It’s a great time to be alive, ain’t it?
(This is the time you’ve been given to live –
if you don’t live now, when are you planning to do it?)
There’s never been a better time to love.
(This is the time you’ve been given to love –
if you don’t love now, when WILL you love?)
There’s never been a more perfect time to be you.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
“At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good.”
– Mary Baker Eddy
Stopped by the Mall this evening to spend some time at the memorial for the shooting victims. Went into the Macy’s afterwards. To my surprise, I was a little scared to go in there, but once I went through the doors it was alright. A sales lady approached me and asked me if she could help me. I asked her if I could give her a hug, and she graciously reached out to me and let me hug her…
I really needed that hug this evening…
Thou to whose power our hope we give,
Free us from human strife.
Fed by Thy love divine we live,
For Love alone is life;
And life most sweet, as heart to heart
Speaks kindly when we meet and part.
– Mary Baker Eddy
I found out about the shootings on Facebook. A friend messaged me to ask if my husband, Scott, a photojournalist, had gone to the Mall to cover the shootings for his newspaper. I called Scott to find out where he was and learned he was on his way to the shootings.
He’s home now – finally walked in the door at midnight.
There are four dead. Another critically injured. All had been in Macy’s.
Right now I don’t know anything about the victims, other than their genders. I don’t know if I knew them. I don’t know their ages. I don’t know their names. But I was in Macy’s a couple weeks ago and I remember the young woman in the shoe department who laughed with me when I teetered around on those 6 inch heels she brought out for me “just for fun.” I remember the older lady who was so helpful and friendly when she rang me up. I remember the pretty ladies in the cosmetics department – and, although I didn’t stop to do any cosmeticking, they all smiled at me and wished me a good day. All of them – every single one of them – added something happy to my day. I believe that nothing good anybody adds to the world is ever lost.
Some of my Facebook friends are suggesting that if everyone at the Mall had just been carrying a weapon the shooter wouldn’t have gotten far. And… really?!! I picture it – guns coming out of everyone’s holsters, shots being fired in rapid succession as the “target” moves through the store, bullets zipping past the shooter and hitting innocent people. The store becoming a war zone – a scene from the wild west.
No. I do not believe more guns is the answer to our nation’s problems.
Moon from Bow, WA (photo by Karen Molenaar Terrell)
“It matters not what be thy lot, so Love doth guide…”
– Mary Baker Eddy
Whatever the outcome
in November –
whoever gets elected –
let’s make a pact, shall we,
to continue in kindness
and in our own integrity
and in wisdom?
Let’s not let the outcome
of an election make us less
than what we are.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
“Each individual must fill his own niche in time and eternity.”
– Mary Baker Eddy
There have been times in my life when I’ve had to make choices between this thing and another thing – between this path or that one – and I sometimes agonized about these choices. And then one day it came to me: Wherever I go, whatever I do – Love, God, is there. I’m never outside of Love’s presence or direction. I’m always in my right place.
“…Love is reflected in love.” – Mary Baker Eddy
Note: The artwork below was published by the USGS. The artwork was created to illustrate the water cycle, but I have modified it and added my own text to show… well… something else. 🙂
Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.
– Mary Baker Eddy
Morning walk and talk with Dad in LaConner –
Karen: Dad, it’s beautiful outside! You want to get up and go for a walk with me?
Dad: (lying in bed) No. I’m comfortable here.
Karen: But it’s gorgeous outside! Come on! Let’s go for a walk.
Dad: Okay.
(Once we’re outside, I follow Dad’s lead. He takes us on to the boardwalk along the Swinomish Channel.)
Dad: (Standing at the end of the boardwalk and sweeping his arm across the Swinomish Channel) This is so beautiful. I could stand here all day.
(Eventually we move to a bench in the sun.)
Dad: (Looking at John Wayne’s boat tied up at the dock) John Wayne is dead. We might have been the same age. I don’t know. He had a lot more active life than me.
Karen: (laughing OUT LOUD) He did NOT have a more active life than you. Did he climb mountains? Did he climb around on K2?
Dad: (smiling) Well, he made more action MOVIES.
Karen: There’s a big difference between movies and real life.
Dad: I could sit here all day. Because you’re here with me. I could sit here all day with you. There are not many moments like this.
Dad: My grandchildren came to see me not too long ago. Recently. I think it was my birthday or something. I’m very proud of them.
Karen: They came on your birthday. They came to see you because they love you.
Dad: (smiling) Of course they do. Because I am a loveable old man.
Dad: I could sit here all day watching the people. (pointing to the sky) Look! There’s only one cloud in the entire sky today!
Dad: (after we’d been out for 40 minutes or so) Okay. Let’s get back to Mom now.
Dad: (as I’m leaving) Thank you for going out on a walk with me today.
Karen: It was fun!
Note: These are not professional quality photos – took these pictures with my cellphone – because, of course, I left my actual cameras AT HOME. But oh well. It was a great morning. 🙂
Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist 