Tag: Joy

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 12/5/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. This photo I snapped yesterday of an elderly couple, holding hands and walking into Walmart. For some reason, it sort of melted my heart for a moment.

Even in Christmas colors! 

2. Robert and I attending last night‘s annual Christmas tree lighting at the Jepsen Center for the Arts here in downtown Savannah.

The event featured a Fabulous Harpist (who we have seen at another downtown event or two).

And here’s Robert bothering her while she’s trying to perform.

TIB (Truth in Blogging): They were chatting, and she was excitedly telling Robert about how she unexpectedly started getting email checks for her work that somehow made its way … to Russia! TMI?

Look, The Clauses! (Is that how you spell their plural last name?)

I think she was the real Mrs. Claus. 
Robert apparently did too. 

I got HR a quick part-time job, taking festive photos of other revelers.

3. The good-feeling ability to be excited about seasonal changes and holidays. I know that it’s a blessing because many people are not happy at this time of year.

4. Beautiful Camelias, the “Winter Rose,” blooming all over downtown Savannah.

Hiding behind a courtyard wall

5. Beautifully delicious coffee (peppermint mocha) at Origin Coffee Bar.

Robert got a cookie with his coffee too, but it dropped in and melted. I laughed, a bit too loudly. He tried to even the score by saying that his coffee was much better with the melted cookie. 

**********************

And here I am trying to be all bohemian coffee shop-artsy …

May your happiness this weekend be better than a melted cookie.

Posted in Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to Christmas 2025: “Thou Shalt LOVE, Not Hate” — Day Three 12/3/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

From December 1-25, I’ll be sharing a quote and its truth from John Fugelsang’s Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, the book Robert and I are currently and fascinatingly reading.

An odd Advent Calendar, of sorts.

If you are interested, you can see the introduction to this new blog category here:

https://nealenjoy.com/2025/12/01/countdown-to-christmas-2025-thou-shalt-love-not-hate-introduction-12-1-25/

Today: The Golden Rule

Fugelsang explains that “The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) teaches Jesus’ followers to treat others as they would like to be treated. Which covers all cruelty, exploitation, domination, and discrimination. He makes it very clear that anyone who claims to follow him doesn’t get to hate anybody, ever, for any reason, no matter what.” Separation of Church and Hate p. 25

Wow, that is wild! Hate, then, is not an option if we earnestly desire to follow good in the world. To be good in the world.

I’ve always found it fascinating and encouraging that most religions and ethical ideologies have some form of The Golden Rule.

Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.”

Buddhism: “Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”

Islam: “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself”

*********************

Our current political parties (both!) more often than not turn a blind eye to Jesus’ clear instruction.

For example, Monday’s remembrance of World AIDS Day took on more seriousness and urgency as the Trump administration (often claiming adherence to the Bible and the example of JC) cancelled the annual Dec. 1 observance. Presidents have acknowledged World AIDS Day for more than 30 years.

Is cancellation how they want to be treated? How we want to be treated?

May we all this holiday season and always lean toward this Rule of Love and Light.

Some of my Christmas candles over the years:

Posted in Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to Christmas 2025: “Thou Shalt LOVE, Not Hate” — Day Two 12/2/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

From December 1-25, I’ll be sharing a quote and its truth from John Fugelsang’s Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, the book Robert and I are currently and fascinatingly reading.

An odd Advent Calendar, of sorts.

If you’re interested, you can see the introduction to this new blog category here:

https://nealenjoy.com/2025/12/01/countdown-to-christmas-2025-thou-shalt-love-not-hate-introduction-12-1-25/

“Jesus was:

A peaceful, radically nonviolent revolutionary

Who wasn’t American and never spoke English

Who hung around lepers, hookers, and crooks

Never sought tax cuts for rich Nazarenes

Was anti-wealth and anti-death penalty

Anti-public prayer, too (Matthew 6:5)

Never asked lepers for a co-pay

Never called poor people ‘lazy’

Never even slightly antigay

Never mentioned abortion

Supported paying taxes

And was a long-haired

Community-organizing

Authority-questioning

Anti-slut-shaming

Brown-skinned

Palestinian

Unarmed

Homeless

Jew …

But only if you believe what’s actually in the Bible.”

Preface, Separation of Church and Hate

A favorite ornament from many, many years ago. Still in good shape.

Posted in Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to Christmas 2025: “Thou Shalt LOVE, Not Hate” — Introduction 12/1/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My Countdown to Christmas series this year is inspired by a recent simple book recommendation from dear friends Jo and Kathi. “You HAVE to read Separation of Church and Hate! It’s FULL of truth, and it’s often laugh-out-loud funny!”

I Googled the book and saw the full, never-ending title: Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds.

“Whoa,” I thought, “That title sounds far too Holiday Heavy.”

But then Robert and I started to read, and we were absolutely flabbergasted by the clear, undeniable truth and push for lovingkindness presented by author John Fugelsang. (And yes, I have laughed out loud many a time during our read.)

So I plan to share with you a quote and its truth from the book each day starting today, December 1 and ending on Christmas Day.

An Advent Calendar, of sorts.

And of course, I realize that everyone is not Christian or religious. That many folks have had awful and problematic issues with organized religion. I get that. And we’ve experienced the same thing. But we are happy today to have found an inclusive, love-embracing and creatively fun congregation here in Savannah, Asbury Memorial.

If possible, may you receive the kernels of truth in these posts without being bogged down by the “Christian-ness” of them.

And may Christmas 2025 for us ALL be a season of pulling away from hatred — and embracing all-encompassing, inclusive Love.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 36-37

Love, then, is the apex of the Christian faith, and I would surmise at the apex of every faith or even non-faith (if that makes a lick of sense).

Adding to the words of Jesus (can I do that?) …

Love Is ALL.

See you tomorrow.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 12/28/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Pulling out my parents’ colorful and old metal Thanksgiving Platter. Still beautiful, even with its chips and dents from decades of use.

2. Time once again for Neal’s Citrus Cranberry Sauce!

Wash

Cook

Serve & Eat

3. The hope that tomorrow might be better.

4. After Thanksgiving lunch …

… Robert taking photos of Daughter Amy and her fam for their 2025 Christmas card.

5. HR and a spot of wine.

May you drink heavily from the spring of joy this weekend.

Posted in JoyInciters

Someone Felt I …

Posted on by Neal Saye

Pulling up to the gas pump at Kroger this morning, I got out of the car …

Walked closer to the pump …

Closer still …

A tad closer …

And I saw Him/Them …

Someone felt I needed … a little Jesus.

I agreed. So I filled up my tank — and walked away with Him.

Posted in My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 11/1/25 “5 Weeks and Día de los Angelitos”

Posted on by Neal Saye

Robert and I had a quiet, meaningful couple of hours the other evening setting up our annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) ofrenda (altar), remembering our parents and other loved ones who have passed on before us.

The time was especially dear for me this year because I thought to pull out some old files that, along with other paraphernalia, stayed for decades in my parents’ safety deposit box before they died (my mother in 2016 and my father in 2020).

In one file was the funeral information about a brother, Jimmie, who was born in 1946 and only lived for five weeks.

My mother dried and kept some flowers from his little grave.

In the little baggie behind the Celtic cross.

These old flowers are now 78 years ago—three quarters of a century!

I love the Day of the Dead season. “Nov. 1 is known as Día de los Angelitos, which honors the souls of deceased children, and Nov. 2 is Día de los Muertos.” usatoday.com

So today HR and I remembered little Jimmie and his brief life.

And that’s my Saturday Evening Post.