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His Reminder
While at work today something really touching happened to me.
I was going about my day when a very strong feeling of missing my father overwhelmed me. I felt the sharp pain of having lost him and was stunned to realize that him not being with us in the physical world is real – very, very real. I though of the funeral and of the hundreds of people who shared with me how much they loved dad, the ways in which he helped each and every one of them with anything he could, and how much he meant to them. I though of mom and how lonely she must be. I felt like I was crumbling inside, however, the urgency of things I needs to focus on snapped me out of my thoughts.
One of the items on my list was to make a phone call and resolve an issue. After I hung up, I remembered that there was something else we need to discuss with the person so I pressed the “Redial” button on my phone. On the other end of the line a male voice said, “Please hold.” I was on hold for a few minutes when the man returned on the line and said, “Symphony Space Theater. How may I help you?”
“Symphony Space Theater!?” I though to myself. That was not who I was trying to reach. The last time I visited that theater was two years ago and I certainly did not dial their number for my previous call, yesterday or any time recently. I thought to myself that this was really strange, yet, I felt that there was something for me to discover. As soon as I hung up the phone I googled “Symphony Space Theater” to make sure I find the right establishment.
The theater page came up and it was indeed the place which I visited two years ago to see a show that was highly recommended to me by my father. I was intrigued. I went to the calendar of events and was stunned to discover that this weekend one of my dad’s favorite performers was playing there.
In my heart I knew that dad had found a way to reach me and soothe me. Through this sequence of unexplainable events he was telling me that he is with me and that he has never really left.
Thank you, dad. I love you.
This material is protected by Copyright Law. We are freely sharing it with you with the hope of inspiring you and bringing light to your life.
© Copyright 2009, Rethnea. All rights reserved.
The 7 Deadly Sins
A team at Kansas State University mapped the spread of the seven deadly sins in America by plotting per-capita statistics on things like theft (envy) and STDs (lust). Here is what they found.
Greed
Average income compared with number of people living below the poverty line.
Envy
Total thefts (robbery, burglary, larceny, and grand theft auto) per capita.
Wrath
Number of violent crimes (murder, assault, and rape) per capita.
Sloth
Expenditures on art, entertainment, and recreation compared with employment.
Gluttony
Number of fast-food restaurants per capita.
Lust
Number of STD cases reported per capita.
Pride
Aggregate of the other six offenses—because pride is the root of all sin.
What do you think?
Source: Wired Magazine
The Peacemaker Ship
Written By Hypocriticist
We had a chance to visit Savannah, Georgia for New Year's eve. On Savannah's busy "River Street" we strolled along the harbor where many large seagoing vessels were docked. Savannah is a bustling commercial port, and in addition to viewing gigantic container ships bound for Asia and South America, we also had the opportunity to spend some time on the "Peacemaker". The Peacemaker is a tall sailing ship owned and crewed by members of a Christian sect that lives in a number of communities throughout the world. They were playing music, showing people around the ship, and would answer questions about their religious community. They consider the boat to be an ambassdor of their faith, which is a conservative Christian tradition that relies on strict, literal interpretations of the Bible. We enjoyed a few hours on their boat where the younger members of the local Savannah Peacemaker community were playing Irish and Israeli folk tunes.
We left the boat feeling inspired and happy, and very peaceful. The spot we disembarked was in the heart of Savannah's New Year's Eve on River Street, the most bustling tourist section of the city. As the crowds grew, the air dampened and the general drunkenness increased all around us, we couldn't help but feel a little wistful for the sane and peaceable environment aboard the Peacemaker. The people we met there were friendly and they were never preachy or evangelistic - they welcomed us into their home and made our visit to Savannah that much more enjoyable. I have the fondest memories of our visit with them.
Back out in the streets of Savannah, we experienced the general mood of New Year's debauchery and revelry. It was wild and entertaining. But it was also a weird adjustment for us after all that peacemaking. The yelling, stumbling and general sense of revelry took us by surprise, and in truth, we partially yearned for the peaceful, wood-paneled environment of the Peacemaker. But we managed to make it through the crowds to a beautiful vantage point for the New Year's fireworks, despite being in a strange place, ever-increasing crowds and a light rain. We really loved Savannah. It was a place we had never been, and we had a great experience there. But even with all the amazing memories, my fondest memory - and our most meaningful experience - was on board that beautiful ship. Without endorsing any their beliefs, which we confess that we do not really understand, we can definitely say that Peacemakers are hospitable and decent folk. Anyone who has an opportunity to visit their beautiful ship should do so.
Here you can read a Boston Globe article on the Peacemaker ship and its community.
This material is protected by Copyright Law. We are freely sharing it with you with the hope of inspiring you and bringing light to your life.
© Copyright 2009, Rethnea. All rights reserved.
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