Sunday, September 30, 2012



The Line Movie

The Line documents the stories of people across the country living at or below the poverty line. They have goals. They have children. They work hard. They are people like you and me.

From Chicago's suburbs and west side to the Gulf Coast to North Carolina, millions of Americans are struggling every day to make it above The Line
From Emmy Award-winning producer Linda Midgett, The Line is a groundbreaking documentary chronicling the new face of poverty in America. As Sojourners CEO Jim Wallis puts it, "more and more of our friends are in poverty — in the pews, in our workplaces — through no fault of their own, and they are slipping below the poverty level."
In the Chicago suburbs, a single dad was laid off from his bank and is now a regular at the local food pantry, trying to make it by with three kids.
On Chicago's west side, deep poverty creates a culture of violence and hopelessness.
On the Gulf Coast, a fisherman struggles post-BP oil spill and Hurricane Katrina because environmental crises mean the loss of his livelihood.
In North Carolina, we see that hard work and determination don't always mean success.
What does this mean for the future of our country? How do real-life stories change the narrative about poverty?
+Take Action

Three Breaths


UU Today

"At times our own light goes out
And is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think withh deep gratitude
Of those who have lighted the flame within us."
Albert Schweitzer

Message: "Galileo the Scientist" 
by Richard Wilde,
Professor & Author of THE IMMORTAL SELF

The Immortal Self traces historical ideas of the self as developed by philosophers, theologians, neurophysiologists, and scientists. It includes explanations of quantum mechanics and Einstein's theory of relativity that are readable and understandable by the layperson. It considers what science presently is capable of contributing to our many diverse concepts of what constitutes the self. To this end, The Immortal Self explores the brain, its morphology and operation, explores our concepts of time, and looks at the metaphysical concepts of quantum physics. The book also considers the paleontological and genetic evidence for the self. Ideas of the self extend into the mists of human history and have been handed down through the ancient Greek philosophers and through the religious prophets and philosophers. These ideas are collected and presented in an unbiased account for consideration by the reader. Finally, an empirical search for the self is suggested.

About the Author

Richard E. Wilde is Professor Emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Texas Tech University. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Physical Society. He has published extensively in the areas of chemical physics and molecular spectroscopy. He is author of The Many Faces of Jesus and co-author with Surjit Singh of Statistical Mechanics: Fundamentals and Modern Applications.

Closing words:
"If I have seen farther, it is by standing on
the shoulders of giants."
Isaac Newton in a letter to Robert Hooke

Lil' Lottie


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

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Frio River Fun

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On the way...

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Way to go, Devon!

Shannon's little sister, Devon, is one of the Kim Dawson finalists!
Kim Dawson Model Search They've walked the runway, been photographed, interviewed and measured – here are the lucky 2012 Kim Dawson Model Search semi-finalists selected from a pool numbering almost 1200. Check back on October 5 when we will announce this year's finalists and cast your vote for your favorite. Winners will be announced on WFAA.com on Nov 16.
Devon Y. Clyde, Tx







Behind the Green Door

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"Embrace the sweet lovely mess that is real life."

"On and on it goes; in a 1,000 directions, 
everything occurring at once, in a great storm 
of the present, of the now."

"Life was a glorious catastrophe."

"He was ready to stop trying to matter;
he was ready to simply live."

"There would be nothing obvious,
more tangible, than the present moment.
And yet, it eludes us completely.
All the sadness of life lives in that fact."

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Friday, September 21, 2012

Shiny (Weary) Sisters!

 Mother: "Now you girls behave!"
 Colorful Mixes at the Natural Grocer's
Still shining, right in the thick of it!

Transitions

I lived at Wisteria Place for four days this week,
as we made care-plans that keep Mother here at this place she loves,
and where so many people love her.

Here are some timely "bits of wisdom" from the elevator bulletin-board: 




 Here's the piano I played after lunch on Thursday,
taking requests for everything from 
How Great Thou Art to Beer Barrel Polka! 

Saturday, September 15, 2012

What's left...

"When was the last time you told your story?
Question put to the Sick 
by a Native American Medicine Man

Stories are like little time capsules.
They carry pieces of truth and meaning over time.
Whether it is a myth from 4,000 years ago
or your own untold story from childhood,
the meaning waits like a dry ration;
only by the next telling does it enlarge and soften
to become edible.
It is the sweat and tears of the telling that bring the meaning 
out of its sleep as if no time has passed.
It is the telling that heals.

Often we repeat stories, 
not because we are forgetful or indulgent,but because 
there is too much meaning to digest
in one expression.
So we keep sharing the story that presses on our heart
until we understand it all.
I remember my first fall in love,
how deep the fall and how painful the landing.
When it was over, 
when she left me for other loves, I was devastated.
Throughout my college days, 
my sadness was a wound that needed air,
and each telling of my story--
though even strangers grew tired of hearing it--
each telling of her sudden eyes and her sudden leaving
was a stitch that healed the wound in my heart.

And when my mother-in-law lost her husband 
of fity-five years, when I sat with her two weeks later, 
after all the flower and speeches,
she stared into that moment of his passing and told me
over and over 
of his last breath and of finding him slumped in his chair. 
At first I thought her adrift, but realized 
this was how she was trying on the meaning of her grief. 
Like a shaman or monk, 
she was chanting the mantra of her experience 
until its truth was released.

Imagine how many times Paul told the story 
of being knocked off his horse by God. 
He did so, most likely, because with each telling, 
he was brought deeper into revelation. 
Or how many times Moses told of his meetings with God. 
He did so, I imagine, because, 
with each telling, he saw God more clearly. 
Or how many times Lazarus told of being brought back to life by Jesus. 
He did so, no doubt, because with each telling, 
he was brought deeper into his 
reawakening.

The truth is that 
though we think we know 
what we are about to say, 
the story tells us and saves us, 
in the same mysterious way that 
breathing is always the same 
but different.

Mark Nepo
The Book of Awakening
Having the Life You Want by 
Being Present to the Life You Have


Time's 100 Most Influential



Tough. Indefatigable. Patient. Smart. Knowledgeable. Superior political instincts. Funny. Loyal team player. Finds opportunities in crises and challenges. Skilled global advocate for American interests and American values. That is my job description for U.S. Secretary of State. Fortunately, the job has been filled for the past three-plus years by someone who has all those qualities: Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In a world that is ever more complex, turbulent and dangerous, Secretary Clinton, 64, has made a singular contribution to strengthening this country's relationships with allies, partners and friends; rallying other countries to join us in dealing with challenges to the global order, from Libya and Iran to the South China Sea; and reaching out to people in scores of countries to demonstrate that America cares about them. She has developed, for the first time, long-range, comprehensive strategies for diplomacy and development that will strengthen the critical civilian contribution to America's national security abroad. We worked closely together to integrate and coordinate the efforts of the departments of State and Defense.
Equally important, Secretary Clinton has been thoughtful and tough-minded about where and how the U.S. should engage its prestige, its resources and its men and women in the field, both civilian and military. She is an idealistic realist and a superb Secretary of State and has well served the President and our country.
Gates is a former Defense Secretary of the U.S. and current chancellor of the College of William and Mary