August 28, 2016

TOLLE  LEGE, TOLLE  LEGE 

You mean to tell me, you haven’t

read Augustine’s Confessions yet?

“Tolle lege, tolle lege….” those

were the sing song words he heard

in the garden that day. “Take! Read!”

So he picked up and read, Paul’s
Letter to the Romans 13:13-14:

“Let us conduct ourselves properly,

as people who live in the light of day -

no orgies or drunkenness,

no immorality or indecency,

no fighting or jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ

and make no provision to satisfy

the desires of the flesh.”

“Tolle lege” Augustine’s Confessions

and like everyone who reads them,

you too will say, “Too late I loved you,

O Beauty ever ancient and ever new.
Too late I loved you! And, behold,

you were within me, and I out of

myself and there I searched for you.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

August 27, 2016

AT  LEAST  

TWO  BY  TWO

ALWAYS  THREE

Early on - someone figured it out -

genetically: it's not good to go it alone.
“It’s not good to be alone.”

They even put those words into

God’s mouth - knowing that God

didn’t want to go it alone either. 

This is before we discovered the

reality of God as Trinity - obviously -
as well as - community - obviously.

Later on - someone also figured it out:

every other thinks differently than I.

If we don’t get that one, then we’ll

find ourselves going it alone again.

Now that is a big discovery. In fact,

it has to be discovered over and over -

again and again - like in every 
relationship - argument - and covenant.

Unfortunately we fall. We do dumb. We

decide to go it alone - so Cain killed Abel -

and the Prodigal heads for pig pens.

But we learn - we rise - we reconsider -

we reach out - we head home - or there

is the other - coming down the road and

they stop to help us and bring us to

the local Inn because they care for us.

Then after too many crucifixions -

too many hidings from God and

from each other - we discover

deep within - each of us has within -

not only ourselves - and others - but

also the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

August 26, 2016

HARBOR   PULLS

Watching the water waves

against my hull - as I cross

across the harbor waters

to the other side of today....

I feel so many pulls 

from so many waves 

washing against me:

to hear a morning, “Hi!”;

to hear a “Hi!” back from you;

to recognize and be recognized;

to love and be loved in return;

to do something worthwhile today;

to taste what I’m eating;

to ask and then to pass the pepper;

to mean what I’m saying;

to have eye contact with some people;

to check the papers and the news;

to say a prayer;

to get home after the day;

to sit back and relax in the evening;

to say, “Good night! I love you.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

Painting on top:
Blue Water, Smoke and Ferry
by Gretchen Hancock,
one of her Vashon Fauntleroy Ferry
paintings

August 25, 2016

WHETHER REPORT

Whether you’re in a good mood or

a bad mood - don’t you realize you

change the atmosphere in the room?

Whenever you come off the elevator,

down the corridor, up the steps into

the house,  don’t you notice everyone?

They are studying you: face, fists, mouth - waiting for the weather report - to see what kind of a mood we’re in for today?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

THE  PEOPLE  LITANY

[This is called “The People Litany”. Here are  33 things we people do. If you accept - acknowledge - agree to any one of them - and you will try to keep these things going, vote with a voiced “Amen” which means “Yes!” to that reality.]

People meet together. Amen!
People greet each other. Amen!

People cooperate. Amen!

People educate.   Amen!

People keep secrets. Amen!

People build trust in our relationships.  Amen!
People make mistakes.  Amen!
People say, "I'm sorry. I made a mistake." Amen!

People forgive. Amen!

People build and protect families. Amen!.
People eat with each other.   Amen!

People clap for others. Amen!

People acknowledge each other. Amen!
People listen for feelings underneath words. Amen!
People say, “Thank you” a lot. Amen
People change  Amen!
People grow. Amen!
People pray. Amen!

People respect people. Amen!

People create. Amen!
People speak with hands and eyes when ears don't work.  Amen!
People watch and learn from each other. Amen!

People read. Amen!
People do dumb. Amen!

People do smart. Amen!

People sing, dance and make music. Amen!
People celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Amen!

People hopefully use rocks to build bridges not walls. Amen!
People challenge and ask questions. Amen!

People take time for old people. Amen!

People take time for young people.  Amen!
People make time for each other. Amen!

People improve things for those after them. Amen!

People sacrifice!   Amen! 

© Andy Costello, Prayers 2016

August 24, 2016

SIGNING MY NAME

Signing a wedding license….

Signing a check….

Signing a gift certificate….

Signing a mortgage on our first house…..

Signing a book in a funeral parlor ….

Signing a Declaration of Independence ….

Signing a voter registration ….

Signing a driver’s license…..

Signing an autograph for a kid….

Signing a birthday card….

Signing a Valentine’s Day card….

Signing that I saw a kid’s report card ….

Signing a referendum that needs 1000 signatures….

Signing a divorce settlement ….

Signing a will….

Please sign:  I was here ________________

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

August 23, 2016

THE SCENT OF....

The scent of a dozen roses ….

The scent of an onion….
The scent of an old attic trunk….
The scent of a brand new car....

The scent of a newly bathed baby….

The scent of one’s spouse….

The scent of a movie theater….

The scent of bacon, bacon, bacon ….

The scent of crayons….

The scent of an afternoon August rain….

The scent of a Christmas tree….

The scent of oranges….
The scent of grandma's vegetable soup....

The scent of perfume when alone in an elevator….

The scent of a dead body while kneeling in prayer at a casket….

The scent of candles in church ….

The scent of ocean spray in October ….
The scent of freshly baked bread ....

The scent of wine - the Blood of Christ….

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016