This and That.

Salon has an article about a Recovering Republican. The author says (among other things):

One by one I saw the flaws in conservative orthodoxy: attempting to fight terrorism with torture, which only aided our enemies' propaganda efforts and thus created more terrorists; seeking to liberalize the Muslim world while curtailing rights for gay people at home; criticizing public schools for lackluster results and therefore cutting funds further; disdaining the weak while never analyzing why they are weak; always seeing the effect but never the cause, which on a mass scale perpetuates the effect.

Dianne over at Forks off the Moment has a touching story about her encounter with Harry Connick, Jr and his family. Read it here.

Ed Halpus shared this piece by Joseph Fort Newton:

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MAN REALLY PRAYS?

By Brother Joseph Fort Newton

He learns that he lives in two worlds-this world where we see and breathe, buy and sell. And another world, unseen, wherein we find faith, hope, and love that make the world of touch and sight, of struggle and loneliness, livable.

When we pray, we personalize the world in which we live. We bring God into our lives. We have an experience of God, not as an illusive, but as a sustaining presence. We are no longer left to go on a long, lonely journey, not knowing the way, the reason for going, or the end.

Also, we learn that this world has a mind of its own, which is the will of God. If we pray wisely, we do not ask God to do what we want done, but to make us worthy and willing to do what He wants done. "In His will is our peace," said Dante long ago; His holy will not our fitful wish.

Lincoln said that he went to his knees because he had nowhere else to go. He was a strong, wise, patient man, but he felt his hopelessness -he had no vanity-and sought wisdom wiser than his own. Such Is the meaning of the worth, the extraordinary privilege of the hour of prayer.

I spent the day being Secretary. We have Specialis Procer Lodge on Friday so I copied some things to hand out. Got the invitations for the Installation of Officers printed addressed and stuffed in their envelopes. I still have more to do but at least that is done.

I took a nap this afternoon in the recliner and I woke up with Bailey on my left shoulder sleeping and resting against my cheek. What woke my up was Miles (more and more like a small pony) climbing up to join us and stretching out on my lap.

Oh that reminds me. I don't get dressed until the absolute last minute and my robe is flesh colored. Yesterday I had the bushes in the back yard cut down so you can now see in the back yard. As I was trying to get Miles to come in (He can be stubborn) Cassie went running out so I had to go out to get her. I grabbed her by the tail to get her in. She wants the catnip that Jon planted out there and I don't want her out there. I imagine the neighbors got a cheap thrill if they were looking. Cassie has been pissed at me all day but she finally climbed up on me as I was typing this so she must be over it.

She is an ornery cat. She likes to knock things around. I inadvertently locked her in my bed room this morning and I kept hearing things falling. She climbed up on the little dresser I have and proceeded to knock the jar of change off (luckily it did not break) and my wallet and my coin purse and the shoe horn. By the time I had figured it out the top of the dresser was pretty denuded.

I ate supper at Cafe Northwest. Had a Greek Burger and some French Fried Onions. My former student Joe Jensen is back working there and it was good to see him. Cafe Northwest is a great place to eat and the price is right. I got all of that plus a drink for just about $10. I could have had a full steak dinner for about $5 more, One of the best kept secrets in Ames. Check out the menu and prices here.

Thanks for stopping by. ARTYAL, Hugs, Tomorrow I go to the foot doctor and have lunch with a friend.

Addendum: I just found this over at The Magpie Mason.

It is a feeling of accomplishment to receive a Masonic degree. But the feeling of excitement and accomplishment dissolves quickly into the realization that you have been given a charge to study and find the secrets of the degree. You receive the “title” Royal Arch Mason or Master of the Royal Secret, but these titles mean nothing in themselves. Their significance lies in the actions of the Mason who takes those degrees – afterwards. Does he engage with the mysterious, symbolic material he has received in an attempt to learn from it?