One of our favorite breakfast spots here in Savannah is Le Café Gourmet, a small but very-big-on-flavor spot tucked away on Victory Drive that victoriously specializes in French pastries and sandwiches.
We love chatting with owner Helen and playing with the café’s mascot, Theo.
And best of all, Le Café Gourmet oozes with welcome and goodwill.
Which makes the little, low placard below the coffee bar so very appropriate.
Especially in today’s divided and difficult world.
At my age, I may no longer be able to be anything, but with just a little effort, I know I can be … KIND.
I love this delightful, insightful quote I ran across recently.
Haven’t we all had these folks in our lives? For whatever reason, they are not always with us. Childhood friends, school buddies, romantic partners, relatives and loved ones who passed too soon.
I am so very happy and thankful to have a bunch of dog-eared pages in my book. What about you?
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:
Fugelsang remembers: “I was raised to believe that the opposite of faith is not doubt, as doubt is an essential part of any real faith journey.”
“The opposite of faith iscertainity.” Separation of church and hate. p. 53.
I love Fugelsang’s brief declaration of truth, which reminds me of Shakespeare’s also-famous and truthful line: “Brevity is the soul of wit.”
Absolute Certainty can get us in all kinds of trouble!
Fugelsang continues: “Extremists of all faiths (or none) are raised in, and live with, supreme and absolute certainty. They don’t think they’re better than you; they know for a fact that God thinks they’re better than you.” p. 53
“Life’s pretty simple for the authoritarian Christian. Since most of their opinions happen to also be God’s opinions— and they believe that they’re the folks who get to speak for God—they generally feel divinely obliged to control whatever part of society they see fit. Y’ know, for God.”
“And if you’re one of the anointed who speaks for the Almighty, eventually you’re liable to believe that anyone who opposes you is, logically, on the side of Satan. And God’s true people are never going to sit down and negotiate things like school curriculum, women’s rights, or marriage equality with Lucifer. People who’ve been conditioned to think you’re on the side of the devil aren’t permitted to meet you halfway.” p. 54
Ouch!
May we all be willing to meet each other halfway this Holiday Season — and beyond.
Last night at the Jepsen Center for the Arts lighting of the Christmas tree here in Savannah. 
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:
Today: Another part of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:3-12) commonly referred to as “The Beatitudes”
Author John Fugelsang writes: “And get a load of these BEATITUDES.
Jesus opens the Sermon with a series of blessings that represent his foundational teachings and core values. Each line begins with the word ‘blessed,’ which can also be translated as ‘happy,’ ‘fortunate,’ or even ‘lucky.’
Jesus pronounces his blessings upon specific groups of people. He focuses on the poor and marginalized; he praises nonviolence and peace-making, radical love, mercy, and inclusion; and he pretty much takes down the status quo.” Separation of Church and Hate p. 25
1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
2. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
3. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
4. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
5. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
6. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
7. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
8. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Fugelsang jokes: “Imagine the hecklers: ‘Meh, I didn’t trudge all the way up Mount of Beatitudes just to hear some virtue signaling from Woke Jesus.’” p. 25
“The Beatitudes are Jesus’s own guide for ethical conduct in Christian life.” p. 25
May we all be Harmonious and “Beatitude-ish Peacemakers” this Holiday Season — and beyond.
A few of my Photos of Peace:
Inside the Mighty Eighth Museum Chapel, Savannah GAPeacefully Playing
So this afternoon, HR (Husband Robert, to the uninitiated), Ex-wife Donna and I went to see the current top-grossing film in the nation, Wicked: For Good.
We got our popcorn and headed for Auditorium One, when we decided we REALLY needed photo documentation (well, perhaps I alone decided that, but HR and Donna went along).
Not the greatest photo quality, but (spoiler alert for the rest of the post) I’m with the two Loves of My Life
In a weird way, just the three of us out together on a movie date is … Defying Gravity.
it may look dark in this theatre, but … it’s really not.
“It’s time to try defying gravity I think I’ll try defying gravity And you can’t pull me down”
I love this short two-minute You Tube video from yesteryear’s Designing Women, as Julia, running for political office in the episode, passionately expresses her beliefs (and mine) on the subject of … well, just take a listen.
NealEnJoy 