I got as far as the letter B, before I lapsed into a time away from Napkinwriter. Many things afoot prevented my best intentions to get back to this post and write about the letter C.
Then what happens is so many C’s caught my imagination and begged for a showing….
choice, courage, Consciousness, curiosity, companions and more. Oh my, to choose just one, I think not so I will give several a go.
I have chosen Zentangle art for fun.
CHOICE, such a short word, such large CONSEQUENCES. Ones we like or ones with which we suffer. Life is a conglomeration of choices. We have more than we think many times. We have choices between good and more good. We have choices that pan out about the same as in win-win situations. We have choices made in a split second that are choices between good and very much not so good, harmful in fact. We are always making choices and the choices we make at any given time are our total responsibility. I am responsible, not for others, but totally for myself; the choices I make toward healthy being, spiritual being, intelligent and educated being, family and friend being, financial being, and the being I am as I relate to my world and environment. We cannot know the full outcomes of our choices, they will come in time. We cannot control (ah, another C word) the results of our choices, but we do have to live with them. Choices, sometimes, are made on intuition –that often takes the next word…..
COURAGE — 
Sometimes, we are tested by the fire. I don’t know many people who have not been. Courage is needed in life for the big things and small things. We often take on responsibilities that require so much courage, that we wonder how we didn’t back down for them. I believe there is a spirit of courage within us and scripture confirms “I have not given you a spirit of fear, but one of courage!!” In me, I have always recognized a bit of the Wizard of Oz’ lion. He was not aware of his own powerful roar, and he could always see the things he, perhaps, should have been afraid of, and whimper about them, but a deeper call forced him to recognize the fears and do what he had to do anyway. I have done a lot of that in my life. And I am still here to tell about it. I believe that fiery spirit within is the Holy Spirit and it helps us overcome the fears with the sweet gifts and fruits of the Spirit….love, mercy, kindness, patience, fortitude…. It is the same Spirit that runs through the Spirit of the Universe and holds us on evolutionary course, the course we must cooperate with.
I always enjoyed the time we spent in elementary school with printing and cursive writing.
I want to learn Japanese kanji writing and Calligraphy. Both of those would take lots of new practice but I love the flow and peaceful appearance they both give. I have the rice paper and some ink supplies in my bookcase supplies and I hope I will get ’roundto-it. In elementary school, practicing printing and cursive writing was one of my favourite times. I loved seeing the cursive letters posted at the front of each classroom. Now, with the advent of all the electronic gadgets, I hear cursive is going by the wayside. Who has not been surprised and gratifies by the arrival of an unexpected hand-written note, on no special occasion, that some loved one has written to them — and even better yet one that comes from a stranger to convey a thanks for some way that you helped them which you barely recognized. No computer board, typewriter nor word processor can produce the heart-felt sincerity of the writer, nor the gracious reception of it by the addressee. It’s true, the elder generation is the keeper of notes and handwritten letters, until at long last they are put away by family after one’s passing; yet they held their value and vibration over long spans of time. Texts disappear in an instant.
The C word I initially thought would have solitary spotlight for this post was CONSCIOUSNESS.
But Consciousness is too large a topic to write about here. Yet, I can CONNECT it to two other words: choice and courage. We learn, we grow. “If I had known then, what I know now…..” What? Everyone has a story that follows that thought. But that is what life is……”if I had known better, I would have done better”. If I know better NOW, I must do better. Consciousness is alive and it moves in us. We continually see things in a new and expanding way. We must use judgment and discernment throughout life, without being too judgmental about “how I used to be.” A growing Consciousness begins to illuminate the individual relationship to the group relationships of the world.” We are never alone, and yet we are all One. Growing Consciousness leads us to thoughts and actions of love and never sees self or other as “less than.” Growing Consciousness is filled with “aha” moments and a better ability to listen actively and quietly to self and others. It dispels the myth that for me to win, others must lose. Actions to alleviate injustices to others, social and otherwise, are based not in the desire to hurt and discredit others, but in efforts, both humane and purposeful, to obtain healthy and orderly outcomes. There are people working toward these ends now, with these base purposes and you don’t hear much about them. Riots and protests are the candy of the media. The people, held out of the spotlight, are amazingly called “light workers.” I am one of them.
My COUNTRY ’tis of thee
sweet land of liberty…
On this January 18, 2017, the eve of the Inauguration of the 45th President of the United States of America, we, as a people, are far, far from the spirit of the songs that point to the glory and spirit of our country. Indeed, the blessings of this country, founded in democracy. People want different things. People want to blame. People want to hate. People do NOT WANT to have discourse nor dialogue. They want to argue. They want to accuse. They want to be RIGHT and want you to be WRONG.
There is danger on all sides because of the way we are. It is not a Democratic danger nor a Republican danger. It is a type of danger that has crossed the line….some line…..and we are not sure even WHAT that line is. The danger is power-based and reason-deficient. We don’t look like America anymore because we cannot allow dissent to exist peaceable within our democracy. We are allowing dissent to become corrupt smearing of people and issues.
Coming out of the post office today, a older gentleman held the door for Tom (with his walking stick and me plodding up the stairs!). We said thank you to him. He smiled and asked, “Well, do you think the man tomorrow will fix some of the problems he says he will?” We said we hope there will be progress in problem solving and changes for good, but afraid there is a large element working toward his demise.” He said, yes, even though the vote didn’t go his way, he too, hoped that good could be achieved.
I thought that is the America I know. A voter wanted someone else to win the election, but now was prepared to accept who he didn’t want to win and hope we would do some good.
I believe in the good in people. I know my country is MORE than a good country. I am greatly blessed to be its citizen. America is beautiful, in its people, its lands, its giving to less fortunate countries and peoples. I bless these good things and understand there is room for more goodness to happen. I wish we could bless each other and go into the new political arena with a watchful eye and a willing heart to be a united states of America. There are enough checks and balances in place to respond to any of the envisioned tragedies drummed up in people’s minds before the fact.
“America, America! God shed His grace on thee.
And crown thy good with BROTHERHOOD.
From sea to shining sea.
America! America!
God mend thy every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control
thy liberty in law.
Napkinwriter 
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