Friday, April 06, 2012
On Waking ~
6:30 a.m.: It is dark outside. I lie in bed listening to the birds singing the Divine Office outside: Lauds.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Meaning ~
The Wise Old Monk said: "He will get at you with things that make you struggle: an insuperable problem, a divorce, cancer, a loss . . . That will make you return to Him, where you belong".
Friday, March 16, 2012
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Morning News Report ~
In North Carolina Edward Cantrell, 36, a soldier, wrapped a blanket around himself and ran into the burning house to save his two daughters, 4 and 6.
He and his daughters perished in the flames.
He and his daughters perished in the flames.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Earthbound ~
Even when in complete solitude the banal concerns of each passing hour keep me from rising aloft to You.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Thérèse of Lisieux
When she found out about a lady lavishing little attentions on her husband she wrote:
"Let it never be said that a woman in the world did more for her husband than I for my Beloved."
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wannsee Conference ~ January 20, 1942
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Winter Darkness ~
Jupiter hangs over the neighbor's roof and the oncoming planes on their approach to the Zurich's airport skirt around it like winter fireflies.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Those Who Sacrificed ~
Was I reading correctly, that the remains of hundreds of Air Force personnel had been dumped into a Virginia landfill?
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Remnants of WW II ~
In the shallow water of the river [no rain in months] bombs have been uncovered from World War II. They are hoping to defuse them today.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
22 November 1963 ~
There were these special few who consoled me that day forty-eight years ago when the President was shot.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Siege of Leningrad ~ 1941 - 1944
When the German Wehrmacht blockaded the city for two and a half years thousands of people starved to death.
Scenerio: I was out on the street today and picked something up that looked like sugar. I sucked on its sweetness the whole way home. On arriving there I took it out and saw it was just a pebble.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Grande Chartreuse ~
Possible scenario:
After 45 years in this Carthusian monastery spent in contemplation and loving piety, Alzheimer's disease sets in and he changes. He begins to hate the habit he wears and refuses to don it, he stops singing the office and going to chapter and remains pouting in his cell, and the last thing he wants is to bother himself with the things of God.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Know Thyself ~
Often times I put my head in my hand and ask myself how You could put up with my wavering for all theses years.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Up To Date ~
I try to imagine Jesus jumping into a Toyota van and winging down to the Lake of Genesereth for a happening.
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Learning Humility ~
How it hurts to think back fifty years and remember clearly all the stupid faux pas one has made.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
So Early ~
A classmate of my son died today. He was 41.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
General Petraeus ~
I liked one of his lines about fighting in asymetrical combat: "a soldier has to be comfortable in chaos".
Friday, August 19, 2011
Time Passing ~
Spotted the red tinge at the top of the maple tree--first saddening signs of autumn.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Happy Birthday ~
We uncorked a bottle of champagne and lifted our glasses and wished President Obama a Happy 50th Birthday.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wise Old Monk ~
Understand this, he said: it is not what you do, what you achieve. I is what you are.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Freedom ~
The Wise Old Monk told me that freedom does not consist in ridding myself of pain and suffering but said that I would be free when I learn to accept them and let them give meaning to my life.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Women's World Soccer Tournament ~
Yesterday in Dresden, Germany they made it to the semi-finals winning over strong Brasil.
Never-give-up spirit.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
What Others Think ~
What must a Muslim think when he walks into a church and sees a cross above the altar with a naked man hanging on it?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Perspective ~
What does the farmer think when he drives out to inspect the harvest? Does he think it is his achievement?
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Wise Old Monk ~ When Calamity Strikes
We were talking about Japan and Alabama and I asked where God was. He said something like true, deep faith is arrived at by way of doubt.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Rebellion ~
How can you do the same job constantly, year after year, without at some point rebelling?
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Municipality ~ Easy Money
They have come up with a clever new tax scheme:
1. Take aerial photos of our roof.
2. Calculate the size of its surface.
3. Levy a tax on the amount of water that flows off it into the municipal drain.
1. Take aerial photos of our roof.
2. Calculate the size of its surface.
3. Levy a tax on the amount of water that flows off it into the municipal drain.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Destroying Beauty ~
Aren't there enough high tension masts streaking through the beautiful German landscape? No, they are planning 3,000 kilometers of new high tension wire masts as a result of the planned shutting down of nuclear power plants. No one mentions that we should cut back our usage.
Friday, April 22, 2011
De Diligendo Deo ~
The Wise Old Monk told me: "Don't rely on the community in your search for God. You must learn to search alone."
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Reaching for Perfection ~
In the local competition they gave her the first prize but they didn't make much of a fuss about her in the local newspaper, as if this were nothing remarkable.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Wise Old Monk ~
During a conversation I asked him where he found all the wisdom he imparts to others. He was embarrassed but said: maybe one has to suffer.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Now ~
Earth -- Europe -- Germany -- State: Baden Württemberg -- County: Waldshut -- Town: Höchenschwand -- Waldshuter Strasse 6 -- in my study -- at the window -- Saturday -- 4:38 p.m. -- I look out -- snow on the ground -- the sky is gray -- I hear a car passing -- then silence. . .
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
German Defence Minister ~ Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
They are at him for plagerizing on his Ph.D. dissertation. The Opposition is calling for his resignation, but the ruling CDU is out to keep him in office despite the heated fray he has caused here in Germany. Behold -- according to the latest public opinion polls he has risen to the top of the list of most admired German politicians.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Mysteries of Love ~
Maybe God loves us so much because we are always hurting Him and because of that He can't get us off His mind.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Saturday, January 08, 2011
De Diligendo Deo ~
I was a young seminarian who asked the Wise Old Monk how I could best learn to love God. He said: first learn to love a girl. I looked at him and creased my brow.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas 2010 ~
I am a Jew at the time of Christ's coming. I am steeped in the Bible that has given me detailed information about the God of Abraham and Moses, images of the Messiah I am waiting for. If someone had told me about Jesus of Nazareth being the Messiah and I would have looked the other way.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Lost Key ~
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Accepting ~
I will not be mad at You if there is no life after death.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Praying ~
As an altarboy -- I was nine or ten -- I said these words at the foot of the altar every day an didn't have the slightest idea what I was saying: . . .
". . . quia tu es Deus, fortitudo mea, quare me repulisti . . ."
[". . . for You are God, my strength, why do you keep putting me off . . ."]
Now sixty years later these same words keep returning. I have finally come to understand them.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Wise Old Monk ~
I told him it has become hard to pray. He said the slightest calling to mind to pray is a prayer in itself.
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