I used to believe that my Dad had witnessed so much in his life, from walking a load of phone poles by mule, to the computer age, which of course my father had no interest in. He was a laborer all his life and voted Republican. He was not too keen on the specifics of world politics. He was honest, always sincere, and aside from butting heads alot, I can look back and can't help but notice how much he taught me. He taught me it was good to get your hands dirty. Manual labor was good for you, all the way around. His approach was a joyful one and at 62, he could work rings around my 16 year old body.
Moma was the one who taught me how to think and reason. She had a certain instinct about people and life. She had a sense of knowing what was in some one's heart, as soon as she met them. She could smell a rat a mile away.
This is my background. I learned to take joy in my work, and how to navigate the highway of life from my father and my mother.
I can look back and reflect on how the past has shaped my present, but the fact of the matter is, I live in the present. I can't compare my life with anyone else, for we all journey on different paths. They say, walk a mile in my shoes before judging me, but really, you'd have to walk a lifetime in my shoes to know me.
Even if I had to walk it all over again, it would be impossible to recreate the same roads. Each breath we take, will never be taken again.
Like Dad, I am not too keen on world politics.What I do see is a beautiful world created by God, being manipulated by those of power and great wealth, grinding the lowly and poor under their feet. This is nothing new; It's been going on since the beginning of time. Because of greed, power, wealth, and resources, we continue to make the same stupid mistakes, generation after generation.
I still consider myself to be young, not exactly wet behind the ears, but young. The changes I have seen during my short life, and the increased acceleration of these changes is as obvious as the nose on my face. I wasn't sure if my perception was being influenced by false or out of context media, but I've since come to grips that it is taking place. Our society has become a land with false gods and/or no gods. I'm reading a book by His Holiness John Paul II. He explains how society has moved away from God over the last 200 years or so. He believed that man's intellect has progressed so far that the need for a higher authority just is not present, nor the inclination to believe that God came to be born of a virgin, die and be resurrected. Alas for mankind, so intelligent.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Canticle of the Sun
St. Francis of Assisi
Altissimu, onnipotente bon Signore,
Tue so le laude, la gloria e l'honore et onne benedictione.
Ad Te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentouare.
Laudato sie, mi Signore cum tucte le Tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate Sole, lo qual è iorno, et allumini noi per lui. Et ellu è bellu e radiante cum grande splendore: de Te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora Luna e le stelle:
in celu l'ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Uento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo, per lo quale, a le Tue creature dài sustentamento.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sor'Acqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte: ed ello è bello et iucundo et robustoso et forte.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora nostra matre Terra,
la quale ne sustenta et gouerna, et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fior et herba.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo Tuo amore
et sostengono infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke 'l sosterranno in pace,
ka da Te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
Laudato si mi Signore, per sora nostra Morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo uiuente pò skappare: guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali; beati quelli ke trouarà ne le Tue sanctissime uoluntati, ka la morte secunda no 'l farrà male.
Laudate et benedicete mi Signore et rengratiate
e seruiteli cum grande humilitate.
Notes: so=sono, si=sii (you are), mi=mio, ka=perché, u replaces
v, sirano=saranno
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English Translation:
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To You, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and You give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens You have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which You give Your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of You;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by You, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing Your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve Him with great humility. |
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