It was Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day. I had posted my commentary to this blog. My senses were still keenly focused on all that the day had meant to me and others whom I had observed.
What a great day it had been for remembrance of our heroes of past battles who had left their families, homes and loved ones, never to return!
They left, giving us their tacitly understood word that they would protect the God-given freedom and way of life we, in America, cherish.
Communities throughout the country expressed their everlasting gratitude and ongoing prayers for those, now at peace, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us.
Thus, did we celebrate their patriotism and valor. And in return, many of us felt a personally rewarding sense of pride in our prayer that God Bless America and protect our Troops who defend us this very day.
All this still alive in my mind, I opened my Tuesday morning email to a poetic message from a deeply spiritual, personal laureate and treasured friend.
I commend it to all hoping to more deeply penetrate the public consciousness to our responsibility as stewards of the gracious gifts of our creator: this world of elusive wonders and the love of one another.
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Everlasting Beauty
By Henry C. Frascadore
The park after Memorial Day is a mess.
Plastic cups and soda cans float on the surface of the pond.
And potato chip bags and crushed napkins are left by the benches.
The day itself was beautiful.
The warm sunlight spread across the lawns,
and the sounds of fun were easily heard everywhere.
Why is it that ugliness and beauty often converge?
The temptation is to focus on the ugliness
and concede defeat.
To make the Styrofoam cups and crumbled napkins
the center of our attention is to pay homage
to the irreverent people who insulted the earth.
The better part would be to raise our eyes and contemplate
the architecture of the oak and elm trees
and know that beauty will endure despite everything.
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