Jack’s Winning Words 11/6/17
“Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.”  (Goethe)  As I reread these words of Goethe I began to imagine a beautiful world, a world swept clean of all that hides its real beauty.  The lyrics of Lennon’s song came to mind.  Imagine…peace in the world…no walls…no divisions by religion or nationality…humanity not tied to possessions…no my-God-is-bigger-than-your God.  Perhaps if we each swept in front of our house.    ;-)  Jack

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Those words from the German poet refer to the morning "ritual" that formerly prevailed in German towns.  Early every day the woman in the home would go out with broom and water bucket, and clean the entry steps of the house.  It was a practice that showed their concern for taking care of things, a commitment to cleanliness and order, with everyone doing their part in the interest of the whole community.  Too bad that it hasn't caught on across the world.  Fact is, it's not so prevalent in Germany anymore.====JACK:  Did your mother ever sweep the steps in Missouri?====RI:  My mother was a ward in an orphanage in St. Louis, from the age of 7 until 16, at which time she was assigned as a house maid to a wealthy family that supported the orphanage (the Hauptmanns...German enough, huh?).  Among her morning duties she lighted the fires in the various chambers of the house, and scrubbed the entry door steps.  At age 18 she married my father, and her life changed considerably.  I don't remember ever seeing my mother wash the steps of our home. ====JACK:  What an interesting insight into the family which was yours.  It only adds to the truism:  "We are who we were!"

FROM QUILTING CAROL:  What a wonderful thought!  Guess we would be in Eden then. ====JACK:  I suppose Adam let Eve do the sweeping...and so it began!

FROM DR JUDY:  Beautiful!! From your mouth to God’s ears Jack.====JACK:  I'd rather have it the other way around.====JUDY:  You already do Jack!!!!====JACK:  As the old song put it..."If everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be."  That's another way to translate Goethe's quote.====JUDY:  You have a million of them!====JACK:  When people would laugh at (old-time comedian) Jimmy Durante's corny jokes, he'd say: "I got a million of 'em!"====JUDY:  Loved that show!!!====JACK:  Did you know that Umbriago was Jimmy's imaginary fun-loving friend?  Just saying, Umbriago, makes me smile.  During WW 2, a B-17 crew named their plane, Umbriago, because it was their friend.====JUDY:  I did not. That’s awesome. And the word does bring smiles.  Uh oh. Looked it up to see if it has meaning. Seems to mean drunkard.   That Jimmie!

FROM MY YO SILVER:  Wow. That quote is from Goethe?  It could be from a modern day leader!  Incredible.====JACK:  Maybe I should send it to the White House. 

FROM TARMART REV:  Indeed, sounds like heaven in earth . . . I'll have to shovel a little snow at first thats covering the dirt in Minnesota.====JACK:  Do you know of any biblical reference to snow in heaven?====REV:  Not so much in Heaven, as at Heaven's Door-- One remembered from years gone by and highly recount again today-- "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18 KJV)

FROM MAGGIE:  This Goethe quote was adopted by Mayor Orville Hubbard of Dearborn. When I moved there it occurred to me that not everyone is capable of keeping their own sidewalk clean. They need their neighbors help. Then...the whole world will be clean as we aid and help each other. ====JACK:  I was surprised to hear about the connection to Dearborn.  In fact, it seems like something Henry Ford would have said.

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Original sin means that world is not possible.   Why dream of the impossible?    Let our dreams be possible so that we are not reaching out to grasp what us not there.    A good place to start, however, is at our own doorstep.====JACK:  Goethe  was a German Lutheran pastor.,,and you are a Swede.  Who are we to believe?====JOHN:  The scriptures....in which original sin is a given====JACK:  Which do you think is correct..."We are conceived and born in sin" or "We are conceived and born into sin?"====JOHN:  Yes.    I don't think we are sinful at birth.   We are born, however, into a world of sin that makes us not able to live a life without sin.    It was for this reason, Anselm tells us, that we are in need of a savior.     A price had to be exacted from us and we were unable to pay that price.   Only Christ "was good enough to pay the price of sin."    I do not subscribe to Abelard's point of view.   Abelard, the rake, of all people should have known better.

FROM KF:  good words to live by ====JACK:  Yes, they are winners!

FROM MT IN PENNSYLVANIA:  Beautiful thoughts to start the week, Jack.====JACK:  Thoughts are only thoughts, until they are put into action.  The same goes for the biblical words of advice.  ====MT:  True. So it’s a good thing that a thought can also be the stimulus for action.====JACK:  It's just like with a designer...a sketch is only a sketch until it takes real form...or, as the saying goes, a song isn't a song until it's sung."   

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  What a wonderful world in "Imagine"...human nature seems to negate that dream!  But we can do our positive bit in our little corner of the world, to create beauty and good will... .Altogether now sing "Brighten the Corner Where You are (2) Someone far from Harbor you may guide across the Bar. Brighten the Corner where You Are!" :-) Another mass shooting, this time in Texas (at a Baptist Church!~!) brings yet more news of violence and hatred. We have our work cut out for us!!====JACK:  "The Little Light Of Mine...I'm going to let it shine."  The suggestion (in response to the Texas church shooting) that we should arm more church people is insane.  "Imagine" that in your church and mine...unbelievable!

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  How very true!  Sweep all the dirt of the world away.  One day it will happen!====JACK:  It would be nice if all people would come to do it...but I'm not holding my breath.====JUDY:  There are more sweepers in this world than non-sweepers.  We just hear more about the latter.====JACK:  I suppose that their names are written in the Book of Life under, sweepers.

FROM INDY GENIE:  Beautiful thought. I'm going to try it..====JACK:  I imagine that will do a good job, too.