Happy Birthday To . . . Daniel & Marie
September 13, 1660 Daniel Defoe "Vice came in always at the door of necessity, not at the door of inclination." September 13, 1830 Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach "Those who understand only what can be explained understand very little."
Poem: “Hieroglyphic Stairway,” by Drew Dellinger
it’s 3:23 in the morning and I’m awake because my great great grandchildren won’t let me sleep my great great grandchildren ask me in dreams what did you do while the planet was plundered? what did you do when the earth was unraveling? surely you did something when...
Happy Birthday To . . . Ralph & Kurt
September 9, 1871 Ralph Hodgson "Some things have to be believed to be seen." September 9, 1890 Kurt Lewin If you want to truly understand something, try to change it.
Fable: The Camel and the Ass
A Persian Fable A CAMEL and an Ass were once traveling together. Upon reaching the bank of a river the Camel was the first to enter the water. As it rose somewhat above his knees, but barely touched his body, he called to his companion: "Follow me in, for the water...
Happy Birthday To … The Swami & Ruby
September 8, 1887 Swami Sivananda "A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth. The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts. And the consequences whether good or bad of even...
Poem: “May we raise children who love the unloved things,” by Nicolette Sowder
May we raise children who love the unloved things – the dandelion, the worms and spiderlings. Children who sense the rose needs the thorn & run into rainswept days the same way they turn towards sun… And when they’re grown & someone has to speak for those who have no...
Happy Birthday To . . . Arthur & Werner
September 5, 1905 Arthur Koestler "Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears." September 5, 1935 Werner Erhard "The problems we have now in communities and societies are going to be resolved only when we are brought together by a common sense...
Fable: Hercules & the Waggoner (Thoughts & Prayers)
A Wagoner was driving a heavy load along a muddy road. He came to a part of the road where the wheels sank half-way into the mire, and the more the horses pulled, the deeper sank the wheels. So the Wagoner threw down his whip, knelt down and prayed to Hercules the...
Happy Birthday To . . . Walter and Gloria
September 1, 1907 Walter Reuther "If you're not big enough to lose, you're not big enough to win." September 1, 1957 Gloria Estefan "Silence is a big enemy of morality."
Fable: The Otter and the Jackal
a folk tale from India ONCE upon a time two Otters whose names were Gambhiracari and Anutiracari, were standing on the bank of a river, on the lookout for fish. Presently Gambhiracari saw a large Rohita fish, and with one bound he dived into the water and caught it by...
Happy Birthday To . . . Johann & Rita
August 28, 1749 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." August 28, 1952 Rita Dove "One definition of eternity is that we are not alone on this planet, that there are those who've gone before and...
Poem: “Empathy,” by A.E. Stallings
My love, I’m grateful tonight Our listing bed isn’t a raft Precariously adrift As we dodge the coast-guard light, And clasp hold of a girl and a boy. I’m glad that we didn’t wake Our kids in the thin hours, to take Not a thing, not a favorite toy, And we didn’t hand...
Happy Birthday To . . Jorge & Howard
August 24, 1899 Jorge Luis Borges "Nothing is built on stone; all is built on sand, but we must build as if the sand were stone." August 24, 1922 Howard Zinn "There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people."
Fable: The Father and His Two Daughters
A MAN had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the other to a tile-maker. After a time he went to the daughter who had married the gardener, and inquired how she was and how all things went with her. She said, ‘All things are prospering with me, and I...
Happy Birthday To . . . John & Gene
August 19, 1631 John Dryden "The intoxication of anger, like that of the grape, shows us to others, but hides us from ourselves." August 19, 1921 Gene Roddenberry "The strength of a civilization is not measured by its ability to fight wars, but rather by its ability...
Fable: The Man and the Satyr
A Man and a Satyr became friends, and determined to live together. All went well for a while, until one day in winter-time the Satyr saw the Man blowing on his hands. ‘Why do you do that?’ he asked. ‘To warm my hands,’ said the Man. That same day, when they sat down...
Fable: Abdul Aziz and the Pearl
a folk tale from India THE story is told of Abdul Aziz that he had a pearl of great beauty and value, set in a ring. Shortly afterwards there came a dry season, the crops failed, and there was great suffering among his people. Moved by compassion the King ordered that...
5th Annual Psychology Workshop: Joan Borysenko, 28 February, 2020
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN: SIGN UP HERE Mind Body Practices for Improving Self-Regulation and Restoring Psychological Health, A Workshop by Joan Borysenko, PhD The most important determinant of physical health is mental health. While we’ve known that for years, new...
Poem: “The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus
We originally published this poem three years ago, but today seems like a good day to post it again. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in October, 1886. The Emma Lazarus poem was added in 1903. Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride...
NEWS: San Antonio joined Compassionate and Sister Cities in prayer and in tears
by Elaine Ayala Express-News, 13 August, 2019 Despite a searing noontime sun bearing down on the stone pavement between city council chambers and San Fernando Cathedral, about 100 people gathered Monday for prayer. The service drew Christians, Jews and Muslims. Among...
Includes Video!: A Day Of Remembrance, Reflection And Re-Envisioning Our World
August 12, 2019, Main Plaza, San Antonio, Texas Joint Proclamation of the Charter for Compassion, Compassionate San Antonio, Compassion Houston and Sister Cities International A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, REFLECTION AND RE-ENVISIONING OUR WORLD: A Call to Compassion, Peace...
Happy Birthday To . . Alex & Charles
August 11, 1921 Alex Haley "Anytime you see a turtle up on top of a fence post, you know he had some help." August 11, 1970 Charles M. Blow "America is a living idea. It isn't only the tenets of its founding, but also the terms of its future. Every day, we make...
Father Ron Rolheiser: Christ’s call for true compassion is the goal of all religion
Published in the Express-News Faith section, 11 August, 2019 Dictionaries define compassion as a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. What does it mean to offer...
Poem: “On Good and Evil,” by Kahlil Gibran
And one of the elders of the city said, Speak to us of Good and Evil. And he answered: Of the good in you I can speak, but not of the evil. For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst? Verily when good is hungry it seeks food even in dark caves,...