Happy Birthday To . . . Rudolph & Ralph
February 27, 1861 Rudolf Steiner "A healthy social life is found only when, in the mirror of each soul, the whole community finds its reflection, and when, in the whole community, the virtue of each one is living." February 27, 1934 Ralph Nader "A society that has...
POEM: “The Obligation to be Happy,” by Linda Pastan
It is more onerous than the rites of beauty or housework, harder than love. But you expect it of me casually, the way you expect the sun to come up, not in spite of rain or clouds but because of them. And so I smile, as if my own fidelity to sadness were a hidden...
Happy Birthday To . . Ramakrishna & Audre
February 18, 1836 Ramakrishna "When the flower blooms, the bees come uninvited." February 18, 1934 Audre Lorde "When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak."
POEM: Valentine for Ernest Mann, by Naomi Shihab Nye
You can't order a poem like you order a taco. Walk up to the counter, say, "I'll take two" and expect it to be handed back to you on a shiny plate. Still, I like your spirit. Anyone who says, "Here's my address, write me a poem," deserves something in reply. So I'll...
Happy Birthday To . . Tom & Hélder
February 7, 1478 Thomas More "And it will fall out as in a complication of diseases, that by applying a remedy to one sore, you will provoke another; and that which removes the one ill symptom produces others." February 7, 1909 Dom Hélder Pessoa Câmara "When I feed...
Poem: “Love,” by Czeslaw Milosz
Love means to learn to look at yourself The way one looks at distant things For you are only one thing among many. And whoever sees that way heals his heart, Without knowing it, from various ills— A bird and a tree say to him: Friend. Then he wants to use himself and...
Happy Birthday To . . . Edward & Germaine
January 29, 1927 Edward Abbey "Society is like a stew. If you don't stir it up every once in a while then a layer of scum floats to the top." January 29, 1939 Germaine Greer "One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night."
HeartWood: Wisdom from the San Antonio Peace Laureates
You can buy it from Amazon The San Antonio Peace Laureates are extraordinary role models and blessed gifts to our community. They are our teachers and our mentors. Their contributions are great, their humanity is humble and their wisdom strengthens our mutual...
Poem: “Antilamentation,” by Dorianne Laux
Regret nothing. Not the cruel novels you read to the end just to find out who killed the cook, not the insipid movies that made you cry in the dark, in spite of your intelligence, your sophistication, not the lover you left quivering in a hotel parking lot, the one...
Happy Birthday To . . Francis & George
January 22, 1561 Francis Bacon "Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more a man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out." January 22, 1788 George Gordon, Lord Byron "Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who...
Poem: “He took a few cups of love,” by Muhammad Ali
He took a few cups of love. He took one tablespoon of patience, One teaspoon of generosity, One pint of kindness. He took one quart of laughter, One pinch of concern. And then, he mixed willingness with happiness. He added lots of faith, And he stirred it up well....
Happy Birthday to . . . Philip & Martin
January 15, 1889 A. Philip Randolph "A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess." January 15, 1929 Martin Luther King, Jr "Darkness cannot...
Poem: “Cause I Ain’t Got a Pencil,” by Joshua T. Dickerson
I woke myself up Because we ain’t got an alarm clock Dug in the dirty clothes basket, Cause ain’t nobody washed my uniform Brushed my hair and teeth in the dark, Cause the lights ain’t on Even got my baby sister ready, Cause my mama wasn’t home. Got us both to school...
Happy Birthday To . . . Sam & Kahlil
January 6, 1882 Sam Rayburn "Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one." January 6, 1883 Kahlil Gibran "When we turn to one another for counsel we reduce the number of our enemies."
CONTINUE: a poem, by Maya Angelou
My wish for you Is that you continue Continue To be who and how you are To astonish a mean world With your acts of kindness Continue To allow humor to lighten the burden Of your tender heart Continue In a society dark with cruelty To let the...
Poem: “I know the way you can get,” by Hafiz
I know the way you can get When you have not had a drink of Love: Your face hardens, Your sweet muscles cramp. Children become concerned About a strange look that appears in your eyes Which even begins to worry your own mirror And nose. Squirrels and birds sense your...
Happy Birthday To . . . Woodrow & Denzel
December 28, 1856 Woodrow Wilson "In the Lord's Prayer, the first petition is for daily bread. No one can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach." December 28, 1954 Denzel Washington "You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That's a part of...
Poem: “Allow,” by Diane Faulds
There is no controlling life. Try corralling a lightning bolt, containing a tornado. Dam a stream and it will create a new channel. Resist, and the tide will sweep you off your feet. Allow, and grace will carry you to higher ground. The only safety lies in letting it...
Happy Birthday To . . . Robert & Margaret
December 23, 1926 Robert Bly "It’s all right if you grow your wings on the way down." December 23, 1943 Margaret MacMillan "An apology offered and, equally important, received is a step towards reconciliation and, sometimes, recompense. Without that process, hurts can...
Poem: “Unconditional,” by Jennifer Welwood
Willing to experience aloneness, I discover connection everywhere; Turning to face my fear, I meet the warrior who lives within; Opening to my loss, I gain the embrace of the universe; Surrendering into emptiness, I find fullness without end. Each condition I flee...
Happy Birthday To . . . Morihei & Margaret
December 14, 1883 Morihei Ueshiba "As soon as you concern yourself with the 'good' and 'bad' of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you." December 14, 1897...
Poem: “Hermanidad,” by Octavio Paz
I am a man: little do I last and the night is enormous. But I look up: the stars write. Unknowing I understand: I too am written, and at this very moment someone spells me out.
Happy Birthday To . . . John & Tip
December 9, 1608 John Milton "He that studieth revenge keepeth his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well." December 9, 1912 Tip O'Neill "All politics is local."
Poem: “Making Life Worth While,” by George Eliot
Every soul that touches yours - Be it the slightest contact - Get there from some good; Some little grace; one kindly thought; One aspiration yet unfelt; One bit of courage For the darkening sky; One gleam of faith To brave the thickening ills of life; One glimpse of...