“This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death.”
– Mary Baker Eddy
Poet (and son) extraordinaire, wrote this one after a visit to Europe. He happened to be in Lucerne when they were celebrating their humongo annual festival there, and witnessed law enforcement at its finest… 🙂
Where Happiness Lives
Golden lights
And the deepest shadows
Smiling faces illuminated by life
A commodity where I come from
An inherent condition here
Where joy runs rampant
Like that one naked man who
In the presence of a police officer
Streaked across the town in the wake
Of the city-wide party
The officer laughing in mutual enjoyment
Before calling the man by his first name
As a friend and neighbor
To get his shit together.
– Xander Terrell, from the book Artful Living
… he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper… Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
– PsalmsÂ
“What are the things that you can’t see that are important? I would say justice, truth, humility, service, compassion, love. You can’t see any of those, but they’re the guiding lights of life.”Â
– Jimmy Carter
This week I learned that Win passed away “in his sleep.” His daughter wrote to tell us that he was “happy and healthy” and that his passing was a “beautiful demonstration of the Science that he loved.” Win was a month away from 96 at the time of his passing, so it wasn’t really surprising to get this news. But I feel his loss, just the same.
Winston Banko, 1920 to 2016
Oddly, he and his late wife, Connie, had been a lot on my mind recently. A more charming couple you would never meet. They sparkled. Win was witty and smart and dashing – renowned for his ornithological studies (click here to learn more about Win’s life)Â . Connie was lively and pretty and fun. They both had a great sense of humor and wonderful laughter, and I never left their company without a smile on my face and a heart warmed by their kindness.
I’d met them when I moved to this area more than thirty years ago and began attending the local Christian Science church. They were among my first friends here. I immediately took to them. They were of my parents’ generation and shared a remarkably lot in common with my parents – they, like my parents, were avid nature-lovers. Like my parents, they were cultured, and well-read, and had a wonderful sense of humor about life. All of them had survived the Great Depression, and Win and my dad (click here to learn more about Dad’s life) had both served in World War II. When I’m with people of that generation I always feel safe and secure – I know I’m with people who have survived times of great upheaval and challenge and have come through these times wiser and braver and kinder. The people of my parents’ generation have always seemed invincible to me, somehow.Â
But they’re leaving us now. My dad will be 98 in another month. My mom is not too far behind him. And I guess it’s time for my generation to move to the helm of the ship, but… yikes, right?! I don’t think I’m ready for The Greatest Generation to leave us just  yet. I want them to hang around with us a little longer and help us get through the challenges looming on our national horizon.Â
Yup. I have to admit that there’s a wistful part of me that would like to see The Greatest Generation’s Jimmy Carter run for President again. Now THERE is an upright man…
And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.
– Frances Hodgson Burnett
Recorded the birdsong and flowers  I found in my garden this morning – I wish I could give you the fragrance, too… 🙂
Click here for a zen moment in Karen’s Secret Garden.
Karen’s Secret Garden
I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to the kind of person I’d like to see running for President of the U.S. of A. Here’re my thoughts, thus far:
Anybody got anything they’d like to add?
Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation. – Mary Baker Eddy Man and woman as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect, in …
Source: Happy Mother’s Day to Nurturers and Reflections of Love Everywhere!
Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
– Herodotus
My dear Humoristian hooligans,
Today, as you do battle against the forces of gloom and stodge, may you know that you are making a difference in the world. May your commitment to good will and humor lighten the loads of those burdened with fear and hate. May you bring laughter to the cranky, kindness to the bullied, and cheerful enlightenment to the ignorant. Let neither snow, nor rain, nor bigotry, nor FOX, deter you from your mission of irrepressible, unrelenting joyfulness. Go out there and make some laughter!
– Karen
Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist 