A Prayer for a Lifetime

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Office vs. Home Office

Indeed I have an Office.

To Dr. Reverend Ivy G of Qatar:

While I do not have a home...I do have an office. The local Presbyterian Church in town has generously provided space in a building they own on Spring Street in the bustling down-town of Friday Harbor!

Will provide photographic proof when I return from my current trip.

cheers

Today's Commute

I once was forced to wear ties to work...and have my hair well trimmed.
I once had to take commuter trains to work for a minimum of 3 hours per day. These trains, the pride of Chicago circa 1940 have not changed much -- except that they don't work as well...and are less comfortable. To endure the hassle is one thing... but to endure the hassle and be treated like cattle is especially annoying.

Today however, I was not 5 minutes into my commute when the panoramic views from the South Tip of San Juan Island and across the straights to the Olympic Peninsula got stuck in my eye. If that was not enough, along the bluff above the frothing wave-beaten rocks of South Beach 6 eagles were soaring perfectly still on the updrafts -- very distracting -- On the radio my chosen station 100.3 The Q from Victoria was playing a very extended version of a Doors song...nice...

10 minutes later I was pulling into my office parking spot thinking that this is indeed an amazing place to call home!

Hmar

To the folk who have responded to my blog who are Hmar:

I visited NE India at the invitation of a local organization to assess the impact of the 'mautam' on the food security situation of the community as well as assess the capacity of the local organization to further serve their community. The trip was conducted with the goal of identifying an organization that would be a good partner.

The trip was an amazing success in this regard as our impression of our hosts was very strong. We enjoyed our time and were amazed by the resilience of the community as a whole and the many coping mechanisms being implemented to sustain life and livelihood through the disastrous impact of the 'mautam' which was caused by the bamboo tree bloom related rat infestation.

Since returning home I have read reports that the rats have now crossed into Bangladesh and are having similar affects on communities there.

I have been blessed by my time in Manipur (and area) and am thankful for the opportunity.

Kindest Regards,

mde