Tag Archives: faith

#LENT: Scepters (vs. Practical Tools)

On this Lenten Saturday here’s a favorite quote from Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the famous Cistercian who reformed the Benedictine monastic order in the Middle Ages. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux came from the highest nobility in his region of France. … Continue reading

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A Friday Birthday in #LENT

Today is my brother Dwight’s birthday. Since he is my younger brother (by 18 months) his age shall not be disclosed. Let’s just say he is – a year older than last year! Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (Charlottesville, VA) Two years … Continue reading

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#Lent : Jesus The Teacher

Visiting Saint Catherine’s Monastery at the base of Mount Sinai in Egypt years ago, I encountered the icon of Jesus the Teacher, also called the Christ Pantocrater. One of the oldest icons in the world, the image on that ancient … Continue reading

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#LENT – Ash Wednesday Spiritual Blues-busters

And so it begins, Lent is here. It’s time to put away our chocolates, turn off the TV, hide coffee beans, sweets, and whatever else we’ve decided to give up for Lent. My list is the same year after year: … Continue reading

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Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes!

“There is hardship in everything except eating pancakes.” Charles Spurgeon Virginia’s blueberry buttermilk pancakes (yum!) Shrove Tuesday is here, and that means? Lent starts tomorrow.  Ashes, fasting, 40 days ‘til Easter… But today, also called “Fat Tuesday,” it is okay to … Continue reading

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gray skies (& sunshine) @ The Grand Canyon

“Gray skies are just clouds passing over.” Duke Ellington gray skies @ the Grand Canyon Glancing out the window the other morning I encountered a glorious sunrise. Waves of color filled the horizon before disappearing behind bleak winter clouds within … Continue reading

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…the February flu blues…

Virginia has been off the blogosphere (and any-o-sphere) for a week with a bad case of the flu. Extreme chills, high fever, headache, body aches, and bad cough – evidently this flu is running rampant through our town. So not … Continue reading

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Persistent Love: A Flowery Perspective

Contemplating a quote today from Maya Angelou about the persistence of love… Roses on a fence @ Butchart Gardens (Vancouver Island, CANADA) “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of … Continue reading

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Fortune Cookie Wisdom

HaPpY Chinese New Year to friends celebrating around the globe!! To help commemorate the Lunar New Year here’s a little fortune cookie wisdom from one of our favorite Chinese takeaways (China Star in Norge, Virginia) we enjoyed last night… “Faith … Continue reading

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Creative Extremists (FOR LOVE!)

 “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”  Martin Luther King, Jr. Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., an extraordinary man who led a … Continue reading

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