July   26,   2020

AN  ANSWER

He wondered and worried

for weeks – for months –

for the longest time – till

the moment came when

he told his parents what

he was going to do – and

one said, “Yes” and the

other said, “No” and he

got his answer why he

wondered and worried

for weeks – for months –

for the longest time. Yes.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

July   26,  2020

Thought   for   Today

“Marriage  is  a  lottery in which men stake their liberty and women their happiness.” 

Madam Virginie de Rieux

15^th century French writer

July  25,  2020

BLACK   AND  BLUE

Black and Blue went up a hill 

to see what they could see. 

Black asked Blue, if at times she 

ever wanted to be another color. 

“Oh yeah, said Blue, “Lots of times 

I’d love to be a bright, bright yellow.” 

“You’re kidding,” said Black, “Not me 

and lately you’re noticed, I matter.” 

At the top they ran into Red – and they 

asked him if he was happy to be Red. 

“Yes, yes,”  said Red, “I only want to be Red. 

Did you ever notice, I always get the blond?” 

Blue said, “You guys are typical men. I’d love 

to be any color: Yellow, green, brown, whatever.” 

Black and Red both responded, “Women!” 

“No” said Blue, with a smile. “Just smart.” 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

July   25,   2020

Thought   for  Today

“What  man  strives  to  preserve, in preserving himself, is something which he has never  been  at any particular moment.” 

George Santayana

 ___________________________________________________________

July   24,  2020

CRUMBLE

Crumble:

we crumble so we grumble.

Crumble teaches us

we are not God.

Crumble teaches us this

in the crumble of the cookie

in our kitchen

and in our sidewalks

as we walk down the street.

Crumble happens in

the breaking of our toys

and in the wrinkles of our skin,

in the painful arthritis of our bones

as we sink and start to crumble over

downwards back into the earth.

Grave thoughts,

but this reality of being human

can also crumble our pride

till we finally look up 

and cry out for the divine,

WHO made us up out of

mud and clay -

these fragile elements -

in the first place

in our mothers womb –

our mother earth -

and this God can

raise us up

on our last day again

Crumble teaches us.

We know we can’t. Amen

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

July  24,  2020

Thought  for  Today

“If you want truth to go round the world you  must hire an express train to pull it;  but if you want a lie to go around the world,  it will fly: it is as light as a feather, and a breath  will carry it.  It is well said in the old proverb, ‘a lie  will go round the world while truth is putting its boots  on’.”  

C.H. Spurgeon [1934-1892] 

in Gems from Spurgeon  (1839)

July  23,   2020

FAIR

Who said, “Life is fair”?

Yet it seems that’s the assumption

we’re all born with – or given – or have.

You hear kids saying it all the time.

“Hey, that’s not fair!”  "unfair!"

People jump ahead of each other

on lines all the time – or they try.

“I got one scoop of ice cream and it

was delicious till I saw you got two.”

“She got the lead in the play

and I got to give out the programs.”

“They just built this fire house

just down the street from us.”

“Not fair.  Lefties can get to first base

a step quicker than righties ever time.”

“Jesus Christ, not fair. My birthday

is on December 25^th.  Not fair.”

Who said, “Life is fair”?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020