Words from the Heart

**** ADDENDUM **** After I viewed this film, I did what I normally do - surf the web for information about the director, the movie, the actors, etc.  Unfortunately, I didn't do this before I wrote my blog. Had I done so, I would have said that while this is a "true" story, there is a certain amount of question as to some of what we are led to believe.  Many thanks to Meghan Fitz-James for her comment and head's up. I bring this up, not to discourage anyone from seeing the film, which is truly breathtaking, but so that those who do see it are aware that Aisholpan is not the first eagle huntress in the history of Mongolia. She may be the first in her own family, but eagle huntresses have over a 2,000 year history, according to Adrienne Mayor, Stanford University History professor. I wish that the promoters of the film had done a better job at telling the truth behind the history. Women's history has been negated, twisted and ignored for far too long. C...

Long ago, I learned to listen and reflect on the words I said.  At the time, my teacher was speaking about saying prayer mindfully, instead of rattling off words in an unconscious stream.  This was a lesson that stayed with me through the years, not only for prayer, but also for speech, in general.  When we are mindful of the words we are using, then we are more capable of saying exactly what we mean. To illustrate, let us look at the words to the Serenity Prayer written by the theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr . An acquaintance once mentioned that they loved this prayer.  I asked why.  They were unable to articulate what it was about the prayer that resonated with them.  Many people know this prayer by heart; however, they have never reflected on the exact meaning of the words. The prayer is:   God, grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. ...

Miep Gies Miep Gies, the woman who hid the Frank family during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam died today. I was touched by her comment replayed on NPR regarding her feelings towards being considered a hero. She said in 1997 to school children online, "I don't want to be considered a hero. Imagine young people would grow up with the feeling that you have to be a hero to do your human duty. I am afraid nobody would ever help other people, because who is a hero? I was not. I was just an ordinary housewife and secretary." While Miep may have been an ordinary housewife and secretary, she had an extraordinary spirit which enabled her to brave the possibility of being arrested to help her friends. Her courage was more than ordinary, especially when you think of the times she lived through. We have all been blessed and will continue to be blessed by this "ordinary" woman's courage through the ability to read The Diary of Anne Frank . A testament to another ...