Kinshasa School

Just started a new blog with photos of a school located in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a minister is doing his best to educate about 500 children of various ages.  Many of them are poor, some have been accused of witchcraft and thrown out of their homes.  The school has barely the wherewithal to operate, and for over a year now I've been searching for some charitable organizations where Rev. Félix could apply for funding.  If you have any ideas, please let me know.  In English or en français...

The Power of Words

Watch Amnesty International's new video, introduced by Morgan Freeman:

Christmas Morning Mass

Dazzled by gold ornaments
by trees swathed in white lights
and the winter sun piercing
stained glass
with its ice-pure rays

Body and soul vibrating
to the organ’s swell
I sang with the choir and congregation

Superlatives and absolutes
flowed from the liturgy
like wine
from a celestial cask

Gloria to God in the highest

Deum de Deo
Lumen de lumine
Deum verum de Deo vero

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

The Son
the radiance of God's glory
sustaining all things by his powerful word
superior to the angels

Oh come let us adore him

And I thought I saw the barefoot Rabbi
who had nowhere to lay his head
Drunk with the carols and praise
he began to dance in rapture

Whirling barefoot in a Hasidic dance
hands raised
blessing the Father
and giving thanks for this day

In the voice of the Prophet Isaiah he intoned
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea

Then suddenly still
he looked at his followers and said

In memory of me
go and do likewise

Christmas Blessings

"When the star in the sky is gone, When the Kings and Princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flocks, The real work of Christmas begins. To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoners, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among brothers, To make music in the heart."

- Howard Thurman

Merry Christmas!
Follow the light of the star...

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Thanks to F/friend David Austin, a.k.a., the Quaker Agitator (now appearing exclusively on Facebook), for the quotation,
and to Christian Clipart for the beautiful image.

A Lesson on Nonviolence for Obama by Eric Stoner -- Antiwar.com

A Lesson on Nonviolence for Obama by Eric Stoner -- Antiwar.com

Almost immediately after acknowledging that there is "nothing weak — nothing passive — nothing naïve — in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King," Obama equated nonviolence with doing nothing.

Twelve Days Left Till Christmas

So one more enemy leader is dead
   killed by a drone
Rejoice! they said

Cacophonous carols assail the ear
   and mountains of merchandise
stifle our fear

Isaiah wanders the glitzy streets
   searching for signs
of the Prince of Peace

Wearied by Macy’s wonderland
   he lies down with plush Leo
and soft Gucci lamb

And Mary, her soul extolling the Lord
   looks for fulfillment
of his gracious word

Of haughty brought low and lowly raised up
   but the vet on the corner
just rattles his cup

Of the rich turned away, of the poor getting fed
   but bag ladies huddle
on steam vents instead

The barefoot rabbi passes by
   who forgave his tormentors
before he died

By whom five thousand or more were fed
   but who had nowhere
to lay his own head

He sees that his message went terribly wrong
   he hears his birth fêted
in carol and song

But where shall he find when carols cease
   simplicity, kindness,
forgiveness and peace?

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Graphic from mennolink