"The strictest law often causes the most serious wrong." Cicero, Roman statesman and philosopher (106 BC - 43 BC)

Defiled by passion, the mind is not released. Defiled by ignorance, discernment does not develop. Thus from the fading of passion is there release of awareness. From the fading of ignorance is there release of discernment. Anguttara Nikaya

"Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time... The wait is simply too long." --Leonard Bernstein

If we go down into ourselves we find that we possess exactly what we desire. -Simone Weil

It is not how old you are, but how you are old. -Jules Renard, writer (1864-1910)

“In science it often happens that scientists say, ‘you know, that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,’ and then they actually change their minds and then you never hear that old view from them again. It happens every day, but I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.” –Carl Sagan 1934-1996

Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. --Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

"Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little." —Tom Stoppard

The wilderness holds answers to questions man has not yet learned to ask. Nancy Newhall

Thank everyone who calls out your faults, your anger, your impatience, your egotism; do this consciously, voluntarily. -Jean Toomer, poet and novelist(1894-1967)

"Translation is always a treason, and as a Ming author observes, can at its best be only the reverse side of a brocade,—all the threads are there, but not the colour or design." Okakura Kakuzo, The Book of Tea, (Japanese intellectual fluent in English, who helped introduce Eastern culture and art to the US in the late nineteenth century)

Who dares to teach must never cease to learn. John Cotton Dana

To be able to be caught up into the world of thought -- that is to be educated. Edith Hamilton

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think . . . all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. John Burroughs

However great [one]'s natural talent may be, the art of writing cannot be learned all at once. Rousseau

There is no great writing, only great rewriting. Justice Brandeis

When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this -- you haven't. Thomas Edison

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. -St. Augustine (354-430)

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. Louisa May Alcott

"Dangerous consequences will follow when politicians and rulers forget moral principles. Whether we believe in God or karma, ethics is the foundation of every religion." His Holiness the Dalai Lama

A preacher named Gaskin once said, "Between ego and entropy, there is no need for a Devil." Spider Robinson in Time Pressure

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. - Mother Teresa

Shalom is the flower that blooms only on the tree of justice, planted near the waters of abundance, warmed by the light of truth and faithfulness. -- Anthony Prete

Prayer expresses out hope and intention to enter into an awe-filled relationship with the Divine. -- Patricia McBee

Walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one. George Fox

If our testimonies are cut off from our direct experience of God's presence, they lose their power and authority. Gene Hillman

When we have been seasoned by the Light, our lives will witness to the Divine Life that motivates us all. Marty Grundy

To begin to reach out to others with honesty requires the unearthing of our true selves. Priscilla Berggren-Thomas

Truth and consolation are two facets of the same Divine Grace. It takes both to heal us. Esther Greenleaf Murer

Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. -- Franklin P. Jones

The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)

As a woman I have no country. As a woman my country is the whole world. - Virginia Woolf

95% Mike Gravel
92% Dennis Kucinich
83% John Edwards
79% Barack Obama
77% Joe Biden
76% Chris Dodd
75% Hillary Clinton
67% Bill Richardson
35% Rudy Giuliani
27% Ron Paul
26% John McCain
20% Mike Huckabee
20% Mitt Romney
18% Tom Tancredo
9% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Surprise, surprise . . . not a Republican!

What is your political ideology? Your Result: Social Democrat   This quiz has defined you as a Social Democrat (you may or may not be a Democratic Socialist as well). In general you are in the Liberal mindset, but wish to take it a step further. You favour the brodening of various social programs and a progressive income tax system to help alleviate social inequality. You wish to change the current social paradigm, but through gradual means.
Liberal
Communist/Radical Left
Libertarian
Conservative
Fascist/Radical Right
What is your political ideology? Make Your Own Quiz

January

Well, I'm sure it's NOT 100% . . . Though I am relieved that I appear to know something about the Bible, since I am a seminary student!

February

What a week!

March

Seventh Generation is helping Women's shelters

April

Here is a promised picture of Rosie.

May

Our Holy Union was Saturday, May 26, 2007, and everything went well.

June

Yesterday at Meijer, a wild sparrow had flown into the main store from the garden center/greenhouse area.

July

"If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and every day you have the opportunity to write a new page." --Mark Houlahan

August

"For years, I have looked ahead, searching for holy places down the road and trying to reach them as soon as possible."

September

"When I step into this library, I cannot understand why I ever step out of it."
Marie de Sevigne

October

I entered a contest at Young Adult Books Central and wrote an essay about my own experience.

November

I got this email from him today:

December

I have finally posted the pictures of the new couch.

Gakked from amymccabe

1. Go to http://www.careercruising.com.
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
4. Post the top fifteen results in your LJ, along with these instructions.

( My top 40 )

And a bonus thought:
"Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style." --Kurt Vonnegut

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

Your Aura is Blue

Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life. You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships. The purpose of your life: showing love to other people. Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah. Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor.

Oooh, scary coincidence. Same color as Molly's!

Well, we're back at it after a week off from the regular school grind. Molly and I went camping at Hocking Hills State Park for four days. We had been afraid that it would be rainy the whole time we would be able to go camping, but the weather was mostly sunny, though a bit nippy at times. We left on Thursday; we drove through some snow flurries. We got to the campsite and found that it was almost full. It turns out October is their second busiest month. Most people were in RVs. We have a nice tent. We managed to find one nice tree-y, somewhat secluded campsite. Thursday night the temperature dropped below freezing, so we huddled up in the tent with three sleeping bags and a down comforter and manged to stay warm enough. The skies were clear, and we were able to see many beautiful stars. On Friday we went hiking at Rock House. When we camped at Hocking Hills last summer (2005), we hiked the Old Man's Cave gorge. On Saturday, along with many, many other people, we hiked at Cedar Falls and Ash Cave. Ash Cave was amazing -- incredibly expansive and beautiful. I can't wait to get my pictures developed, so I can post some here and some on my flickr page. The leaves were turning, and we enjoyed the winding country roads on our way home. The trip was relaxing and restorative. I didn't get much reading done on reading week, but I am catching up this week.

The whole school thing is a bit much, just thinking of everything I need to do and read and write before the end of the semester. However, I keep in mind the quote from Julian of Norwich (whom I am studying for one of my projects): "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." We will pull through. We've been getting our exercise by doing some dance lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio that opened up by our apartment. I signed up for two free lessons at our school's community day fair. We so enjoyed those lessons, we signed up for four more, plus a group lesson and a party. We've been learning to foxtrot, waltz, swing, rumba, tango, mambo, etc. It is great fun!

Anyway, it is late now, and I want to go to bed. We are going to see the Indigo Girls tomorrow night!!! Very exciting! We like the new album. I'll let you know how it goes :)