Monthly Archives: November 2001

StarTribune: Franklin Graham defends comments on Islam The Rev. Graham, son of Billy Graham, recently said on an NBC-TV news show: “The God of Islam is not the same God. He’s not the son of God of the Christian or … Continue reading →

It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one’s life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than ‘try to be a little kinder.’ – … Continue reading →

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. – W. T. Purkiser It’s a curious term “blessing.” Dictionary definition: a thing conducive to happiness or welfare. Notice, it doesn’t … Continue reading →

A year ago, my three sons “revived” my dad. I had such high hopes that he’d recover. I asked my brother last week if he had Dad’s ashes at his house and he said he did. I’m going to borrow … Continue reading →

Nature is the clearest bringer of solitude. Even if you are in the company of others, the greatness of nature can overwhelm the insignificant chatter by which we measure most of our days. – Kent Nerburn I’ve gone two days … Continue reading →

Yes, there is Nirvana; it is in leading your sheep to a green pasture, and in putting your child to sleep, and in writing the last line of your poem. – Kahlil Gibran And in having all my kids home … Continue reading →

Being alone, in itself, is nothing. It can be a breeding ground of loneliness as easily as a breeding ground of solitude. Solitude is a condition of peace that stands in direct opposition to loneliness. Kent Nerburn I do like … Continue reading →

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. – James A. Baldwin This is a more elegant way to put what I was trying to say to Tracie yesterday.

I got this anonymous email from someone named Tracie last week: I would only admit this anonymously. I’m 28 and I have given up that I will ever have as good of sex with a man (in purely physical terms) … Continue reading →

Star Tribune: Faith sustains police officer, family through his painful recovery An uplifting story on the surface but their explanation of their faith doesn’t make sense to me and I think it’s harmful in the long run. The officer said, … Continue reading →

Whatever you can do, or think you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. – Goethe Boldness. I like this. It helps me to keep plowing ahead… radio show, book, subscription service. Never know what might … Continue reading →

Every good thought you think is contributing its share to the ultimate result of your life. – Grenville Kleiser This is a little new agey for me, but I do seem to derive benefit from regular reading of my FRQs … Continue reading →

Seeds of faith are always within us; sometimes it takes a crisis to nourish and encourage their growth. – Susan Taylor My seeds started sprouting ten years ago, just out a general yearning. They were there to help me through … Continue reading →

Tears welled up in my eyes this morning as I listened to the news of the plane crash in Queens, NY this morning. My emotional reaction surprised me, as I never have this reaction to distant tragedies. I guess Sep. … Continue reading →

I heard a piece on NPR’s Morning Edition today on the poet Rumi, and was surprised to learn that he was born in the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif… captured recently by the Northern Alliance from the Taliban. His full title: … Continue reading →

My grandfather froze to death in the Armistice Day Blizzard, 61 years ago today. My mother was 17 at the time, living in a messed up family situation, made only messier by his tragic death. It reverberates unresolved to this … Continue reading →

I’ve never been poor–only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is only a temporary situation. – Mike Todd I like this. I don’t think I’ll ever have to worry about being poor. Broke, sure. I suddenly … Continue reading →

We find it hard to believe that other people’s thoughts are as silly as our own, but they probably are. – James Harvey Robinson This only occurred to me a couple years ago, but I’ve still not come across anyone … Continue reading →

AP: Beauty Affects Male Brain My wife pointed out this article to me. Seeing a beautiful woman triggers a pleasure response in a man’s brain similar to what a hungry person gets from eating or an addict gets from a … Continue reading →

The Satellite Sisters has a segment last week (Nov. 3) about men who listen to their show. It’s at the 27:30 mark via Real Audio. Satellite Misters: Men listen to Satellite Sisters, though many preface the admission with disclaimers about … Continue reading →

Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory. – Betty Smith The problem with quotes like this is that it doesn’t seem … Continue reading →

I’ve pretty much given up wearing the eHolster that one of my sons bought me last year. I might wear it more during the winter, when it’s easier to hide it under jackets, but it’s just too much of an … Continue reading →

To wait for someone else, or to expect someone else to make my life richer, or fuller, or more satisfying, puts me in a constant state of suspension; and I miss all those moments that pass. They never come back … Continue reading →

The universe has an eternal hum that runs beyond our individual birth and death. It is a hum that is hard to hear through the louder and closer noise of our daily lives. – Kent Nerburn Walking through the woods … Continue reading →

I don’t seem to be finding as many good quotes as I used to, so I’m revisiting the idea of plucking out sentences from a book I’m reading. Currently I’m rereading some chapters from Kent Nerburn’s book “Letters to My … Continue reading →