Quotations Under the Letter “C”
If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I like to collect quotations. I’ve been doing this since I was in high school. In fact, every time I read a book, I put a few 3 X 5 file cards in it–in case I run into a good quote. If I do, I’ll copy it down on one of my cards. As a result, I have literally thousands of quotes stored alphabetically in nine file card boxes. Below are 20 quotations I picked out for you that I found under the letter “C.” I hope some of these speak to your heart today.
1. I’ve got many quotations under catechesis, the way we hand on our religion or faith to others. I often cross reference these with evangelization. Here’s my favorite definition: Catechesis or evangelization “is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.” (D. T. Niles)
2. “Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has. (Margaret Mead)
3. “Character is what you are in the dark.” (Dwight Moody)
4. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.” (Abraham Lincoln)
- Correction: I just learned that the above quote is misattributed to Lincoln. It was possibly said by the American politician Robert Ingersoll ABOUT Lincoln. Ingersoll was the 16th Attorney General of Illinois. Interestingly, his nickname was “The Great Agnostic.”
5. “A grownup is a child with layers on.” (Woody Harrelson)
6. Children ask good questions. “A woman was telling her granddaughter the Christmas story. The little girl asked, ‘Why did Mary and Joseph have to go to a stable?” The grandmother said, “Because there was no room in the inn, and they needed shelter.” The little girl asked, “Why didn’t they go to Grandma’s?”
7. “Would you be any different if Christ did not exist?” (Anthony de Mello)
8. “Christianity can never be a merely pleasant or consoling religion. It is a stern business. It is concerned with salvation through sacrifice and love of a world in which, as we can all see now, evil and cruelty are rampant. Its supreme symbol is the crucifix—the total and loving self-giving of a man to the redeeming purposes of God.” (Evelyn Underhill. She, a British writer, wrote these words while enduring the Blitzkrieg in England during World War II)
9. “Coincidences are spiritual puns.” (G.K. Chesterson)
10. “Compassion is the chief law of human existence.” (Fyodor Dostoevsky)
11. “Compassion is the willing disposition to enter into the chaos of another.” (James F. Keenan. He cites Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan as an example.)
12. “The compassionate life is the life of downward mobility.” (Henry Nouwen)
13. Community: “Mitakuye Oyasin is the Lakota belief that says, ‘We are all related.'”
14. Community (solidarity): “Love needs someone else. Joy is something shared. Peace is mediated. Patience is interactive. Generosity is towards. These communal activities have no reality except with another.” (Cedric Mayson)
15. “Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.” (John F. Kennedy’s commencement address at American University on June 10, 1963. Some historians say it was the most important speech on war and peace of his presidency.)
16. “Compromise is the glue of relationships.” (Dr. John Gottman)
17. “Confidence never comes from having all the answers; it comes from being open to all the questions.” (Earl Gary Stevens)
18. “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” (Peter Sheridan)
19. “The opposite of courage isn’t only fear but security.” (Sue Monk Kidd)
20. Writer/artist Julia Cameron has written extensively about creativity. She posted this sign in her writing area: “Dear God, I will take care of the quantity. You take care of the quality.”
For reflection:
Did any quotation stand out for your today? If so, which one(s)? Do you know why?
Do you have a favorite quote that would fit under any of the C words above? Would you like to share it below? (By doing this, you might add another card in my file!)
Do you have a favorite quote that focuses on any other C word? Again, would you like to share it with us below?
PS: Raffle Reminder: I am raffling off THREE signed copies of my new book, Sunflower Seeds of Hope. All you have to do to enter is to write a comment below. If you have written a comment anytime since Feb. 10, your name has already been entered in the raffle. Everyone gets ONE chance no matter how many comments you’ve written. The contest ends this Friday, Feb. 28 at midnight. Winners will be announced next Monday, March 3.
I looked for a song that focuses on one the C words above. I found “The Compassion Hymn” by Keith and Kristyn Getty. The song is really a prayer to our compassionate God. Dostoevsky says compassion is “the chief law of human existence.” Compassion also plays a pivotal role in both the life and teachings of Jesus. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to love others with the compassion of Jesus.
I welcome your comments below…
Celebrating Black History Month and Story Corps
Today we’re going to celebrate Black History Month by using a special love of mine: an organization called Story Corps. Let’s begin with a few words about Black History month.
The celebration of Black History month can be traced back to a historian named Carter G. Woodson. The son of former slaves, Woodson was born in Virginia in 1875. Raised in poverty, he worked in the coal mines as a child. Amazingly, he eventually went on to become the second Black man to earn a PhD from Harvard. In 1926 Woodson established the first “Negro History Week” to focus on the accomplishments of Black people.
The first official Black History month was recognized in 1976 when President Gerald Ford extended the week to a whole month saying, the month will “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every endeavor throughout our history.” February was chosen because it incudes the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, two prominant figures in the abolistionist movement. Black History Month is celebrated in other countries too, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Germany, France, and seven countries in Africa.
Now, what is Story Corps? It is an American non-profit organization founded in April 2003 that attempts to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds, ages, and beliefs. The mission statement gives the reason behind this massive project: “to help us believe in each other by the humanity and possibility in all of us… one story at a time.” Some of the stories are accompanied by delightful and poignant illustrations.
So far Story Corps has interviewed 645,000 people from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. plus several American territories. They have recording booths in many public places (including New York City’s Grand Central Station), plus they have converted Airstream trailers into recording booths that travel the country. You can even record a story for them on your cellphone! Over the years, Story Corps has built “the largest collection of human voices ever archived.” If you watch or listen to PBS, you have probably seen or heard some of these memorable stories.
I’m offering four stories below. Each is about 2-3 minutes long. These four seemed especially appropriate for Black History month.
Story #1: The Family Equation:
Story # 2: Walnut Street
Story #3: Always a Family
Story #4: Levar and Kevin – This story is part of the project called “One Small Step” where total strangers on opposite sides of the political spectrum volunteered to come together and have conversations about non-political topics. Sometimes these individuals met several times. Here is a fragment from one conversation between Levar and Kevin. (Levar’s words are in blue; Kevin’s are in orange.)
For reflection:
Did anything about the history of Black History month stand out for you? What do you think of Story Corps?
Did any of the four stories speak to you? If so, which one(s) and why?
What are some of your feelings about Black History month? Do you personally celebrate it in any way? Why or why not?
What are some of the ways we can come to see the humanity in each one of us?
This is a kids’ song by Miss Jessica entitle “Black People Who Change the World.” I’m no kid, but I really liked this upbeat song with its creative dance moves!
Reminder: I invite you to share some of your thoughts below. Anyone who writes a comment on my blog between Feb. 10-28 will be entered in a raffle to win a signed copy of my new book Sunflower Seeds of Hope. Your name will be entered ONE TIME only even if you write more than one comment. Thank you!
The 13th Anniversary of My Blog
On February 12, 2012 I wrote the first reflection for a new blog I called Sunflower Seeds: Celebrating Everyday Spirituality. This week marks the 13th anniversary of that venture. As I look back over the past 13 years, my heart is filled with wonder and gratitude. In the beginning, I wondered if I could learn how to do a blog since I had never done anything like this before. I also wondered if I could sustain writing a reflection every week or if I would quickly run out of ideas, time, and enthusiasm. And finally, I wondered if anyone would actually read the “stuff” I posted.
My heart is filled with gratitude too. First of all, to our Loving God who has given me my love for the power, mystery, and magic of words. So too I am grateful to Sister Susan Wolf who first suggested I write a blog. I hesitated. But she, who already had a popular blog called Catholic Web Solutions, persisted. Plus she offered to help me. I’m also grateful to the members of our IT Department who, over the years, came to my rescue many times. And I’m grateful for other bloggers who inspired me: SND bloggers Sisters Kathleen Glavich, Maresa Lilley, and Valerie Schneider. And bloggers like Macrina Weidekehr, OSB, Mary Ann Flannery, SC, Kathy Coffey, Eric Hollas, OSB, and many others.
And finally, I’m grateful to all of you, my readers. Some of you have been with me from the beginning. Others of you came to this site along the way–from years ago to just recently. Most of you are anonymous to me. But some of you have become new friends for me. I am especially grateful for your written comments which expand and enrich the scope of my writing.
During these past 13 years I have written about a wide variety of topics. Some topics you would expect: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, scripture, prayer, Mary and other saints, the Mass. I’ve written about uplifting and hopeful things–like Christmas and Easter, ordinary people doing good and beautiful things, the gift of music, the wisdom of children, the saving grace of humor. I’ve also written about difficult things like death, grief, and very difficult times. (I mentioned my first post was Feb. 12, 2012. A short 15 days later, on the morning of Feb. 27, there was a shooting at Chardon High School across the street from St. Mary Church, school, and convent where I lived. That morning while some of us were at Mass, a student opened fire in the cafeteria shooting 5 students, 3 of them fatally. Phyllis, the mother of one of the boys killed, was at mass with us, sitting across the aisle from me. We had just waved the sign of peace to each other when we heard the first sirens… I was extremely shaken by this awful event but, through my tears, I posted a reflection about it on March 5, 2012. You can access that post by using the search box at the top of the right column.)
The emphasis on my blog has always been everyday spirituality. This includes various aspects of creation such as deer tracks in the snow, grandmother orcas, chipmunks under the porch, cinnamon, a total solar eclipse, those amazing trees, the mysticism of a green pepper, the secrets of octopuses, and even the miracle of mud. I write about everyday kinds of activities such as doing housework, visiting the library, shopping for groceries, riding a motorocycle, reading a good book, working zigsaw puzzles, sitting in a rocking chair, and the ways we say goobye. I have file folders stuffed with ideas for future blogs. Will I ever run out of ideas to write about? I think not. I probably will first run out of stamina, clarity of thought, or even time itself.
So, once again, my dear readers, I thank you for reading Sunflower Seeds. YOU are the main reason I continue to put out a new post virtually every Monday. Thank you for all the ways you inspire me by your faith, your devotion to prayer, and by your example of Christ-like living in our shared world!
Announcing a Raffle
To celebrate this 13th anniversary, I am holding a special raffle. As you know, my new book is out. It’s called Sunflower Seeds of Hope and it is a collection of 40 of my blogs complete with reflective questions and video suggestions. Some of you don’t know it yet, but you helped me write this book. That’s because the book also includes comments you wrote on my blog. (By the way, I dedicated this book to all my blog readers!) I am going to give away three signed copies of my new book to three lucky readers. To enter the drawing all you have to do is write a comment on my blog by February 28th. The comment can be brief. You can even just say, “Please enter my name in the raffle.” Everyone who comments will be entered one time in the drawing even if you comment more than once. Also, if you do not want your name in the raffle for any reason, just say that in your comment. On March 1 I’ll put the names of everyone who wrote a comment between Feb. 10- 28 into a bag and draw three names at random. Winners will be announced on Monday, March 3. I will mail the winners their free signed copy of my new book!
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PS: Next week we’ll celebrate Black History Month in a fun and inspiring way. Stay tuned!
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Everyday Spirituality… Wonder and Gratitude. These are some of the main themes of this blog. I surfed youtube to find a song that spoke these words to me and chose this one. It’s called “Holy as the Day Is Spent” and it’s by Carrie Newcomer. She reminds us that every day is holy… is a sacrament. I hope you too find her simple words and visuals both peaceful and prayerful…
I invite you to add a comment below… You will automatically be entered in the raffle if you do–unless you prefer not to be entered. Thanks so much!
“She” by Kathryn Tucker Windham
I’ve read quite a few books about the aging process. At 80, I need all the help and insights I can get! One of the most creative and charming books I’ve read on this topic is She: The Old Woman Who Took Over My Life by Kathryn Tucker Windham. First, a word about the author.
Windham is a well-known journalist, story-teller, and novelist from Selma, Alabama. Born in 1918, she was a journalist for 40 years–from the Great Depression through the Civil Rights movement. During those years she married (1946), bore three children, and was widowed (1956). In 1970 she moved from journalism to story-telling and novels, eventually publishing over two dozen books. She was putting the finishing touches on She when she died in 2011 at age 93.
Windham begins her book by describing how she woke up one day and found that an old lady had moved into her house. (She is Windham’s own aging self.) She calls this uninvited guest She. Writes Windham, “She disrupts my plans, demands my attention… requires nurtitious meals, curtails my away-from-home activities, hides things from me, makes my handwriting less legible, and pushes names and events into the deepest crevices of my mind.” What Windham really resents about She, is that she has become the primary caregiver for this “crotchety old lady” who has moved into her house. “It’s not a job I applied for,” she says.
Throughout the book, Windham dialogues with She. Sometimes they argue. Sometimes they get on each other’s nerves. One day Windham reminds She of General MacArthur’s famous words, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” Says She, “He could have done better.” Then She rattles off: “old explorers never die, they just get lost… old quarterbacks never die, they just pass away… old radio announcers never die, they just sign off… old runners never die, they just cross the finish line.” Windham gets tired of She’s rambling.
“The most aggravating change” She makes in Windham’s life is how She has slowed her down. Says Windham, “Everything takes longer now to do, two or three times as long, even as simple a task as making a cup of instant coffee.” Another chapter is entitled “Honey, She Shrank Me.” Since She moved in, Windham notes that she has lost 2 inches in height, no longer able to reach the top shelves in her kitchen. She says, “I told you those shelves were too high, but you wouldn’t listen.” Windham knows that it’s just as hard for her to get something from the bottom shelf too. Her solution? She begins to store canned goods and non-perishable items in her rarely used oven–much to She’s chagrin.
Sometimes She is bossy. “You’ve got too many clothes,” she announces. “You’ve got to give some to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.” Other times She tells Windham to get an electric recliner, electric can opener, and a lower bed. Windham does, but complains that the new bed “spoils the look of the room.” When Windham has trouble reading, She insists she get a magnifying glass, and adds, “If you had not read so much, your eyes would not be worn out.” When Windham’s doctor strongly suggests she get a cane, it is She who scolds her every time she forgets to use it.
Windham’s little book is realistic in describing the aging process. She acknowledges the genuine hardships of aging–for example, giving up your driver’s license and experiencing the deaths of so many friends. Yet the book is far from depressing. Through all the changes She brings into her life, Windham manages to hang on to her sense of humor as she and She move together toward the completion of their earthly journey.
The book ends with Windham writing down her preferences for her funeral. She requested that the congregation sing her favorite hymn, “I’ll Fly Away”:
Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away;
To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away.
I’ll fly away, O Glory, I’ll fly away;
When I die, Halleluiah, by and by, I’ll fly away.
As I inch nearer to the completion of my own earthly journey, I found this little book helpful, wise, and fun to read!
For reflection:
If you are “getting up there in years,” are there any changes you are noticing or struggling with?
What helps you to deal with your own aging process or that of a loved one?
Have you read any books on aging that you found helpful?
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PS #1: Thank you for your prayers for last week’s retreat for those eight women from the Drug Rehab Center. When I told them you were praying for them, they were very appreciative. Their backgrounds included a lawyer, a chef at a well-known restautant, several moms, a teacher, and a former military member. They were vivacious, eager to share, and extremely grateful for the beautiful setting, the private room, and the quiet time. There was laughter, a few tears, and two delicious meals enjoyed together. Let us continue to pray for these women and all our brothers and sisters who are courageously taking steps toward recovery and healing.
PS #2: Two of my readers in Tampa, a married couple, read my blog together every week. After reading last week’s blog on the octopus, they went for their customy health walk. Imagine their surprise when they saw this truck parked in their neighborhood. They snapped this picture for us!
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Our video today is called “Loving My Older Self/ Loving that Woman in the Mirror.” It is written and sung by Karen Taylor Good and Stowe Daily who call themselves Stowegood. They are motivational speakers, songwriters, and authors. You might want to check out their website. I was intrigued by their work. For me, this particular song becomes a prayer with their refrain, “Help me to love her…” These are words we can say to God: “Please help me to love the woman (or man) I see in the mirror”—no matter what our age is! (This video has closed captions if you click on cc at the bottom.)
Windham asked that the song “I’ll Fy Away” be sung at her funeral. This bonus video is Reba McEntire’s performance of “I’ll Fly Away” live from Nashville. She says the three other ladies in the quartet are members of her family.
I welcome you to write a comment about the reflection, the questions, the pictures, or the videos. Don’t be shy…
“The Secrets of the Octopus”
As a child, I was afraid of octopuses. When we went swimming at nearby Fairport Harbor, my father had to reassure me there were no octopuses in Lake Erie! But, over the years, my fear of octopuses morphed into fascination. That’s due to my exposure to some of the latest research on these highly unusual animals. Last year, for example, National Georgaphic won an Emmy for its three-part series The Secrets of the Octopus. This reflection is based largely on the article (by the same title) in the May 2024 issue of National Geographic. By the way, octopuses is the correct plural form of octopus–not octopi. Linguists now label octopi as “unacceptable.” Their explanation for why it is unacceptable is beyond the scope of this reflection! (In other words, it’s so complex I had a hard time understanding it!)
Let’s begin our exploration of the secrets of the octopus with a definition. My 1982 dictionary says the octopus “is a mollusk with a soft body and eight arms.” Technically speaking, that is no longer accurate. We now know that two of the so-called arms are really legs. (At your next party when the conversation is dull, just ask everyone, “How many arms does an octopus have?” Most likely they’ll all say, “Eight.” That’s when you prove them wrong and demonstrate just how smart you are!) The octopus is a member of the class cephalopoda which has been around for roughly 600 million years. We homo sapiens have been around approximately 300,000 years. So, who wins the “Been-Around-Longer” award? Certainly, not us! Now, let’s look at a few facts about the octopus.
There are about 300 species of octopuses. Some live in coastal waters; others live in the depths of the ocean. The smallest octopus is less than an inch long and weighs less than a gram. The largest can be 14 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds. Everything said here about the octopus might not apply to all species of octopuses.
The octopus has no bones. Their beak, however, is made of cartilage. So any hole they can get their beak through, they can eventually get their whole body through. This makes them stellar contortionists and escape artists. (See short video at the end of this blog.)
The octopus has 3 hearts and a big brain. The two lateral hearts of the octopus pump blood to the gills while one central heart pumps blood to the rest of the body. For its size, the octopus has a big brain. In fact, their brain-to-body ratio is the largest of any invertebrate. Does this mean they’re highly intelligent? Keep reading to find the answer to that question.
All octopuses are blue bloods. This does not mean all octopuses are descended from nobility or royalty. It means they all have blue blood. Literally. Their blood is blue because it is copper based. Our blood is red because it is iron-based.
The octopus is the ultimate master of camouflage. The octopus can change color, texture, and shape–all within seconds. If he is near rocks, for example, and spots a predator, he can instantly make himself look like a rock! If she is near some yellowish-greenish underwater plants, she can instantly turn yellowish-greenish and blend in with those plants. Sometimes the octopus transforms himself or herself into the shape and color of a fish that the other fish avoid–like the stingray! It’s awesome to behold! (Again, be sure to behold the video at the end.)
What about those tentacles? Some octopuses have over 200 suckers on each of its tentacles. Those suckers are amazingly powerful. A single sucker on a Giant Pacific octopus can lift 35 pounds! But those suckers can also smell and taste! (Imagine if you could smell and taste with your hands!)
What about their ink? The octopus can secrete a deadly black ink to confuse or kill prey or predators. This ink impairs the sight, taste, and smell of other fish. If fish get the ink into their gills, the ink suffocates them. Interestingly, the octopus’ ink is deadly even for themselves! Every time they squirt some ink, they have to quickly swim away in the opposite direction.
Reproduction is no honeymoon. Octopuses are ordinarily solitary–except when they fall in love. But their love-making can become very violent. (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well for the male.) First, the female is usually much larger than the male. In some species the female is 40,000 times the size of the male! (That 40,000 is NOT a typo. I checked that fact three times!) After fertilizing the female’s eggs, the male is often killed by the female. (Think: Black Widow–ala octopus!) Over days, weeks, and even months the female lays hundreds of fertilized eggs in a den and never leaves them. She is totally consumed with tending and guarding her eggs–so much so, she never takes a break, goes out for a stroll, gets her hair done, or even eats. Writes one researcher, “exhausted and depleted,” most mother octopuses die “once their brood is hatched.” So, reproduction is no honeymoon for the female octopus either.
Okay, but how smart are octopuses? The article in National Geographic says this: “There is no perfect way to gauge intelligence.” Most of us would agree–whether we’re trying to measure intelligence in the academic world, the sports world, or the political world…) “But,” continues the article, “neurons are a proxy for neurological complexity.” So how many millions of neurons do some animals have–including the octopus? Here’s a short list: Zebrafish (0.1 million)… mouse (71 million)… ferret (404 million)… octopus (500 million)… dog (2,250 million) human (86,000 million). (Remember, a human being made this chart!) But many researchers label the octopus “supersmart.” That’s because the octopus displays “a range of complex behaviors.” It can learn, retain knowledge for months, complete tricky tasks to get food, solve puzzles, use tools, escape mazes, untie knots, recognize human individuals, open jars and child-proof containers, and is incredibly curious.
And finally, the octopus also plays–which (as we all know) is always a sign of superior intelligence! (Have you played lately?)
As promised, here is a short video (4 mins.) by National Geographic titled “Octopuses 101.” It shows some of the astonishing behaviors of octopuses–including their mastery of contortion and camouflage. As a special treat, check out the second video too.
In their quest to understand other animals better, researchers have developed spy robotic animals that they place in the environment with real animals. Equiped with cameras and powers of movement and sometimes sound, their robots, which include whales, sharks, monkeys and octopuses, spy on the real animals. Here is a 4 min. video that shows the robotic octopus interacting with and “befriending” a real octopus.
For reflection:
Is there anything in today’s reflection that surprised or amazed you?
What do you think we human beings can learn from the octopus?
What does the octopus reveal to us about God, the Creator?
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PS: Prayers… I will be giving a retreat this Tuesday at Bethany, our retreat center here. The theme of the retreat is “Hope.” The nine women participants are all in a Drug Rehab center. I look forward to being with them. Thank you for your prayerful support!
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I invite you to respond below. My readers and I love hearing from you!
