Memorial Day

While going through my mother’s things, I found a small box that contained some mementos from WWII. I believe that my mother wore this pin to signify that she had two family members serving in the war. For my mother, Memorial Day was not only a day to remember the dead, especially those who had lost their lives serving in the war, but also a day of thanksgiving, remembering that her two brothers came back alive.

Dear God, thank you for the lives of the men and women who died defending this country. Thank you for the lives of those who fought and came back alive. I especially thank you for the many years I had with my uncles, all the laughter and the lessons. Also thank you for all the men and women who continue to risk their lives for this country.

Permission to Cry

…This woman moved by some private sorrow as much as by the words being spoken, cried almost silently, unobserved by others, apart from Mma Ramotswe, who stretched out her hand and laid it on her shoulder. Do not cry, Mma, she began to whisper, but changed he words even as she uttered them, and said quietly, yes, you can cry, Mma. We should not tell people not to weep—we do it because of our sympathy for them—but we should really tell them that their tears are justified and entirely right.

Alexander McCall Smith, The Double Comfort Safari Club

Gulf Coast Oil Spill

I find myself so angry every time I read about the oil spill. Why the hell are we still dependent upon oil nearly 40 years after the 70’s oil crisis? Why have we allowed big oil companies to have such free reign? How naïve could the government have been to believe BP when they said that their installations were safe? Why did the US trust them when they gave reports on how bad the oil spill was? On and on and on my anger goes.

Dear God,
Instead of focusing on blame, help me to focus on what I can do in this crisis. Please guide BP, the US Government, and all the scientists, engineers, military personnel and others involved in helping to solve this problem. Please protect the waters and land of Mother Earth. Watch over the animals and plants that are so vulnerable. Watch over the fishermen and all others whose livelihoods are dependent upon the water. Lastly guide us all so that we can change our lives to be in greater harmony with the greater whole.
A-men

Here is a link to 10 Things You Can Do to Help the Gulf Coast Clean the Oil Spill.