Paul was getting married. He was engaged to Mary, who was obviously able to put up with Paul’s quirks and antics – at least according to Jim, Paul’s best friend. Paul invited Jim to the wedding to support him on his joyous day. Jim had never attended a Quaker wedding, much less a Quaker service, … Continue reading What is Love?
Tag: god
Beautiful
“It’s a beautiful day in Pennsylvania!” Thus spoke Pete Wambach on his daily radio program for over 20 years. I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I remember it well. Fred Rogers used to sing his title song, “It’s a Beautiful day in the Neighborhood” for his children’s show. “The night is beautiful, so the faces … Continue reading Beautiful
The United States
Once upon a time, in grade school, we had to memorize “The American's Creed,” written by William Tyler Page in 1917. I still remember parts of it. “I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent … Continue reading The United States
Winners?
When he saw one of us after a concert or recital, one of my music professors would ask, “So…winners?” If our performance went well, we would answer, “Winners!” If we hesitated, he said, “Losers, then?” His expression said, “Well, you can’t win them all. Better luck next time.” We could tell he wanted us to … Continue reading Winners?
Affirmations
The only time I missed a performance in college was when I contracted mononucleosis. My spleen was the size of a football and because of the risk of a rupture, I was confined to the infirmary for a week. I brought all my textbooks and a Bible. I thought the time alone might provide an … Continue reading Affirmations
On Our Sleeves
I wrote this piece in 2012. It was my tribute to Coach John Czap and became a part of my book, “On the Shoulders of My Teachers.” “I admit High School P.E. was not my favorite class. It always seemed to me the jocks got the easy A's and the rest of us might get … Continue reading On Our Sleeves
Realizations
Realizations often come when we least expect them. Recently, in the middle of a rehearsal, I had a realization. As the choir was singing about peace, the question, “What’s the point of religion?” popped into my mind. I suppose many people practice a religion to find God, to know and love God, to discover what … Continue reading Realizations
Words and Works
Once upon a time, I lost my keys in the snow. Obviously, they didn’t make it to the bottom of my coat pocket. I realized this when I got to my office. After I retraced my steps, there was still no sign of them, so I mentioned their disappearance to our custodian, Mac, when I … Continue reading Words and Works
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