A Commonplace Book

may you,
may we,
be
so
blessed
as to grow
& learn
& share
& help love a world whole.

Amen.

#BillionPrayersForPeace

claim moment
clear silence

practice patience
witness presence

know stillness
live compassion

#BillionPrayersForPeace

As I get older, I realize real communities in meat-space would help tremendously. But it’s getting harder to form or find them. As an expat, it sees really tough. But perhaps I’m not trying hard enough.

That Marcus Aurelius quote “the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts” is real. It’s hard to see the injustices of the world and be optimistic. Sardonicism is tempting, especially when sincerity and empathy are ridiculed by all strata and many groups.

The "Fruits of the Spirit" are human-relationship terms. None of these words have any practical meaning outside of human relationships:

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...

from our January's book club pick, An Altar to the World by Barbara Brown Taylor.

"Joy is as abundant as sorrow in this beautiful and broken world."

#exhalationsbyea #expandwithelizabethann #spirituallife #januaryread #booksforrecovery #bookclub2025 #joy #sorrow #abundance

A reminder, from a wise pastor friend:

“Beliefs are only as good as the behaviors they engender.

How we show up in the world is a better indicator of our convictions than any creed could hope to be.”

(@pastortrey05.com)

Nightly votive in the porch garden.

"My own experience and development deepen every day my conviction that our moral progress may be measured by the degree in which we sympathize with individual suffering and individual joy." — George Eliot
🌱📷

Man, Bernie’s been out there doing the work for the people forever. A genuine public servant. I’m glad he’s working to elect the next generation of people who also actually believe in public servitude.

If you have a working heart, these days are hazardous to your health.

Don't let the cruelty around you rob you of your compassion.

Take care of yourself and those around you.

Fight to stay human despite the inhumanity so many are choosing.

Love, for the win...

“All we’re ever asked to do in this life is to treat our neighbor - especially our neighbor who is in need - exactly as we would hope to be treated ourselves. That’s our ultimate responsibility.”

From Life’s Journeys According to Mister Rogers

“There’s a part of all of us that longs to know that even what’s weakest about us is still redeemable and can ultimately count for something good.”

From Life’s Journeys According to Mister Rogers.

The whole speech touches on the most important values and actions (in my opinion). Worth listening to.

From Fred Rogers’ 2002 commencement address at Dartmouth