July  6, 2019 

Thought for today:

“The bagel [is] an unsweetened doughnut with rigor mortis.” 

Beatrice and Ira Henry Freeman, 

“About Bagels”, New York Times, 

May 22, 1960

July 6, 2019

POLLY  NOSES

It’s now summer, so one has 

to wait for autumn for pollynoses …. 

But I spotted one today in the 

hedges - just doing nothing …. 

I’m sure it enjoyed its helicopter 

ride down from some maple tree …. 

But that was it …. never peeled - 

never stuck at the end of some nose …. 

Me?  I want the whole deal - growth - the 

ride - the rain - the fun - becoming a new tree. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July 5, 2019

DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS

There is always background ….

We heard the song a long time ago

- but it was by a different singer or we

were dancing with a different person ….

Ice cream - mashed potatoes - or

Route 97 means something different

to different people.  Of course ….

But instead of accepting differences,

we are self-centered and think everyone

is thinking exactly the same, same way.

There are always different backgrounds ….

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  5, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“Divorce is the psychological equivalent of a triple  coronary by-pass.  After such a  monumental assault on the heart, it takes years to amend all the habits and attitudes that led up to it.” 

Mary Kay Blakely, in Parade, July 12, 1987.   

Having recently had a triple coronary by-pass, 

I spotted this comment and will think about it big time.

July 4, 2019

GREAT  AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Your greatest moment?

Your greatest fear?

Your greatest learning?
Your greatest question?

Your greatest compliment?

Your greatest God moment?

Your greatest faith doubt?

Your greatest act of faith?

Your greatest loss?

Your greatest, “I wonder ______?”

Your greatest, “I hope ________?”

Your greatest, “I think ________”

The greatest person you have met?

The greatest place you visited?
My parents ....?
My friends ....?
My teachers ....?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  4, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“Hunting God is a great adventure.” 

Marie de Floris, OSB.   She said this to novices making their first  vows. Quoted b y Peter Beach and William Dunphy, Benedictine and Moor, Holt, Rinehart and Winston.  1960

July 3, 2019

HEAD  SPIRITUAL  EXERCISE

 [This takes 10  minutes - only 10 minutes.]

Become aware of your head - your capital -

inside and outside - everything above your neck.

Using both hands touch the top of your head,

then your ears, eyes, nose, lips, chin, cheeks.

With the tips of your fingers play with the top

of your head - rubbing your skull - hair or no hair.

Touching your head, thank the Lord for your mind,  memory, thoughts, and all your stories. 

Touching your eyes - thank the Lord for what   you have seen so far. Choose 10 top sights.

Touching your nose, thank the Lord for your gift of scent - especially  fragrances you love.

Touching your mouth,  thank  the Lord for your mouth - your favorite words - your communions.

Touching your mouth thank the Lord for favorite meals, deserts, and drinks like Root Beer Floats.

Hands covering your face, say a prayer that

people who see you, see a smile and your joy.

[Do this  for 10 minutes - only 10 minutes.]

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  3, 2019

Thought for today:

“Last night I dreamed of a small consolation enjoyed only by the blind: Nobody knows the trouble I’ve not seen.”  

James Thurber, 

on his failing eyesight. 

Newsweek, June 16, 1958

July 2, 2019

  

FOOT   SPIRITUAL   EXERCISE

 [This takes 10  minutes - only 10 minutes.]

Have no socks on. Cross your legs so

your right foot can be easy in  hand!

Begin by massaging your right foot

with both hands for about 5 minutes.

Do your toes - separating your toes -

freely rubbing  them  - appreciating them.

Next still rubbing each toe, pick 5 places

these feet have brought you to in your life.

Next do the same with your left foot,

toes, heel, sole, ankle, all your foot.

Once more while rubbing each toe, pick

5 places these feet have brought you to.

A practice for this exercise could be to soak

both feet in warm water with Epsom Salts.

Another practice would be to read before

you do this exercise John 13: 1-20.

[Do this  for 10 minutes - only 10 minutes.]

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  2, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“He doesn’t know what he means, and doesn’t know he  doesn’t  know.” 

F. F. Leavis, Two Cultures? 

The Significance of C P  

Snow, Pantheon, 1963

CALMING  HANDS  EXERCISE 

[This  takes 10  minutes - only 10 minutes.] 

Sitting down - take your right hand ….

Hold it up and out and rub it

calmly with your left hand.

Feel your left thumb and fingers massaging

your right hand - thumb - and fingers - front

and back and each part  front and back.

Bending, rubbing, massaging …

Now do the same with your right hand

and fingers to your left hand.

Now after five minutes - doing both hands -

bring the palms of both hands together

in the classic form of praying hands.

With eyes closed feel the skin of both

hands touching - palm to palm - finger tips

to finger tips - calm - peace -  those palms.

[Do this  for 10 minutes - only 10 minutes.]

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019
Praying Hands: Albrecht  Durer [1471-1528]

July  1, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“Till I was 13,  I thought my name was ‘Shut  Up.’”  

Joe Namath, I Can’t 
Wait  until Tomorrow, 

Random House, 1969

June 30, 2019

HANDMADE 

  

We make steel swords and blades….

God makes blades of green grass….

We make clubs and police billy sticks …

God makes willow and oak trees ….

We make guns and howitzers ….

God creates the gentle breeze  ….

We take rocks and throw them ….

God creates Mount Everest ….

We spit words of complaint  at each other ….

God speaks the Word made flesh to us ….

We make walls to wall each other out ….

God makes paths that can lead to peace ….

Okay we make strawberry sundaes ….

And God creates volcanoes of fire ….

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

June  30, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“When they boo you,  you know they mean you.”  

George Halas  on San Francisco,  

his “favorite  booing  city,”   

recalled on his death, Oct. 31, 1983.