January 9,  2023

SIMPLICITY

 

To be simple,

to not get caught up in the chase for stuff,

to not spend too much time and energy

figuring out other’s motives,

to let go of wanting everything to go my way,

to say what I mean and mean what I say,

to have balance in my life, in my prayer,

my work, my time, my fun, my friends.

To be simple is to be calm and to avoid agitation.

To be simple,

is to avoid trying to juggle too much.

To be simple,

is to allow and to acknowledge others

to be far more gifted than I am,

to know there is lot more,

but so what?

To be simple is to relax,

knowing I came into this world with my own skin,       to know I’ll be going out the same way                       a bit more wrinkled with some scars and warts,

simply saying to God,  “Thanks!”

 

Reflections © Andy Costello

January 9, 2023

Quote for Today

"Abortions will not let you forget

You remember the children you got that you did

      not get."

Gwendolyn Brooks [1917-  ]

A Street in Bronzeville [1945]

The Mother, st. 1

January 8, 2023

ILLUSIONS

 

Illusions: we have them.

Illusions: we are them,

 

But we rather just admit we have them

and keep moving on through the day.

 

Naked honesty is too much and too tough

at times, yet it’s the way to be and the way to go.

 

Others see us as they think we are.

But to be honest we know, we’re not.

 

Slowly as I age I’m admitting

who are I really am.  Slowly.

 

But why not be and see who I am

as God sees and knows I really am. Slowly

 

And God while I’m at it, how about

letting me see who YOU really are? Slowly.

 

Reflections © Andy Costello

 January 8, 2023

Quote for Today

 "People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise."

William Somerset Maugham [1874-1965]

Of Human Bondage  [1915] - Chapter 50

 January 7, 2023

OLD SONGS

 

I was wondering

if everyone has some old songs

that are still playing back there

and down there in the bottom

of the basement of their being – 

a song or two that starts playing again – 

when they are walking through a bank

or an office building – or simply

while twisting the radio dial while

driving alone doing some shopping

on a Saturday morning. Surprise

there are more songs waiting for you

to attach themselves to your feelings

and your experiences.  Twist those

dials. Turn up the volume. Listen

and sing along with the old songs.

Reflections © Andy Costello

 January 7, 2023

Quote for Today

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across thee grass and loses itself in the sunset."

Crowfoot [1821-1890]

Last Words [1890]

 January 6, 2023

PROOFS THAT GOD EXISTS

 

Rain, but not all rainy days.

The bark of trees – especially pine.

Ice cream – with the right ingredients,

the right cold and the right flavor -

and enjoying it with the right person.

Of course, other sights: a tiny green leaf -

clover growing in between cement on

sidewalk cracks – but not my sidewalk.

A full moon on the ocean – Eucharist –

the monstance of dark black night sky -

light shaking on the waters at 11 P.M.

and big mountains – especially

big Colorado grey mountains and

a lot more – more – keep noticing.

 

Reflections © Andy Costello