May All Beings be Free from Suffering

Bumper Sticker seen yesterday:  May all beings be free from Suffering.

Everyone suffers at one point or another in their lives...for some their day to day existence is threatened.  I am happy to know folks that go above and beyond to advocate for the hungry, homeless, abused, poverty stricken masses. 

I would like to introduce you to my friend Kelly...teacher of special needs students, professional photographer, muralist, pottery freak, all around doer of Good plus she is a great mother and a good friend!

Kelly has recently returned from another mission trip to Costa Rica.  During that time, her group  made repairs and painted murals at an orphanage.  They brought shoes and gifts to the children.  Kelly's sons asked how many "orphans" she would bring back to live with them.  She has captured many striking photographs that are displayed in galleries and used to get the message out to each of us to help children the world over.

 
She has given me permission to use some of her photographs on this blog.  Others can be seen at Kelly Crayne Photography (website and on facebook)

Most homes consisted of dirt floors, old boards and tin for roofs.  Food was and is scarce.  Let us not forget the suffering masses around the world.  A small effort from each person is like the ripple effect in a pond.

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.

Mother Teresa

Let us keep the tide of humanitarian aid and effort going.  Each person can do something.  One thing.  Join me!

Patchwork Life

"We do not live an equal life, but one of contrasts and patchwork; now a little joy, then a sorrow, now a sin, then a generous or brave action” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I adore patchwork quilts. The idea of taking bits of fabric to create something useful and lovely. Most of our collection of quilts returned to my children's father after the demise of our marriage. His grandmother, mother and aunts were the creators. Grandma Ola's quilts were carefully inspected...as she became older and began forgetting things...you were just as likely to be stabbed by a very long quilting needle. She would make several "generic" quilts to be given to the new mothers. During her time...boy and girl children were not determined until birth. Each star on the purple quilt represents a family member and a story significant to my youngest daughter. Her Dad's old work shirt, my Father's ties, Grandma's gown...the blue Appalachian Trail bandanna belonging to my brother...he hiked the entire trail from Georgia to Maine not once but twice in his short lifetime. So many memories. The dear, sweet grandmother of my children recently made a quilt for me consisting of large squares in myriad colors. Being a mother of six children she was always frugal and used everything. In her mid seventies she is still serving others...being an example of all that is lovely and good in this world.

Life reminds me of a huge patchwork in progress with the Master tailor choosing the fabrics and "sewing" them together for our greater good! Each person, place and event forming the pattern of our lives. Every joy, trial and temptation teaches something if we watch and listen.

Judgement, drama and pettiness have no place in a life that is striving for authenticity, goodness and all that is praiseworthy. This is perhaps one of the greatest tests of all...accepting differences...do I have the right to "judge" the elderly woman in gold lame' pants...the panhandler on the curb...the emo or goth kids hanging out at the mall? These people, their lives are just one more square on our patchwork quilt. Imagine a quilt with just one color and all the stitches being exactly the same...Can you live in a world void of colorful characters and places?

Alas Babylon

Rev. 18: 10 (King James Version of The Holy Bible)

10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Our book club meets tonight and the above book will be the topic of conversation. Written in 1959 at the height of the cold war with Russia amidst segregation and class differences...this novel explores what happens when society ceases to exist as we know it. Written 50 years ago (the year of my birth) it still has a timely message for us.

Once I delved into this book I could not stop reading until I finished the story. It is a story of tragedy tinged with hope. Hope for humanity and the return to some semblance of normalcy.

It is a story of people coming together despite differences. A story of neighbors working together to take care for one another, provide for one another and to guard one another against the desperate, barbaric, criminal element that comes out in weaker people. It is a thought provoking and inspiring read.

What would you do...

if your money no longer held any value?

if there was no medication, hospitals, doctors?

if there was no electricity, no water?

limited food supplies?

no law and order?

no gasoline, tires, oil...transport of any kind?

My hope is that you have made some kind of preparation in your life for emergencies. It doesn't have to be a disaster of epic proportions...it can be loss of job, reduction in wages or salary, medical emergency, soaring prices at the grocery store and gas pump. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been strongly suggesting to its members to store food and water, have emergency medical supplies and to be prepared for any contingency. It is not a gloom and doom message...it is a reality. Some of us live in areas of tornadoes and hurricanes or perhaps you live in an area of snow blizzards, are you prepared?

A Few other thoughts...will you help your neighbor in times of hunger or would your impulse be to horde everything for your family? Would you call on God or a higher power or would you blame God and denounce Him? Personally, my fervent hope is that my good, kind, compassionate self would overpower any base, dark traits that might be unmasked in times of true struggle.

Many sites are dedicated to emergency preparedness...you can "google" it and find a wealth of information. The American Red Cross has lots of good information as well. It is not a matter of hording, being paranoid or expecting the worst...it is for your well being and comfort and security.

It may be time for you to evaluate where you stand!