Graphic from GoEnglish.com via http://wolfpiano.blogspot.com
Words sometimes pour into my head and flood my heart. Today the words were more like a storm front. It seems sadness, atrocity, and crisis are constantly on the radar. I’m reminded of the words of Thomas Paine, who wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” His words were written in a time of revolution and rebellion against oppressors with far-reaching, seemingly unstoppable power. Yet history recorded that the will of the human spirit to be free and the passion of people dedicated to a common cause were victorious. What a hollow victory if nothing is sacred, if no cruelty is left unmastered, if no fear is left unwittnessed, if no lesson keeps us from ripping each other to pieces.
When a thick fog rolls into our lives or darkness grips us, even scholars are at a loss to make sense of it. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy,” said Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
We search for solace, hope, faith, and through faith, we find our way to love. The Apostle Paul wrote about the excellence of love (charity) saying, But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. Martin Luther King, Jr. said of love, “Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.
“Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.” -Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World.
Today, mostly cloudy, with a chance for peace.
Honie Briggs 
Hope you are doing alright.
Hey there Sarah, I am doing alright. I try to put an upward spin on my observations of the absurd or make fun of myself and situations. Sometimes there seem to be just too many horrible things going on to do that without seeming like an out-of-touch Pollyanna or an aloof idiot. Life is good, love is, well, loverly – and yet, there are still too many horrible things going on all over the place.
It turns my stomach to constantly read violence such as acid attacks against women http://www.npr.org/2012/07/26/156567879/acid-attacks-a-rising-menace-for-colombian-women being called a “menace” or the controlling, manipulating, self-serving politics aimed at preventing women from asserting their right to make decisions for themselves in the name of morality, or litigious opportunists using the legal system to make a buck off the shooting incident in Colorado…plus I think a great way to honor those who’ve sacrificed their lives is to stop wars, but what do I know? Other than this, I’m alright. I hope you’re alright. 🙂
Very nice, Honie. A lovely and hope-filled post!
Thanks Brigitte.