Every new year, new day, new breath is a new beginning. May we enjoy the present moment more often this year.
Below is a repost of today’s daily meditation from the Henri Nouwen Society. https://henrinouwen.org/meditation/
May we be inspired and re-energized for the moments to come.
“What makes us human is not our mind but our heart, not our ability to think but our ability to love.” Henri Nouwen (https://henrinouwen.org/)
Dear Friend,
Thanks to the generosity of many people like you who value the difference that grateful living makes in your life and in the lives of all sentient beings, please consider a gift to your local animal shelter or Humane Society International: https://donate.hsi.org/page/112649/donate .
Your support today will truly help. Please join me with a gift of any size. Your support helps protect all animals—including those suffering in laboratories, on factory farms and those abused in the wild.
You can help stop animal cruelty. Please give today.
Today’s senryu: Make A Difference
make a difference –
if you can’t adopt a pet,
adopt a shelter
Please remember, together we can make a difference in our local community and for the planet as a whole.
Today is the first day of the last month of this year. Only 31 more days until the new year. What might we do different this month to end 2022 well and ensure 2023 will be better?
In her Yale University address A New Climate for Theology: God, the World, and Global Warming, Dr. Sallie McFague said, “a different world is possible if we live differently.” Check out the address video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjK4d8ci1e0
Dr. Sallie McFague
A few of my favorite Sallie McFague references are:
“theology is mostly fiction“, but a multiplicity of images, or metaphors, can and should enhance and enrich our models of God McFague, Sallie (1987) Models of God: Theology for an Ecological, Nuclear Age. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, xi
salvation is about salvation of all earthly bodies (not just human ones) and first and foremost about living better on the earth, not in the hereafter McFague, Sallie (1993) The Body of God: An Ecological Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, p. 44
God is the one ‘who judges those who thwart the well-being and fulfilment of her body, our world’ McFague, Sallie (1987) Models of God: Theology for an Ecological, Nuclear Age. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 11
And for more information about this eloquent American feminist Christian theologian, check out her biography here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sallie_McFague
Today’s homage senryu: Thank You, Sallie McFague
speaking truthfully
you clearly said how we could
live differently
May we apply our wisdom more effectively this month.
A New Climate for Christology: Kenosis, Climate Change, and Befriending Nature. Minneapolis: Fortress Press (2021)
The New York Times
Regular readers of this blog know that Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. is my favorite author. Today is his 100th birthday and I am compelled to recommend him again.
Born 11/11/1922, he died in 2007 at the age of 84.
As reported by The New York Times, “Vonnegut died in the Manhattan borough of New York City on the night of April 11, 2007, as a result of brain injuries incurred several weeks prior, from a fall at his brownstone home.” (Dinitia Smith, The New York Times)
True to his irreverent nature, “In a 2006 Rolling Stone interview, Vonnegut sardonically stated that he would sue the Brown & Williamson tobacco company, the maker of the Pall Mall-branded cigarettes he had been smoking since he was around 12 or 14 years old, for false advertising: “And do you know why? Because I’m 83 years old. The lying bastards! On the package Brown & Williamson promised to kill me.” (Lev Grossman, TIME)
Considered the Mark Twain of his generation, Vonnegut wrote 14 novels addressing his aversion to war, religion and politics. All are well worth reading, yet lately, I have been rereading the book Pity The Reader written by Vonnegut & Suzanne McConnell (paperback published in 2020 by Seven Stories Press). This book is based on a short article he wrote for International Paper Company titled, How to Write with Style. In his succinct fashion, Vonnegut identified the eight things to remember to have a successful writing style:
Here is my homage haiku: Happy Birthday Kurt Vonnegut
brevity revealed
your soul’s desire to find
decent humankind
Little dog found in ditch needs help – https://www.strayrescue.org/
“National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week takes place during the first full week of November — November 6–12 this year — in recognition of the various shelters that provide care to millions of displaced animals in America. …. The observance also serves to acknowledge the hard-working people supporting the efforts with their work at the shelters. Local shelters are great at finding new homes for homeless pets, but it’s not all they do. They rescue and rehabilitate injured or abused animals too, and they reunite lost pets with their original families. They serve communities by saving their animals every day.” https://nationaltoday.com/national-animal-shelter-appreciation-week/
Today’s haiku: Animal Shelter Appreciation
Make a difference:
if you can’t adopt a pet –
adopt a shelter
This is my local animal shelter.
Dead Guitarist at The Blue Habanero in Richmond, VA – photo taken by author
Today’s haiku: Day of the Dead
Let us remember
loved ones departed – and our
future reunion
“Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated November 2. On this day, it is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit their living family members. Many people celebrate this day by visiting the graves of deceased loved ones and setting up altars with their favorite foods, drink, and photos….The main tradition for Day of the Dead sees families gather to honor and remember their loved ones who are no longer with us. Celebrated as a sacred and joyous occasion, there is plenty of food, lots of flowers, visits with family members and nostalgic stories about those who have died.” https://nationaltoday.com/day-of-the-dead/
Today, I honor my departed ancestors, friends and teachers who have “crossed over” and “continued” to the next phase of their life journey. I’m especially remembering my grandparents, father and younger brother today. I look forward to our reunions.
I respect that your experience may be different from mine. Many cultures honor their ancestors with holidays like the Day of the Dead. For example, see the chart below:
La Catrina mural at The Blue Habanero in Richmond, VA – photo taken by the author
My favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. You may recall one or two of his better-known novels: Cats Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five or Breakfast of Champions.
Vonnegut was born in Indiana on November 11, 1922 and continued until April 11, 2007. As he would have said, “So it goes.” For more information see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut
On a similar timeline…. “In 1928, the president of the Illinois Women’s Club, Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, came up with the idea to create a day that recognized American authors. …The inspiration for the holiday came while she was in the hospital during the First World War. She had just read Irving Bacheller’s “Eben Holden’s Last Day A-Fishing” and sent a letter to him expressing her love for the book.
After receiving the letter, he responded by forwarding a signed copy of another one of his stories to her. McPherson, overwhelmed by his generosity, thought of a way to repay the gesture. She concluded that a national day for authors would do the trick and presented the idea to the Generation Federation of Women’s Clubs. The club approved, and in May 1929, issued an endorsement to celebrate American Authors on National Author’s Day….
McPherson’s granddaughter, Sue Cole, took on the responsibility of promoting the holiday when her grandmother passed away in 1968. She urges people to send appreciation notes to their favorite authors to celebrate their contributions towards making life easier. The idea is to recognize all the people who have contributed to American literature.” https://nationaltoday.com/national-authors-day/
It’s too late for me to send an appreciation note to Kurt Vonnegut but I can share my appreciation for him on this holiday.
Who is your favorite author? Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, J.K. Rowling, someone else?
Today’s haiku: National Authors Day
Your book set the hook
your story reeled me in –
caught by your word lures
BTW: November is National Novel Writing Month. https://nationaltoday.com/national-novel-writing-month/
Today’s holiday emphasizes the mental health benefits pets can provide to all, especially veterans.
As noted on the Pets for Vets website (https://www.petsforvets.com/)
“He’s more than just a friend. He’s my battle buddy. He’s my left hand. We’re connected by a leash, but it’s really our umbilical cord. He’s sometimes more tuned into me than I’m tuned into me. He knows more about me than I do sometimes. He lets me know what’s going on.”
– Adam
Animals improve their (human companions’) lives in countless, remarkable ways.
Today’s haiku: National Pets for Veterans Day
we all need a friend
find a friend at the shelter
and let them love you
First Black African Archbishop of Cape Town & Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Desmond Tutu was born on this day in 1931. “Known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist, he was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold the position. Theologically, he sought to fuse ideas from black theology with African theology.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Tutu
Known for his warm smile and emphasis on forgiveness, he was also a tireless advocate of human rights. He said, “I wish I could shut up, but I can’t, and I won’t.” See https://www.tutu.org.za/i-wish-i-could-shut-up-but-i-cant-and-i-wont-the-global-legacy-of-archbishop-emeritus-desmond-tutu/
Today’s humble haiku: Happy Birthday Desmond Tutu
We can find the joy
and speak the truth to power –
begin anew now
For more information on the “mischievous brothers” pictured above, check out https://tricycle.org/article/dalai-lama-desmond-tutu/
“World Animal Day dates as far back as 1925 when Heinrich Zimmermann organized the first celebration in Berlin. Zimmermann, the publisher of a German animal lovers’ magazine, “Man and Dog,” launched the event to raise awareness and improve the welfare of animals. The date of October 4 is also known as the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron Saint of animals.” See https://spiritoftheholidays.org/animal-holidays/world-animal-day/
As highlighted in a 2020 announcement, there are (at least) “seven acts of kindness to animals” we can consider:
See https://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/news/view/seven-acts-of-kindness-to-animals for more information.
Today’s humble haiku: World Animal Day
The Golden Rule
applies to all animals –
human and “more than“
Life Matters 