In Memoriam

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend in the America. Traditionally this day of remembrance is for those who have died in our nation's service. Yet, today the Memorial Day weekend is better known for kicking off the busy summer season.

This weekend many of us will visit cemeteries honoring our dead. You will see many families placing flowers and other remembrances on all their loved ones graves. But this year it got me to thinking about all who sacrificed their lives for the country.

In these uncertain economic times, I want to take a moment to say thank you to our men and women who serve our country. This is a time when it doesn’t matter whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, if you swing left or right, to know that those who serve are truly special.

So as you take off this weekend to play, have fun, and eat great barbecue- - take a moment and say a prayer for those who live to fight another day. Peace.

It is the Soldier
Father Dennis Edward O'Brien
United States Marine Corps

It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag,

and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

We Who Believe in Freedom Can Not Rest

In America today, our political landscape is interesting. For the first time on the Democratic ticket there is a Black Man and a White Woman in serious contention for president. What does that have to do with human rights you ask?

People are talking about race and gender in this country daily and that hasn't happened for many a year. We are seeing racism and gender biases rear its ugly head.

America, must deal head on with its dirty secrets of fewer freedoms for people of color and women. As Ella’s Song written about Ella Baker, the great civil rights activist says “We who believe in freedom can not rest.” Peace.

Ella’s Song
Sung by Sweet Honey in the Rock Composed by Bernice Johnson Reagon

We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Until the killing of Black men, Black mothers’ sons
Is as important as the killing of White men, White mothers’ sons
To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail
And if I can shed some light as they carry us through the gale
The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on
Is when the reins are in the hand of the young who dare to run against the storm

In Memory of the Saint

Happy Mother’s Day! On this day, I choose to give praise to the saint, my mother. What you don’t see the halo around her head. ;-)

Granted most of the time, I ignored her advice when she was alive, feeling as if I knew better. But in her death, her wisdom, and love shines through daily. My mother always believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt. My mother loved the underdog. She was a champion to all of us. She constantly told us that we could do anything we put our minds to.

My mother, the saint, also believed that rules should be broken as long as it wasn’t illegal. That you could flirt your way through just about anything, and she could convince the devil himself to give up him evil ways and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yes my mother was the best influence in my life on learning to take risks. Her go for it attitude was second to none. At her funeral so many people came up to us and told us of what she had done for them. Some of it we knew about but most we did not, because that was her true character. She did for those around her, believing in the spirit of philanthropy, and never spoke of her good deeds.

Yes, my mother the saint, who teased me one day that I wouldn’t know the use of my behind ‘til it was sore. Yes, I miss her insight, her laughter, her wisdom, her joie de vivre, and most of all I miss her. I will end with one of her favorite quotes.

There is so much good in the worst of us
and so much bad in the best of us,
That it doesn’t behoove any of us
To speak about the rest of us.

attributed to many authors

Don’t Let Fear Interrupt Your Joy

The other day, I had a phone conversation with my sister. I was sharing something very personal and talking about my fears. She said to me, “How would you coach someone in this situation.” I laughed through my fear and said that’s easy. I would tell them to leap and the net will appear. She then said take your own advice and just do it. So what if it doesn’t work out. So what if you get hurt. Then she said something so profound that it brought me to near tears. She said, “Don’t get me wrong if it doesn’t work out you will be hurt, but I will be there for you, to hold you through your tears and you will survive and carry on.”

In that precious moment, she reminded me that we often let fear interrupt our joy. When we think something wondrous is just around the corner, we stop….. paralyzed with the fears of the “what if” syndrome.

Yet as I was aptly reminded what if something absolutely magical is about to happen?

Today, leap boldly into the unknown and
experience life’s joy in all its wonder.