Inauguration Day
I’ve been quiet on Southern Exposure for the past few weeks. I’ll confess that for much of that time, I knew there was nothing I could say that would be half as riveting and certainly not even a millionth as horrifying as the events on the news. If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent many…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: The arc of the moral universe bends towards justice
“We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”. -Martin Luther King, Jr. I’m using this quote to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the inauguration of our new president. These words were actually borrowed from the anti-slavery Unitarian minister Theodore…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: We are made for goodness
“We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders. All are welcome: black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor,…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: The New Year
“What the new year brings to you depends to a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” -Vern McLellan, author OK, so 2020 sucked! Big time. Historic. Cosmic. We ranted and raved, cursed and cried, but all we could really do was kick 2020 hard as it crawled out the door. There…
Read More2020: The Year I Read and Read and Read
We’ve been discussing Reader’s Block in the Read Along with Emilie Richards Facebook group that I moderate. (Join us by clicking that link.) Group members admitted that concentrating on a book or even picking one up is much harder than it used to be. Focusing is difficult, and some readers are finding reading a book…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: The Work of Christmas
The Work of Christmas When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: A Holy Night
For so the children come and so they have been coming. Always the same way they come, born of the seed of a man and a woman. No angels herald their beginnings. No prophets predict their future courses. No wise men see a star to show where to find the babe that will save humankind.…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Christmas Gift Suggestions
“Christmas Gift Suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness.To an opponent, tolerance.To a friend, your heart.To a customer, service.To all, charity.To every child, a good example.To yourself, respect.”— Oren Arnold, author Are you holiday shopping this year? Are you finished? Ours was blessedly easy. Food was at the top of Christmas lists, followed by gift cards for shopping on the…
Read MoreBooklover Carols: What Else Can I Do?
Happy holidays, whichever and however you celebrate. If you’ve been a faithful blog reader, you know that most years I favor (?) you with a Booklover’s Carol at Christmas. The carols are based on the more traditional variety, and I’ve had fun coming up with terrible renditions to delight or horrify you. Either reaction is…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: The Guest House
“The Guest House” by Jalaluddin Rumi This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes As an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat…
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