When we traveled recently we made it a point to stop in Columbus, Ohio at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum for their newest exhibit “Portraits of Courage.” These paintings by former President George W. Bush were on tour in Columbus, Ohio. He features men and women who served and were wounded in combat.
The exhibit runs through Dec. 31 “and includes 66 paintings and a four-panel mural honoring 98 post 9-11 veterans. Each portrait is accompanied by an essay, written by Bush, which visitors can find in his Portraits of Courage book.” Regardless of your politics this gives a tribute to those who serve our country in the armed forces and suffer injuries in the process. I pray that those who govern the country will ALWAYS give Funds to support those who have served and especially those who were wounded during their service. My generation was not good at supporting those who served in teh Vietnam war. Perhaps we can amends on that by supporting those who need us in their fight for survival and recovery from the wounds of war?
The following are a few of the paintings. My photos did not turn out very good due to the lighting in the exhibit.
If the exhibit tours your area make an effort to go see it. It was quite inspiring and moving.
Robert Milan Dutina, the love of my life has a birthday today and I am privileged to make him his favorite carrot cake. Bob is truly a gift from God to me!
This man is kind and considerate. He can get along with anyone who makes an effort to be civil. For decades he has made it his practice not only to read the Bible but to try to live the commands of Jesus in everyday life.
His sense of humor is boundless. Sometimes he drives me wild when I am not in the mood and he continues with his humor. There are as many voices in his repertoire as a stand up comedian. He has a schtick for almost any situation.
As to his birthday cake, I got the recipe years ago from a woman who swore I would like it. To me carrot cake always sinks like a rock in my stomach. Turns out most recipes have a full cup of oil in them. Hers has only 1-1/2 tablespoons. It is complete with cream cheese frosting. He likes his cake best after it has been refrigerated. Several of his friends in the laboratory where he worked made such a deal over his cake, he continues to deliver a piece (or 2) to those people even though they are all retired now. So yes, Bob is generous. The opening photo is from last year’s cake!
When he heard that Gary had Parkinson’s disease he began visiting him several times a month. When Gary finally passed Bob continued visiting his widow and son. She is now slipping into dementia, but he continues to make an effort to see her with some regularity. Bob is kind and his faith carries over into day to day life.
He is organized and tiny to the point where I dubbed him “Mr. Tidy” and he knows I call him that. His desk is more than likely clear and mine is more like an inch or two deep in projects. He likes the sticker I bought that says, “Creative minds are rarely tidy.” He has been my editor in chief over my writing projects. He is very intelligent.
As we enter our twilight years Bob continues to try to keep pushing himself into activity. Sometimes I wonder if he has sense enough to go sit down and rest? Occasionally he stops in his recliner for a moment or two. I am glad to see that!
We debate who will die first. Neither of us knows for certain. If I die first his goal is to spend 2 or 3 months in Paris mourning. If he dies first I go to the Aran Islands in Ireland to mourn.
Happy birthday to my loving man of 56 years. What a ride!
I was playing music in my car from my favorite songs on a data stick. The next day I kept hearing a melody. Then a few words. Finally, I realized I was hearing the bridge from a song by a group called the Newsboys. The song is entitled We Believe.
The following are the words from the bridge:
So, let our faith be more than anthems Greater than the songs we sing And in our weakness and temptations We believe We believe
Anthem: 1. A hymn of praise or loyalty. 2. A choral composition having a sacred or moralizing text in English.
"Our faith greater than the songs we sing", so necessary if we are to push through our difficulties and struggles. Songs help, but there are times when there are no songs. There are times I am hard pressed to even remember a melody!
Here are the lyrics of the song followed by a music video. [Verse 1] In this time of desperation When all we know is doubt and fear There is only one foundation We believe, we believe
[Verse 2] In this broken generation When all is dark, You help us see There is only one salvation We believe, we believe
[Chorus] We believe in God the Father We believe in Jesus Christ We believe in the Holy Spirit And He's given us new life We believe in the Crucifixion We believe that He conquered death We believe in the Resurrection And He's comin' back again We believe
[Verse 3] (I called it the bridge) So, let our faith be more than anthems Greater than the songs we sing And in our weakness and temptations We believe, we believe Here is a video of the song.
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NRSVUE
The opening photo is from a Bing wallpaper page. I could not resist the beauty!
While reading a novel called Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine, I came across this quote:
“It is a gift to live. There is beauty in the persistence of her heartbeat, the tenacity of her breath, the courage of her bones.“
Then another day I read this from Insight Timer.
“To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.” -Henri Bergson“
Persistence, tenacity, courage, change, mature, creating oneself endlessly. I find inspiration in those terms. It is not easy to live. There is power though in learning to ‘play the cards you are dealt.’ Using the circumstances of your life to inspire you to rise above, to do better, to be different than the last time you found yourself disappointed in your behavior.
I am watching the foliage out my window as it ceases to make chlorophyll. The spice bush is glowing all yellow. The maple nearest to it is also turning buttery. Less sunlight makes as if there is sunlight in the very leaves! “As summer fades into fall, the days start getting shorter and there is less sunlight.”
As Bob and I age we are very aware of ‘less sunlight’ essential energy in our bodies. The quotes above encourage me to keep growing and changing for the better even as my body degrades and slows down.
As long as I draw breath I hope to always be praising the Lord my God. As long as I wake up “on this side of the grass” I want to pursue the glory and power of our Creator.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6 NRSVUE
It is gloomy and drizzly today as Hurricane Isaias has blown through here as a rain storm. A huge tree in the distance is ‘suddenly’ glowing yellow. Tomorrow will be sunny and I imagine the environment around us will look quite a bit different than before the storm. Such is our life day to day. Storms come, things look different. We try to keep smiling as the seasons turn all around us and within us!
When Ginny passed her sons gave me her knitting supplies, yarn and projects. I passed almost all of the yarn on to several other places. There was a hat she had left on the needles that I really liked. It seemed to be just knit and purl. I took it to the Crochet and Knit senior center group that I attend on Wednesday mornings. They encouraged me to try it. I was amazed that I was able to finish it and get it off the needles!
I was a shameless braggart at the group the next week. So proud of myself! Ginny, you inspire me even beyond the grave!
I also inherited from her some bulky yarn. I have never worked with bulky yarn before. I decided to begin another hat with it. I found a free pattern on line and started one. I did not get the beginning border perfect, but I am learning. Before I knew it I had that hat finished also! Now I just need to find the pompom maker to top off this red wonder. Both hats will likely go to one of the 5 charities we contribute to provide winter warmth for kiddos and the homeless.
I always joke that the senior group wanted me to learn the pattern to knit washcloths. They have a nice edge on them that looks fancy. I could get the design on two of the edges, but always messed us the other two edges. I guess I will take my courage in hand and try that next!
After 55 years of crocheting it is an entire new ballgame to knit. For those who do not now crochet requires one hook. Knitting requires you to hold two needles.
Bob and I were driving some place. Beats me where? I had this thought that sort of made me giggle.
If you were to write a commercial for contemporary television, what would you say about chronic pain?
This is what came to me. Body rearrange – what is clamoring for attention – sort of like a brat child.
“This body rearrange is brought to you, by aches and pains au naturel. If it hurts, you ain’t dead yet!“
As the seasons change I find relief in the lack of HUMIDITY and air that is stifling. The cooler temperatures make for great sleeping. But there are days … oh my are there days … when everything hurts. The nice thing about Fibro is the pain moves about. If my elbows hurt this morning in a few hours it might be my knees. Tomorrow it could be some other place.
This body rearrange is brought to you, by aches and pains au naturel. If it hurts, you ain’t dead yet!“
Satchel Paige is quoted as having said, “Never give up … Find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.”
84. Joint pain: proof I’m aging like a fine… curdled milk.
92. I am joint-ing hands with pain today.
62. My muscles are screaming for a massage.
74. I am trying to flex my way to a good mood.
Sounds like Gibbs with all the rule numbers!!
No matter what ails you, try to keep finding humor in the situation. We joked recently while walking what seemed like miles to a pulmonary appointment. We told the doc the office should be closer to the elevators at Christ hospital. Or perhaps they were hoping for a pulmonary crisis and an admission? Just kidding. I think.
How is your courage today? Perhaps you did not need to call upon courage at all today? Maybe you feel as if all your courage drained out like dishwater from the sink. Most of us need courage in some aspect of our life.
Without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can be anything erratically—kind, fair, true, generous, all that. But to be that thing time after time, you need courage.
MAYA ANGELOU
Do you have the courage to be consistent in your walk and life with Jesus? Each day a new beginning but hopefully with the same conviction to honor God and do the will of the Almighty over your own wishes and desires.
I have found that courage comes with increased trust in the will of God for my life. I do believe the often quoted verse in Jeremiah 29: 11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
There is a woman who is watching her husband fold under the ravages of Parkinson’s disease. She must do almost everything for him now. She requires courage to face every day. Recently she went to the store and for some reason her phone ringer was turned off. While she was away he had an episode of illness. The Paramedics tried to call her to tell her they were transporting her husband to the local hospital. They did not get an answer and left no message on the phone. Through the intervention of the Holy Spirit and the quick action of neighbors she was notified by text and actually arrived at the hospital before the ambulance.
Living with someone who suffers from a terrible disease requires courage on the part of the one who is not suffering the same malady. She needs courage to keep placing one foot in front of the other. She requires courage to face the unknown future. This is a terrible disease that will ravage his being and most likely require he will eventually be cared for at a nursing facility. For now, she is his nurse, his wife, his chief cook and dishwasher. She, too, has a disease. Though it is a rare one, it takes a toll on her every season.
God, our Father, give these caregivers the courage to walk with their loved ones day in and day out as they suffer and experience the various stages of disease.
The Benedictines remind us to keep death always before us. Most of us stuff that idea under the sofa cushions and refuse to even examine the truth therein.
By keeping death always before us we come to cherish life more than if we pretend death will never happen to us. Life is precious and to be enjoyed. Even when it is not enjoyable, there are gifts in our midst. A TV sports conflict to take our minds off ourselves. The taste of a lovely coconut macaroon to delight our senses. The change of seasons to bring us fresh air. The softness of a pet’s fur. The songs of cricket and tree frogs. The shadow cast by objects under the light of a full moon on a clear night.
We can embrace the fact of our coming death and say no to denial. I have repeatedly come across the idea that we have been dying ever since we were born. There is a mystery in birth that is not to be considered greater than the mystery in death. We are all hurtling towards death the moment we are born. As someone has said, “I do not fear dying. It is how I am to die that has been shivering in my boots.”
Memento mori means remember that you have to die. Once I wrote in this blog about being aghast at seeing the star of The Chosen wearing skull rings. Then I realized they were to remind him he too will have to die. Here is a video short where he explains ….
Courage to live this day fully. Yes, Lord, I need courage for that!
Here is a new find! I think it was released May, 2026. Evidently it was released quietly. Those of us who like the music of Brandon Lake found it. I think it is a great song!
Here are the lyrics: [Verse 1: Brandon Lake] Picked up the Book for the first time in ages Still washed me clean with the dust on the pages My life is a story I struggle to write But is it one worth telling? Is it one You like? Mm
[Chorus: Brandon Lake] So who am I? Who am I? Am I just a poor preacher’s prodigal son? Troubled child, running wild Chasing the glory instead of the One Who says that I, even I, have something still left to offer? So who am I? Who am I to question the pen in the hands of the Author?
[Verse 2: Nick Jonas] Like every good story, you learn from the loss And I lost the plot every time I played God I live in a moment You already wrote It’s proof that I’m someone, yeah, someone You love Oh
[Chorus: Nick Jonas] So who am I? Who am I? Am I just a poor preacher’s prodigal son? A troubled child, running wild Chasing the glory instead of the One Who says that I, oh, even I, have something still left to offer? So who am I? Who am I to question the pen in the hands of the Author?
Two preachers kids singing their testimony!
Are you willing to tell your story of following Christ?
Chronic means: continuing or occurring again and again for a long time. Being, providing, or requiring long-term medical care. Always present or encountered, especially: constantly vexing, weakening, or troubling.
This pain will not go away. Yes, it waxes and wanes, but it is never going to leave me until I die. I get so tired of it all. Lately I have especially had great difficulty when trying to get to sleep at night.
Today I will not have any caffeine at all in the afternoon. I will set up sleep meditations in case I cannot drift off on my own.
There are times when no matter how I prepare or take care of myself the chronic pain disrupts my life, my goals, my rhythm of living. There has not been a medication found to treat this. There are a few that help with some of the symptoms, but nothing that covers the umbrella of distress. It is chronic and sometimes crushing. I tell Bob there are times I feel as if I have been ground into a powder.
Why am I putting this in the blog? Well, there are likely others out there struggling with this or a similar problem. Sometimes I can get away from the all consuming pain sensations by getting focused upon a challenge or a project such as writing. Even one hour of departure from the torture chamber can be good. Cooking for an hour while singing favorite praise music can help. Sadly not every hour of the day can be spent planning a project, performing a task or rejoicing over a task completed.
I keep hearing snippets of a poem from 1985. When I looked for it just now it was about relationship trouble, not necessarily physical struggle.
Nighttime and the Unresolved Come marching to my bedroom Tramping through my head Hurling accusations Quoting words once said Reason takes a low profile While logic flees the scene Where is the solution For circumstances now turned mean Never, shoulds, and woulds Paint dismal, hopeless scenes Understanding vanishes Deep each insult bleeds. Forgiveness is the answer That makes the war to cease.
Let it go. Let go. Release. Present moment calls to me Be NowHere in God’s sweet peace A song can be resung The past can’t be undone But pouring in forgiveness The fall-out is made numb
Come to here and now Feast on today’s plenty In gratitude for all Dare to now drink deeply From streams of joy and love We are granted Only to “Live our lives by moments” Aren’t we now 1985
Though “Come to the here and now, feast on today’s plenty, in gratitude for all” does help me cope. When I come to the here and now in a painful night I have to place my focus upon Jesus Christ who loves me better than I love myself. I offer my pain on behalf of another. (I am not quite certain how that works, but I make the offering regardless.) I remember to breathe in Jesus and breathe out me, or breathe out my pain. I try not to watch the clock. Rest, just rest. Sink into the center down silence of love and peace.
I am seriously a work in progress. There is no medication that can help me with this. With St. Patrick I try to “arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity with belief in the threeness and confession of the oneness towards the Creator.” Help me Lord not to project fear or negativity on this day and whatever it might bring. Help me to lie down tonight in Your arms of love and rest in Your everlasting care.
I will try to remember to pray compline especially with the wonderful portion of Psalm 4
verse 8 I lie down in peace; at once I call asleep; for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.
I have been reading a book my 93 year old friend, Myrtle, loaned to me. It has tales about growing up in Corbin, Kentucky. Some of the things the author relates, I too, can remember from my childhood. These stories are contained within a cookbook that is no longer in print. When I read the quote below it made me think of this book.
Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted – a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul. RABBI HAROLD KUSHNER
“See holiness in the things you take for granted.” And oh my, how Americans take things for granted!
A paved road. Automatic washing machine in contrast to that scrub board or the later wringer washer, (Yes, we had a scrub board and a wringer washer. I can still smell those suds!). Rabbi Kushner says we should concentrate on finding what is good in every situation. One recent lecturer said, “Focus on what goes RIGHT instead of what goes wrong.”
“Gratitude can sneak up on me and drive me to my knees with awe, mystery and love.” -Thayer
Can you spend ten minutes in wonder? Are you willing to humble yourself and find things that can “drive you to your knees with awe, mystery and love”?
That brilliant blue sky beyond the curling oak leaves. This computer that helps me get the thoughts of my heart into words and out to all of you. Electric tumble dryer making short work of those wet clothes. The eye drops that help damp down the itching in these autumn eyes. The huge collection of quotes, photos, drawings that I can tap for this blog. The Tylenol I forgot to take earlier – ‘cuse me while I go get some.
That only took me a few moments. The mail truck just zoomed past the window .. delivery to each of us from all over. It has been said that if we look for things to be grateful for we will find more and more things to be grateful for. I hope this will help you to LOOK for the things that go right today and find ‘holiness in the things you take for granted.’
