Quoting Saints now!!

"... prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God."

"Thank God for the things that I do not own."

"It is love alone that gives worth to all things."

― Santa Teresa de Jesús

Journey, or Arrival?

"Sometimes it's a little better to travel than to arrive."

"... to make good time ... with emphasis on 'good' rather than on 'time'..."

"The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there."

"To live only for some future goal is shallow.
It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top."

"When analytical thought, the knife, is applied to experience, something is always killed in the process."

"The pencil is mightier than the pen."

~ Robert M. Persig

Time to speak; Time to listen

A sign I saw in the Catholic Cathedral in Christchurch.

Amongst the many works of art and amazing architecture, I thought this laminated notice worthy of capture too.

THEOLOGY: Covered in dust

While exploring the upstairs recesses of an old bookstore in Christchurch, New Zealand, I saw this sign that would have been made to mark the THEOLOGY section.

How long since it had hung near its books?

How did it end up here with these old vinyl musical recordings?

The building has since been destroyed, mostly by an earthquake, then further by bulldozers.

Who's to blame: God or Life?

A New Zealander who does feature pieces for a local TV network tweeted,

"I don't know if I'd rather 'God' threw 'curveballs' or just 'Life' (ie a senseless, random universe). I think I'd be more annoyed at God.”

He's unusual in NZ only in that he chose to mention God, and he capitalized the G. Most wouldn't.

People who have grown up knowing God as a benevolent merciful Creator might have a hard time seeing from this media guy's perspective.

When we are usually with people like ourselves, it's easy to assume most people agree with us.

Enlightening, or disheartening, to find out otherwise?

On a scale of 1 to 10...

... how's your November 11 of 2011 going?

New Zealand is halfway through the 11th as I post this, but some of you still have a ways to go. Daylight map

Enjoy. It's a day in your life, a day you'll not get back. You can't rewind, redo, reload . . .

In one sense, it's just a day that's numbered in an interesting way, depending on who's counting.
Click here to read about Indian, Islamic, Chinese, Hebrew and other calendars . . .

In another sense, it's fun. One couple was written up in today's NZ Herald because they are getting married today, so it'll be easier to remember their anniversary.

I'm going to a Geocaching event tonight that's all around the 11.11.11 theme. I've stolen the artwork for the event to show you.

Whatever you do, make today count in a way that's significant for you, and may even for someone else.

Brooke Fraser Interview

Travel observations, in New Zealand, a long skinny country

It’s a long skinny country, this; not even an hour wide in places.

I’m on the edge, of it, south and east, where a paddock can be dusted with snow in the morning and the brightest of greens in the afternoon.

Rhododendrons are in bloom, vivid pink against the wet black of pavement. Garden tours are scheduled, though the lingering Winter isn’t ready to relinquish to Spring.

I shelter in the museums and galleries, old book shops and cafes.

Exhibits change, pieces brought out from storage to reignite the imaginations of those who look.

Titles cycle round, collectors filling in gaps and letting lesser editions go to a new home on another’s shelf.

Water boils, is infused with various leaves and made cloudy with milk. Cups are held carefully and blown across.

Praying, why do it?

God is not manipulated by my prayers.
He is my Father and wants to know my heart.
Jesus prayed, and said to pray.
Conversation is central to relationship.