GRADUATION 

ADDRESSES  2018

Dear Commencement Speakers for this Spring,

Tell the graduates that we need people to open up their eyes and see what’s really happening in this world - in this country - and take the blinders off [knowing that each person sees the way they see  - and they can learn to see better].

Tell them we need many a new Edward R. Murrow - Grandma Moses -  Mr. Rogers - Roberto Clemente - Dorothy Day - and two and three and hundreds more stars and people of diverse and caring attitudes.

Tell them to challenge Hannity and Carson, Maddow, O’Donnell and Cooper, CNBC, CNN and Fox - and  every other form of public communications  to speak the truth - not for ratings - not for money - not for a job - not for politics - but for the common good.

Read the prophets. Speak the truth. Get the facts - and keep following the trails. Investigate the investigators not for self-promotion - but for the betterment of all.

Tell them we need people to grasp and then practice the great values and the great truths: honesty [no lies], fairness [justice], it’s make the world better today [not make America great again], stop the name calling [respect each person’s name and character].

Call out people to become statesmen not elected officials - servants not the served - flying regular class - and rubbing shoulders with the common woman and man.

Challenge all to take the bus, hold the door, chat a moment with those waiting for the elevator or with those who take the stairs or sit with those on the park bench - or to say to the mom and dad with a baby, “Nice job, beautiful baby!”

Tell everyone, "Every day is earth day." Toast it, don't roast it. Pick up 5 pieces of liter each day - and make your street the neatest, cleanest street in town.

Say to the old folks, “Hi mom!” “Hi pop!” “Can I treat you to an ice cream. Here’s a Rita’s.”

It's today!

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018 

May 3, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“At a certain age some  people’s minds close up; they live on their intellectual fat.”  

William Lyon Phelps [1865-1943]

DO  YOU  EVER  COMPLAIN 

ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE 

DRESSED WHEN THEY COME  TO CHURCH?

DIFFERENT THINGS 

HAPPEN TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE 

WHEN THEY GO TO CHURCH. 

What's  your take, what are your thoughts, about people who have Down Syndrome?

THIS  I  BELIEVE 

THIS  I  DON’T  BELIEVE  

I believe in God.

I believe that God is Three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I believe that God knows I exist by name, personality, story ….

I believe God loves us....

I believe that there is a hereafter - after I die - after a here and now.

I believe that people do good and evil - smart and dumb - that we are a mixed mongrel of motives.

I believe that the good I do - along with the good we do - lives afterwards and impacts the flow of the world - each moment - like the old story that the butterfly that shakes its wings right now - this very moment in Beijing - will be part of the breeze that passes through Paris and Peoria in one of these weeks to come ….

I don’t believe that God decides who dies this day - and dozens and dozens of other things I often hear people state about God….

I don’t believe that sin is singular - but it’s interwoven with everything I do and have done as well as the  mix of influences from many more people whose words and deeds have darkened my life.

I don’t believe that God punishes people with storms and fires,  floods and fury ….

I don’t believe that people actually know what and why they are doing what they are doing, so like Christ I forgive them 70 times 7 times….

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018
Genesis of this piece: I found a
quote by Edward R. Murrow.
Looking for a YouTube video
to match that quote I spotted
this short video,  "This I believe" -
so I decided to jot down some things
I do and don't believe in - as
Edward R. Murrow suggests we do. 

May 2, 2018

Thought for today: 

“Everyone is a prisoner  of  his  own experiences.  No one can  eliminate  
prejudices - just recognize them."  

Edward R. Murrow [1908-1965]