hospital she survived in a coma for one week. This morning Tugce Albayra passed away. It was her 23rd birthday.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Vain Effort ~


All the theology classes are of no avail in bringing me closer to experiencing who God is.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

God's Harlequin ~

In spite of all my weaknesses, my hang-ups, my excesses I know that I am Your creation, Your flawed creation. Maybe, maybe, You have always wanted me just that way. Maybe You take delight in me. That's why I bear with myself, trusting You.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Destination ~


Are the luxurious, high tech BMWs and Cadillacs the seniors are driving all rushing along the roads to make it to their drivers' funerals on time?


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Arnold Palmer ~ 85th Birthday


Dear Arnie,

Would like to let you know that you were, and are, an inspiration for me on my life's rough fairways. I often recalled your composed determination, and it kept me going. 

Thank you so much,

Charles [4 years younger] 

____________

♰ September 25, 2016

Monday, August 25, 2014

Remembering the Holocaust ~



Seventy Years Later

Auschwitz

One Sunday morning in Munich

Seventy years later 

I saw six suitcases painted white 

Standing on a sidewalk 

Each with a rose stuck on 

And nametags. 


People came past 

Stopped, bent over to read 

And continued on with stooped shoulders— 

Wrenched from Sunday calm.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Like a Morning Prayer ~


Held the umbrella slanted against the wind and walked, looking down at the path, concentrated for once, without distractions.

 

Friday, June 27, 2014

Deep Fear ~


What is it I fear? . . . Fear is when the person I am talking to might be thinking that I am too old and not quite up to par.

 

Thursday, June 05, 2014

Rewards ~

The University of Rostock in Germany is going to present Edward Snowden with an honorary doctorate degree, honoris causa. . .


Saturday, May 31, 2014

Ochenhausen, Germany ~


Last evening at a concert on Ochsenhausen, Germany, the full quaking power of Schubert's Adagio, Trio Opus 100 overcame me on hearing the first three notes and did not let up until the movement ended.

 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Discomfort ~

Why does it affect me so, that the little five-year-old next door [whom I do not know] will not even as much as say hello?

 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Hustle and Bustle ~



In the garden the birds are busy. The bird houses and nests are occupied and there is constant feeding. Other young birds are learning to fly. The lilacs bushes are favorite perching places. There is a lot of fluttering in the bird bath.

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Not Knowing ~

In all the great decisions of my 80 years it was best that I did not know everything that was involved. Knowing would have paralyzed me.

 

Friday, April 18, 2014

For the Mothers of the Fallen ~



Good Friday, 2014

You, dear son, died lone. When Jesus died his mother was at his side.