13 June 2006

From the Quote of the Week files, June 12, 2006

"To receive everything, one must open one's hands and give."

Taisen Deshimaru
__

"If my hands are fully occupied in holding on to something, I
can neither give nor receive."


Dorothee Solle
________

There are people in life who hold their hand open, and there are those whose hands are shut. It makes me wonder, Which am I? By the way, Which are you?
_____

On a personal note...

Happy Birthday Bob Nolan

June 8th was my father's birthday. He was 83. To my sisters and myself, he is an everyday hero and borrowing words from Gail Godwin's book, Father Melancholy's Daughter, my father lived his life by the grace of his daily obligations .

When I think of the above quotes, he comes to mind as a man whose hands are always open. One of his favorite poets is Robert Service and this poem is dedicated to him.

The Ordinary Man

If you and I should chance to meet,
I guess you wouldn't care;
I'm sure you'd pass me in the street
As if I wasn't there;You'd never look me in the face,
My modest mug to scan,
Because I'm just a commonplace
And Ordinary Man.

But then, it may be, you are too
A guy of every day,
Who does the job he's told to do
And takes the wife his pay;
Who makes a home and kids his care,
And works with pick or pen. . . .
Why, Pal, I guess we're just a pair
Of Ordinary Men.

We plug away and make no fuss,
Our feats are never crowned;
And yet it's common coves like us
Who make the world go round.
And as we steer a steady course
By God's predestined plan,
Hats off to that almighty Force:
THE ORDINARY MAN.
______

Wishing you a most beautiful day, wherever this may find you!

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