Winning Words 12/6/12
“Courage doesn’t always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”  (Mary Anne Radmacher)  I was curious to know more about Mary Anne, artist, author, designer of greeting cards.  Some of her phrases caught my eye: “She lived her eulogy…Choose with no regret…What if we acted as if everything was easy?”  She’s cynical, yet optimistic.  I can relate to that.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  She might be right about the idea that the simple determination for "not quitting" is courageous. Or, maybe the willful act of surrendering to the mystery of uncertainty is the most courageous. Neither are quitting; but the latter leaves one's developed resources useless.////FROM JACK:  Just as there can be "situation ethics," I guess that there can be "situational courage," too.

 FROM DR PAUL:  Live your eulogy...WOW////FROM JACK:  In the following poem, substitute "eulogy" for "Gospel," and it fits the thought behind Mary Anne's words.
“You are writing a Gospel, a chapter every day,  By the things that you do and the words that you say.
Men read what you write – distorted or true,  What is the Gospel, according to you?” (Unknown)

 FROM WALMART REV:  "cynical, yet optimistic"- I think it grows on us as we age in life . . . I'm going to try again today!  0;-)////FROM JACK:  I think that's what God wants us to do...to try again.

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  I don't understand completely "cynical, yet optimistic" but can grasp the idea that it's possible to be "honest about the present moment, which may not be all that good, and yet optimistic", been there, done that, many a time and come through (so far) so that still seem able to muster up that "I will try again tomorrow" hopefulness. Maybe today I'll learn about "cynical" too. Going to the library.////FROM JACK:  Cynical?  There are those days when I think that things are going from bad to worse, and it doesn't look like they're going to get any better.  Optimistic?  After the time of cynicism, faith kicks in and says that God is still in charge, and that he will cause good to come out of the bad.  The day of crucifixion turns into the day of resurrection.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  This Winning Words made me think of the lion in Wizard of Oz.  We can choose to live life with quiet courage or just give up.  What will you choose today?  I'll try courage.  (Greeting cards have certainly changed over the years.  I have a collection from my grandma and mother which are so very different than we send now.)////FROM JACK:  The Wizard of Oz is a thought-provoking movie.  Was it just a dream?  Do dreams come true?  Is courage dependent upon the mind?  Speaking of greeting cards...the cards and stamps have been bought...the letter has been written...now, to put them all together!

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE:  Excellent!////FROM JACK:  When I was in grade school we had this grading system...E, VG, G, and P.  I once got a P in Deportment.  Deportment was Behavior.

 FROM ILLINOIS LIZ:  Like.////FROM JACK:  Sometimes we think a-like.