From Ashes Soar

I look back to see a receding gray
And forward on to a golden day
Cast across the verdant green
And emerald sea unseen

Roses bloom to kiss the sky
Sunflowers then nod by and by
To hail the golden reign of sun
His majesty's royal rise and run

Red feathers drop then carelessly
In gust of wind to leaves of tree
Takes flight that bird of hope and light
Rebirth of passion, delight to sight

Sway more again the blades of grass
Arise once more new life en masse
To face the opening and opportunity
To grow and grow so tirelessly

Soar high it goes to endless heights
To tongues of fiery might and bright
Be crowned with sun's pure golden beam
Courage, hope, and joy redeem

Raindrops

Even with the cold, damp, and stormy weather this morning and the welcome news that there would be no classes for this day, I was quite feeling spiritually low and dry. Stress saps the spirit out of you. As my usual antidote for such aridity, I paused my life and think, as I do so oftentimes before when prayer is dry and the body is gasping for relaxation, about good things in life. I tried listening to some music when Bro. Nino shared a YouTube video with me about Mari and Her Three Pups.

A Moving Story

It was wonderful to feel again those beautiful emotions of loyalty and love. In an atmosphere of gray disillusionment with the chaos of the world, the childlike innocence and sincerity breaks through the dark overcast clouds to warm the heart once more. Yes, there is more to life than the desolation we experience once in a while and it is good to hope in them.

I found what I call 'raindrops' for an arid soul, videos from YouTube which might help us reflect and feel once more how good it is to be human and the wonders of the gift that is Life. There are a host of Inspirational Videos in YouTube.

Small Pleasures (Μικρές Χαρές) 2008

by: Constantin Pilavios

What is that? (Τι είναι αυτό;) 2007

by: Constantin Pilavios

KISS - Because I'm a Girl

Most (The Bridge)

Taste for the Controversial

I don't know if its significant and people are doing it intentionally but according to the web stats I get in my blog, one of my post popular posts is the one entitled "The Salesian Secret". Could it be that people are googling secrets in the internet, trying to find the controversial, darker side of things or am I plain paranoid?

Either way, we all know how much we like the taste of controversy. It is more palatable than good news on today's paper's front page so no wonder media is also fond of serving us all the heavy and burdening bad news in print, TV, radio, and web. The endless humming of gossip continues to ring in the atmosphere, and that's what I call gossip pollution.

I suggest we would rather build a culture of positive criticism and appreciate more the good things in life. Can't the media at least set aside a page for good news for everyone to relish and believe that world is still worth living in? There are so many beautiful things that happen everyday we simply miss them out of pre-occupation with the mounting worries of tomorrow. Have we seen how beautiful sunrise was this morning, or the newly bloomed flower by the roadside, or the smile of a child, or the puffs clouds dotting the bright blue sky? God is never wanting in generosity and goodness.

Just to share an anecdote from our Philosophy class, it is said:

When you ask 'when', it is History.

When you ask 'how', it is Science.

When you ask 'who', that's Showbiz.

But when you ask 'why', that's Wisdom.

Let us start asking the right and better questions.