September   12,   2020

IMPACT

Well, we would like to have some impact –

at least that they knew we were in the room.

We can do a few things – like pick up the empty

coffee cups – and put the milk or cream away.

We can listen – make a comment – ask a

question – and thank those who invited us.

We don’t want to be pompous or pretentious –

but simply someone who adds to the situation.

But at some point in our lives we want to move

away from being self-centered and self-conscious.

We simply want to help others sense their impact

on our common situations and their value and beauty.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

September  12,  2020

Thought  for   Today

“You don’t have to attend ever argument you’re invited to.”

Brenda Ashford, 

Guideposts,  

August 2012

September  11,  2020

 SEPTEMBER  11th   

Some days stand out more than other days:

July 4^th, December 25^th, February 14^th,

September 11^th, and our birthday.

Then there are the unique days we remember

because of family: births, deaths, marriages,

or what have you. Each of us is different.

On that first September 11^th, we started  calm
talking to each other. More …. More …. More …. 

A calendar is a good place to start the conversations.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

September   11,   2020

September  11, 2020

Thought  for  Today

“Our  passions   are ourselves.”

Anatole France

[1844-1924]

French writer

September   10,   2020

UNDERNEATH

You never know what’s underneath.

You never know what’s inside the book.

You never know what tomorrow will bring.

You never know when it’s your last day.

You never know a lot of things. But ….

But I found gum – old gum  - underneath the chair.

But it says on page 144 the following ….

But I woke up this morning to a new day ….

But I made a doctor's appointment for next year ....

But I found out a lot since November 10, 1939.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

September 10, 2020

Thought  for  Today

“Chance  is  perhaps the pseudonym of God when he does not sign his work.”

Anatole France

[1844-1924]

French writer

September   9,  2020

DRIVER’S  LICENSE 

OR  PASSPORT PICTURE

At the airport I hand over my driver's license

or my passport for a look-see – to the check-

in-people when getting a flight - and the custom’s

people when coming back into the country.

They study my picture and they study my face.

Yes, it’s me, but nobody else seems to study

my face to see if it’s really me – to see if I’m

really here or somewhere else in my mind or

heart – thoughts or feelings or wonderings.

Please study my face when talking to me.

I don’t know about you, but me, I’m often in

far countries and far away places with my face

and eyes in this room - but my mind and my

thoughts are  usually some place else.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

September  9,  2020 

Thought  for  Today 

“We never heard the devil’s side of  the  story.  God wrote  all the book.”

Anatole France

[1844-1924]

French writer

CORRIDOR

Here we are going down - different corridors -
like mice in a maze - hoping to find the rooms 

we think will have the answers we're looking for. 
Surprise! The surprise is in the corridors of life. 
It's in the least expected places of life. It's when
and where we meet unknown parts of ourselves.

It's when we begin to hear the music of others – 

the music of the unknown. It's when we open up

our minds. It's when we open up our eyes. It's when

we open up our ears. It's when we start to listen to 
what we weren't expecting – the unknow music within -

as well as the sweet sacred music of others.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

September  8,  2020

Thought   for  Today

“Life isn’t about finding yourself.  Life is about creating yourself.”

Anatole France

[1844-1924]  

French writer

September   7,   2020

Thought   for   Today  

“An  education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you  know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don’t.” 

Anatole France

[1844-1924]

French writer

September 7, 2020

NATIVE  AMERICAN

If I were a Native American, 

what would be my name? 

Helping Hand? 

Orange Tree? 

Rough Road? 

Sitting Bull? 

Always There? 

Tasty Cake? 

Sweet Bun? 

Back Porch? 

Cup of Tea? 

Cool Water? 

Shade  Tree? 

Falling Snow? 

Spring Rain? 

Sunshine? 

Wedding Cake? 

Corn on the Cob? 

March Wind? 

Christmas Gift? 

Safety Pin? 

Man Cave? 

Ignition Key? 

Guitar Player? 

Sharp Arrow? 

Ironing Board? 
___________?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

Self-Test # 28

September   6,   2020

HONESTLY

“Honestly,….”

Why do we say that?

Why do we sometimes add that?

Is it because of emphasis,

or because sometimes

we know - really down deep -

we haven’t paused enough to ponder,

“What is the truth here?”

Honestly?

Didn’t someone famous say,

“And the truth will set you free”?

Honesty!

And several people add

comments like,

“But first it will hurt,”

or “make us miserable,”

or "cost us".

Honestly.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

September  6,  2020

Thought  for  Today

 “It is better to understand little than to  misunderstand  a  lot.” 

Anatole  France 

[1844-1924] 

French  writer