Thursday, May 31, 2018

Mr. Rogers, Navy Seal


Image result for Mr. Rogers - Navy Seal


Fred Rogers
was loved by toddlers and codgers.
But as for claims he was a Navy Seal, that’s a stretch to conceive
except in the Neighborhood of Internet Make-Believe.

(Of course, there is no truth to the rumors. He was never even in the military. But the internet spreads such silly tales.)

Pax et bonum

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Four pro-choice arguments that echo pro-slavery arguments



Four pro-choice arguments that echo pro-slavery arguments





Pax et bonum

When I think of pro-choice protests ...

 
These are the kinds of images I think of when I think about pro-choice protests.
 
Image result for Angry Pro Choice protests
Image result for angry Pro choice protesters
 
 
Related image
Image result for violent Pro choice protesters

Pax et bonum

The Story of Milo (Baba Dada)


There once was a boy name Milo who was afraid of his shadow.

He believed his shadow was after him, and that if it ever caught him, it would do terrible things to him. He believed other shadows were also after him.

So whenever he saw his shadow, or any shadow, he would run as fast as he could to find a safe place to hide. Some days he would stay in hiding until the sun went down or it was so cloudy there were no shadows. He would huddle away from the light, crying. The other boys and girls, and even many adults, laughed at him and would say cruel things.

Gradually, Milo went out of his home less and less, then not at all. His parents tried everything they could to get him out. Coaxing. Bribes. Yelling. Threats. A wooden spoon.

Nothing worked.

So they turned to Baba Dada.

Baba Dada sat with Milo in the living room.

“You are afraid of shadows, my little sprout?” Baba Dada said.

The boy warily nodded his head.

Baba Dada leaned close and said in almost a whisper, “I am afraid of shadows.”

Milo’s eyes widened.

“But,” Baba Dada continued, “I AM a shadow. So are you. So are your parents. So is that stuffed aardvark on the coffee table, which is also a shadow.”

Milo looked puzzled.

“We live in a world of shadows,” Baba Dada said. “And as shadows other shadows can hurt us.”

With that, Baba Dada pinched Milo’s arm. Milo yelped.

“The shadow that is me hurt the shadow that is you,” Baba Dada said.

But then he turned on a lamp next to the chair where Milo was sitting. He moved his hand between the lamp and Milo, the shadow of his hand touching Milo. Baba Dada pinched the air, the shadow of his hand closing on Milo's arm.

“Did you feel that?” Baba Dada asked.

Milo nodded no.

“That is a shadow of my shadow,” Baba Dada said. “A shadow can hurt a shadow, but a shadow of a shadow cannot hurt a shadow. Shadows of shadows are two manifestations away from reality. Do you see?”

Milo nodded.

“Shadows of shadows are harmless,” Baba Dada explained. “Shadows are dangerous to fellow shadows. And reality? Hoo Boy! But ours is not to worry about reality, only to seek it and know it and ignore it, and to understand and live with the shadows that we are.”

There was a glint of understanding in Milo’s eyes.

"So your shadow cannot harm you," Baba Dada said. "But the shadow you can hurt that shadow."

He turned off the lamp, and the shadow of his hand disappeared.

"Poof. I have control over my shadow."

Milo smiled.

"So you see, sprout, you have nothing to fear from your shadow. But it has much to fear from you. Growl at it!"

Baba Dada turned on the lamp and pointed to the wall. Milo saw his shadow there.

"Growl," Baba Dada said.

Milo growled.

"Now turn off the lamp."

Milo did. The shadow was gone.

"Poof," Baba Dada said.

Milo laughed. "Poof! Grrr."

“And now,” Baba Dada chuckled, “I think milk and cookies are what we need.”

“Shadow milk and cookies,” Milo said, smiling ever so slightly.

“Ha!” Baba Dada laughed. “We have a Baba Dada shadow in training!”

They spent the next hour drinking milk, eating cookies and playing shadow games on the wall.
Baba Dada showed Milo how to make many creatures’ shadows.

Milo was very good with rabbits and fish.

And Baba Dada was, naturally, good at aardvarks.

Pax et bonum

Birth (Baba Dada)


Birth is the beginning of death, death is the beginning of life, life is the beginning of beginning, and beginning begins to begin when you are ready to begin at the beginning.
Pax et bonum

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull (clerihew)


Image result for ian Anderson

 
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull,
even when feeling lethargic and dull,
still manages to energetically toot
his flute.

Pax et bonum

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Confession is in the Bible!


On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
- John 20: 19-23

Hmm ... those last lines explain where the Sacrament of Confession comes in!

Pax et bonum

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Mother's Day


 
Nana and Mom
 
mother's rosary--
threads still hold
where links have broken

Pax et bonum

Saturday, May 12, 2018

Prayer for Secular Franciscan Vocations



NATIONAL PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
TO THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER
 
O Good and Gracious God,
God of mercy, compassion, generosity,
and love,
As we live our lives today
in the model of St. Francis,
choosing daily to live
the Gospel life,
Help us to help others
hear Your call.
Help us to help others
to recognize their vocation
as a Secular Franciscan
that You have already
planted in their heart.
Help us, so that together
we all may work
to bring the Gospel to life.
Amen!

Marian R. Crosby, SFO

Pax et bonum

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

life form (cinquain)


Life form,
so alien
people run from it in
terror, is itself so aghast
it flees.

Pax et bonum

Monday, May 7, 2018

Imagine the atheist's surprise!


Image result for silent movie face


When death
claimed him, the staunch
atheist heard, in place
of the silence he'd predicted,
laughter.

Pax et bonum

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Mowing scifaiku

Image result for lawn mower in action

translation device
now as I mow I can hear
the screams of the grass

Pax et bonum

Iowa governor signs bill banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected

Iowa governor signs bill banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected




A step in the right direction - will still face a court battle.



Of course, the rape and incest clauses show flawed understanding, and it still allows abortions early opn. But it's a positive move and one to be applauded.



Pax et bonum

Jane Austen (cinquain)


Image result for jane austen



Austen’s
novels are full
of satire and romance;
it's sadly ironic she died
alone.

Pax et bonum