Too much time has passed without typing in quotes to make us ponder. Here's one a good friend of mine relays often. It comes from the book of Matthew 6:4. (Thanks Joe)

"Do not worry for tomorrow;
Tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for each day is its own evil."

It's somewhat amusing to me how much emphasis we put on tomorrow, and how little we focus on today - what can be accomplished, now. Carpe diem.

Image by Caravaggio.

I recently traveled to Abilene, Kansas and while there, visited the President Dwight D. Eisenhower historical site, memorial, library and Presidential grounds.

This is an excerpt from his 1953 Inaugural Address...

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."

I am fascinated by previous Presidents and the speeches they gave to the American people while in Office. Oddly enough though, it seems that the words spoken do not often correlate to their actions in office. In this instance, I believe President Eisenhower words speak to today's people, perhaps more clearly than to those 54 years ago.

Esther "Eppie" Pauline Friedman Lederer wrote a syndicated advice column under the pen name of Ann Landers. Although I have not read any of her columns to memory, this quote came upon me and I think it's fair advice worth sharing.

"Maturity is the ability to live in peace with that which we cannot change."

There is something to be said about the person that lives with that which cannot be changed. How much greater of a person I would be if I could maturely accept life's givings with grace and gratefulness.

During the 1800's lived a gentleman with the pen name, Josh Billings. His real name was Henry Wheeler Shaw and he is considered perhaps the second most famous humor writer and lecturer in the second half of the 19th century after Mark Twain, whom also used a pen name.

"Occasions are rare; and those who know how to seize upon them are rarer"

Soemtimes I fail to realize that occasions as Mr. Billings says, are 'rare' as I go about the day-to-day. And then, it hits me. Wow. What gifts we are blessed with, those occasions.

Christian author Halford E. Luccock said these words,

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it.

I'm constantly reminded that 'we' are in this together. That, and I'm a lousy whistler.

British writer Freya Stark was not only one of the first Western women to travel through the Arabian deserts (Hadhramaut); she often travelled solo into areas where few Europeans, let alone women, had ever been.

There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.

People will call it our conscience, but I feel its though we have this little alarm devise inside us that is constantly monitoring what we are doing. When we do the things we are supposed to like being honest, keeping promises, etc., it stays quiet. But, when we get close to doing the wrong, the things we know we shouldn't, it comes alive. The buzzer sounds, the lights flash and it starts jumping all around. At first, it's subtle and barely audible, but then it's blaringly loud and I just can't ignore it any longer. It's when guilt sets in.

I don't know if we can always control our emotions, but I do feel that we should be able to control our actions, and we must. Seeing is not believing. Believing is doing.

American Opera Conductor Sarah Caldwell said these words,

Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.

I am constantly amazed at what I can learn by simply stopping to listen, taking it all in.

Today's quote comes from Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, Carl Jung.

"The man who promises everything is sure to fulfill nothing."

In short, do not make a promise, you can't keep.

George H. Lorimer was the editor of the Saturday Evening Post weekly magazine from 1899 to 1937. He wrote these words,

"Back of every noble life there are principles that have fashioned it."

I believe one becomes noble only by having lived by principle.

This post is dedicated to you, Grandmother.

I think myself 'stupid' to say it, but until recently I had never been into reading. I enjoyed the occassional latest-greatest fiction novel, but I had never developed a keen interest in the likes of Emerson, Steinbeck, Camus, Churchill and others until now. It brought me to the realization that a person develops their own mind and principles through acquiring knowledge; transforming that information into wisdom. Ralph Waldo Emerson said these words,

"Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles."

I believe that he is speaking of action, for acquired knowledge of wisdom only has meaningful value through action or deliberate inaction.

American Novelist and Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck gives us a few words of wisdom. He was born this day in 1902.

“No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.”

There is a flaw in my thinking that baits me to believe that I know how someone else is thinking; for I do not understand how even I came about my thoughts. Yet, I continue to try. Why?

On this day in 1932, Johnny Cash was born. If you've seen the movie portraying his life, you'd know he had struggles. This is one bit of advice he gave.

"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space."

I never got to know my Grandfather, my father's father. He passed away when I was just a child barely 3. I've heard about the man he was and he loved to hear the songs of Johnny Cash, telling it like it was, writing/singing from the heart. He was also a man that believed in another day, another chance to make things right. This entry is dedicated to him.

The humble CS Lewis writ,

“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.”

Psalm 27:3-5.

General and first American President George Washington is honored this day of his birth in 1732. He is considered one of America's founding fathers and he had these words to say.

“The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion”

Though he also made mark in saying,

“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”

To me these words live on...

“The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained”

Amen, I say to that.

17th century English philosoher John Locke said this,

"It is one thing to show a man that he is in error, and another to put him in possession of truth."

I ask myself whether I learn more from my errors, or unveiling the truth. In truth, there is light and I believe it is in the light that I also discover my errors.

One more thought from John Denver to finish the work week.

The best thing you have to offer the world is yourself. You don't have to be anyone else. If you do, you are second best. To achieve success is to be first, and that's being yourself.

I am and must continue to come to the realization that I am imperfect. Despite it, I must be myself. In as such, I put my trust in Him for strength to overcome my flaws, my insecurities and above all else, my fears.

I did not listen to the songs by John Denver during the days he lived his life. Though recently, I've come to understand why so many were moved by his music. He writ and sang with passion and purpose.

There has never been a time on Earth like we see today. What we need are more ways to experience our interconnectedness - it is a precursor to deep love. So in this quickening light, with the dawn of each new day, let us look for love. Let us no longer struggle. Let us ever become who we most want to be. As we begin to be who we truly are, the world will be a better place.

Isn't that all that God asks of me? To be true to Him and do His will.

There's a book I'm reading and in it, this line spoke to me. I've discovered this thought prior in my own recent writings, yet with other literal phrasing. Author James McDonald says it this way.

I don't want an "A" for appearance - I want the real thing in my heart. I don't want to look right - I want to be right.

In further thought, I can undestand the meaning Dr. McDonald may be trying to express, but it must be taken a step further from being 'right' to 'righteous in living'.

Hellen Keller became blind before she was two from illness. In my perspective, her earthly illness became one of humanity's greatest gifts.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.

There is nothing wrong with having strength. Perhaps there is nothing wrong with having fear. Maybe it is by having such fear, that we find the greatness of the strength given to us.

Theologian and Bishop Jeremy Taylor bears these thoughts,

Enjoy the blessings of this day, if God sends them; and the evils of it bear patiently and sweetly: for this day only is ours, we are dead to yesterday, and we are not yet born to the morrow.

This passage reminds me to seize the moment and not squander it with worries, doubts or concerns. The day is given as a gift, just as yesterday was. Yesterday's wrappings are now old and the surprise inside unveiled. Why look towards tomorrow, when we've barely begun unwrapping today's. A 'thank you' should be said.