Category: Inspiration

Persistence Pays Off

Did you know that it took Thomas Edison thousands of failed experiments over decades before he invented a long-lasting incandescent light bulb that revolutionized the world? He never stopped trying, he never saw himself a failure. His persistence paid off.

Did you know that over a span of thirty years, Abraham Lincoln repeatedly failed at business, love and politics before becoming the President of the United States? He never stopped trying, he never saw himself a failure. His persistence paid off.

It seems to me that persistence has become like a dirty word nowadays. Many people throw in the towel before they even start, thinking whatever task is before them is simply too difficult to overcome. There’s a lot of folks that, once beaten down, never get up again. They lose hope and give up trying. Persistence is no longer part of their vocabulary, if it ever was.

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Summer Evenings and Baby Eggplant

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 08/08/2010
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Lately, it’s been too hot and humid to sit outside in the evenings. I guess I’ve just gotten too used to air conditioning:( Last night, the weather being nice, I had the chance to have dinner under my pergola with some friends. Just about everything we ate came from my local farmer’s market, and it was all delicious. The red wine was a gift from a previous guest. It complemented the food perfectly.

As I was contemplating becoming a vegetarian, I worried that I would never eat good food again. I thought that I would get bored really quickly and go back to eating meat. As everyone who follows my blog knows, this decision was as much spiritual as it was health-related. That it was the right decision for me I have no doubt.

When you go without something you like, I think you savor what you do have even more. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the baby eggplants I found on one of the farmer’s tables. I’m just sorry I can’t remember the name! They were lavender in color, just about three inches long and about an inch wide. I cut them down the middle, doused them in olive oil, and sprinkled some garlic powder all over. They cooked on the grill quickly, less than two minutes on each side. I served them as an appetizer, and let me tell you, they were fantastic. My dinner companions enjoyed them as much as I did. What fun to try something new and unusual.

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23rd Psalm

Someone made the comment the other day that they’d like to see the Scriptures discussed a bit more, so here it goes.

The 23rd Psalm is used at just about every funeral I go to. As I listened to it being sung on Friday, I paid attention to the words,

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

In green pastures you let me graze;

to safe waters you lead me;

you restore my strength.

You guide me along the right path

for the sake of your name.

Even when I walk through a dark valley,

I fear no harm for you are at my side;

your rod and staff give me courage.

You set a table before me

as my enemies watch;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Only goodness and love will pursue me

all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the Lord

for years to come.

Continue reading “23rd Psalm”

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I’m addicted

I guess I better confess… I’ve got an addiction… I’m hooked on the TV reality show, Top Chef. Sorry if I scared you 🙂

I first started watching when I found out one of our local chefs was competing. As it turned out, he lost, but the whole concept of a bunch of chefs showing their culinary mastery week after week was fascinating to me, and I kept coming back for more.

This past spring, I had the chance to visit Volt, the restaurant owned by chef Bryan Voltaggio. He was the runner-up on Season 6, ultimately losing to his brother Michael. Well, let’s just say it was one of the best meals I ever had.

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Live Life to the Fullest

I went to the funeral home today. I was paying my respects to the family of an 18 year old boy who was killed in a car accident last Thursday. Generally, when you hear about such tragedies involving teenagers, you assume that speeding, drinking, texting, or carelessness must have been involved.

Sadly, this boy was just waiting to make a left hand turn when someone rear-ended him and the impact pushed his car into oncoming traffic. I can’t imagine the guilt whoever hit him must feel. These things never just touch one person or one family. The ripples stretch far.

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Back At It

I’ve been feeling a bit guilty lately. Instead of mixing gym visits with walking, I’ve just been doing the walking. I rationalized this decision because walking is my favorite form of exercise, and I love being outside, enjoying the summer. But then my bank statement comes, and I’m reminded every month that I’m paying for something that I’m not using.

Being on vacation these past couple of days has given me the chance to review the goals I set for myself this year. One of those goals, a really important one, was to get to the gym at least three times a week. Darn. Again, the rationalization kicks back in. “At least you’re exercising…” You know how it goes. Maybe you’ve got a couple of New Year’s resolutions that have a similar outcome?

Well, enough of that. I just got back from a great workout at the Y and am feeling tired. I also signed up to meet with a trainer once a week for the next three weeks. I think she’ll help me get back on track.

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Joy

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 08/03/2010
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I was at the library the other day, and I picked up a little book on art written by Sister Wendy Beckett. You sometimes see her on public television, giving some discourse on a piece of artwork. Anyway, the title of the book was Meditations on Joy.

Well, I didn’t want to check the book out, but rather just flip through the pages and see what paintings she had selected to write about. This first painting, done by El Greco, caught my eye.

Painted over four hundred years ago, there is an amazing sense of the contemporary with it. Sr. Wendy writes, “Like the lightning in El Greco’s View of Toledo, joy does not merely illuminate our interior landscape, it transforms it. The world becomes different, marvelous and unique.” Interesting.

I have long been a fan of El Greco. He painted one of my all time favorite works of art, St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata. It hangs in the Walters Art Museum here in Baltimore, and I try to make it down at least once a year to see it.

I can’t really tell you why I love this painting so much, but when I sit down in front of it, I quickly feel a mix of emotions. It is an awesome painting, and before looking through Sr. Wendy’s little book, I don’t think joy would have been a term I would have used to describe the feelings/emotions.

Upon reflection tonight, though, joy is exactly the right word. Although his life was not an easy one, St. Francis was filled with joy. When you think about this amazing saint, doesn’t it bring a smile to your face?

We all need a little more joy in our lives. Try and find it wherever you can, and look for it in even the smallest things and events of our daily living. If you can make some time, take a trip to one of the great museums near where you live. If you’re traveling on vacation somewhere, find out where the museums are, and check them out. Maybe you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a bit more joy in your heart.

More importantly, try and find ways in which you can bring a little joy to someone who needs it. Imagine if we could all do that with just one person?

Psalm 100 is a psalm of joy. The words are a constant reminder to me of the importance of joyful living and knowing that we are well cared for.

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands;

worship the Lord with cries of gladness;

come before him with joyful song.

Know that the Lord is God,

our maker to whom we belong,

whose people we are, God’s well-tended flock.

Enter the temple gates with praise,

its courts with thanksgiving.

Give thanks to God, bless his name;

good indeed is the Lord,

Whose love endures forever,

whose faithfulness lasts through every age.

What brings you the greatest joy?

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Time to Recharge

I wish I could do some traveling right about now. No luck this year. I’m taking this week off, but I’m staying around the house. I have a lot of catch-up work to do, and I’ve got a sick dog. Oh well.

More than anything else, I just need some down time. Like just about everyone I know, it seems like we continue to jump from thing to thing, taking each day as it comes. It’s hard to see the transformation in that. More like just getting through another day. Not the best way to live, and that’s why we need a recharge from time to time.

This past weekend, I was with a great group of college students making a retreat. It was wonderful to have the chance to spend some time with them, and I’m really looking forward our interactions in the fall. One of the things that was discussed several times throughout the weekend was the importance of balance. I don’t think there’s many people who are called to juggle as much as active college students do. Ah, but they have youthful energy and can recharge much faster than the rest of us. Well, most of them.

This week, I hope to finalize some of the changes I want to make on my blog. I’m planning a few dinners as well, and hopefully we’ll use up some of my tomatoes which seem to be especially bountiful this year. I’m thinking a nice marinara sauce, bruschetta, gazpacho. The list goes on…

I hope you have a very blessed week, and get the chance for a little recharge yourself. If you don’t think you have the time, use one of the 3 minute retreats from Loyola Press. They’re great.

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Compassion is more than a word

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 07/29/2010
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The compassionate way is the patient way.

Patience is the discipline of compassion.

Patience is the hard but fruitful discipline

of the disciple of the compassionate Lord.

Henri Nouwen

If someone were thinking about a word to describe you, would compassion come to mind?

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Take the Chance

Sorry I haven’t been posting every day. I’m laying some things out to update my blog, and, well, all this planning is seriously eating into my “blog” time.

A little advice. If you’re thinking about starting a blog, I’d say that they’re a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. But it’s worth doing if you have some idea that can help people. We all know there are lots of people who need some help right now, folks like you and me who are looking for a transformation, to get unstuck from where they are right now. They want to move forward, and are searching for ideas.

Even though we’re moving into the height of summer, the fall will be here before we know it 🙁 I’ve always liked making personal changes that coincide with the seasons, so I guess that’s why I’m deep into working through my planned updates to this blog. I can’t wait for you to see them.

I was having a conversation with a friend last night, and we were talking about taking changes. He’s definitely looking to get unstuck and wants to be excited about his future. Like so many people, he doesn’t have a lot of encouragement coming his way, and that’s too bad, because he needs it.

We talked about ideas for the future, brainstormed about options, and dreamed about potential. It was an exciting conversation. Is there something that you’ve wanted to do for a long time but haven’t followed through and brought it to fruition? I want to encourage you to start developing a plan. Pray about it. Think it through. Start talking to people about it. Take the chance. Most transformations don’t take place overnight, and they usually involve quite a bit of planning. Use these wonderful, relaxing and restful summer days to start thinking about your future. Trust that better days are yet to come!