TEXTURE

Texture intrigues ….

Where did God come up with 
the idea for the look and feel

of elephant or hippo skin? 

Oak trees? Bananas inside and out? 

A new baby’s fingers and the toes 

of an 88 year old on the elevator 

with me going up to the second
floor in a nursing home? 
Walnut shells? Pearls?

Rocks? Shells? Sea weed? 

The wind and rain on my face 

on a rainy day? Interesting feel? 

Summer rain of course. 
Just walking - not running.
Texture intrigues…. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  25, 2019 - 

Thought for today:

“If we compare our knowledge with that of the ancients, we  appear  very wise.  But we are no nearer  to  solving the riddle of eternal justice than Cain was.”  

Lev Shestov, 

All Things Are 

Possible, 1977

Painting: Cain and Abel
by John Reilly

GRUMBLE,  GRUMBLE,   GRUMBLE 

OR  GRATITUDE, GRATITUDE, GRATITUDE

INTRODUCTION

The title of  my homily is, “Grumble, Grumble, Grumble or Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude.”

Which is more me: grumble or gratitude?

I use the word “grumble” three times, because that’s how many times it’s used in today’s first reading.

In this first reading from Exodus, we hear the Israelites complaining about Moses. They are complaining about the one in charge - the leader. They are also grumbling about food. Everyone gets hungry. Lastly they don’t like where they are. They are complaining about  - location, location,  location - the dessert.

So  a challenge for today:  may your gratitude crumble your grumble. May your thankfulness outweigh your grumbleness.

Tonight around 9 PM make a list of what you grumbled about today.  Also make a column at 9:07 PM what you loved and laughed about today.

Which will be more me today: grumble or gratitude?

Which horse wins: grumpy or grattitudy?

A FEW QUOTES:

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.”

Billy Graham said, “Grumbling and gratitude are, for the child of God, in conflict. Be grateful and you won't grumble. Grumble and you won't be grateful."

John Henry Jowett wrote, “Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic. This is a most searching and true diagnosis. Gratitude can be a vaccine that can prevent the invasion of a disgruntled attitude. As antitoxins prevent the disastrous effects of certain poisons and diseases, thanksgiving destroys the poison of faultfinding and grumbling. When trouble has smitten us, a spirit of thanksgiving is a soothing antiseptic.

Marlene Dietrich said, "Grumbling is the death of love."

Samuel Logan Brengle  said, “Truly, we have much to thank God for, but if we would be thankful, we must set our hearts to do it with a will. We grumble and complain without thought, but we must think to give thanks.”

CONCLUSION: TODAY

So today quit with the witching; less with the complaining; more with the thanking and the happy face. Amen.

And tonight at 9 PM give yourself a mark on how you did today.

July  24, 2019 -

Thought for today:


“God Himself does not speak prose, but communicates with us by hints, omens, inferences and dark resemblances in objects lying all around us.” 

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 

Poetry and Imagination, 1876

 BOX

Don’t you love boxes?

You’re never sure just what’s inside.

You guess. You hold it. You shake it.

It could be … but then again, it ….

It’s like you and me….

You never know what’s inside.

Present yourself.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July 23, 2019

 ATHEISTS

Come here ….

Huddle with ME in a corner 

or on a park bench …. 

Come here ….
I’m not going to let you 

get off your regular babble …. 

Come here …. 

Feel your pulse. 

Listen to your blood flow …. 

Come here …. 

Don’t tell me you’re an ATHEIST.  

Tell me you’re lazy or want to be alone…. 

Come here …. 

Tell me I’M not on this bench with you 

and I’ll corner you like a 500 pounder. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  23, 2019 -

Thought for today:

“Our prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it happens to be prolonged by inspiration of divine grace.  In community, however,  let prayer  be very  short.” 

St. Benedict, Rule of, c. 530