January 27, 2018

THE CLINK OF  CUPS

Who was first human to clink their

cup, chalice, mug with another -

to connect, to celebrate, to be in

communion with another - wine,

beer. mead, rum - the sip, the smile,

the salute, the toast,  the cheer.

Who was the first human to know

this is one of the most basic human

signs, sacrament, that binds people

together. Christ did it at his Last

Supper. Couples do it at every

wedding - so too the funeral toast.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

January 26,  2018
   

BEHIND  CLOSED  DOORS

Going by closed doors, at least

1,000 of them each day…. Sometimes

wondering “Who’s in there - behind

this closed door?” Is someone asking,

“Is anyone interested in me today?”

Does God knock on at least

1,000 closed doors each day

wanting to get into our inner room?

Or does Jesus simply come through

our walls and say, “Peace. Shalom?”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

January 26, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“You know the  old  saying, 
‘The bigger they are, 
the further they have to fall.’”

 Robert Fitzsimmons [1862-1917] in Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 11, 1900

January 25, 2018

CHESS  MOVE

I began as I was taught:

“Pawn to king 4 ….”

Then 34 moves later

it was your turn - and ….

You said, “Check!” And

I smiled, “Wrong move ....”

“Check!” You just found out,

you had met your match.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018
Painting: The Chess Players
by Honore Daumier

January 25, 2018

Thought for today: 

“Somebody  once  asked Anton Bruckner: ‘Master, how, when, where did you think of the divine motif of your Ninth Symphony?’ ‘Well, it was like this,’ Bruckner replied, ‘I walked up the Kahlenberg, and when it got hot and I got hungry, I sat down by a little brook and unpacked my Swiss cheese.  And just  as I open the greasy paper, that darn tune pops into my head!”  

Anton Bruckner [1825-1896]

January 24, 2018

ANTSY  AND  SNIPPY  PRAYER

Lord, I don’t know about You,

but have you noticed that people

have been a bit antsy and snippy lately?

Are they being that way with You too? 

Is it the long winter, too many gray days,

or what? So here I am pausing. Here I am

praying. Help me to enter into a lot of upper

rooms today and spread Your word of

“Peace” to each person I meet. Amen.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

January 24, 2018

Thought for the day:

"There was never an angry person who thought their anger was unjust."

St. Francis de Sales [1567-1622]