Clarity

In a box called operations and everything administrative, someone I well know has peeked over the edge at another that might co-exist, wondering about her. This person, the one, that was never held in high esteem -- she who wanted to create and dream and be special in that way -- diminished as the hours counted down and time passed on. Occasionally seen and recognized, she delighted in those moments. In due course reality would return and back into the box she would flee.

It's not that the box was uncomfortable. The box was well-fitted, sturdy, safe, known. Effortlessly lived from and recognized and appreciated. She knew it was a part of her and desired from its fullness not to escape with finality.

Yet, sadness crept in with the realization that living within and from the box had become all that was seen of her. The grief of fragmentation prevailed, the pendulum began to swing. And, in this place she acknowledged that change lay waiting. Perhaps God was asking her to have courage to leap beyond the boundaries of her box and be known.

iLike

I recently posted my disappointment about the way we choose to handle one another in American politics and today, I came across this article that made me smile. Here are some real life people making hard choices for the benefit of others - a Gospel-centric message, I'd say. And, in a rather surprising twist? The story comes from my very own city. Thanks to these Bostonians for being concerned about the needs of others... An inspiring story indeed.

A head with a heart

Forward We Spring!

While I'm not super enthused about losing the hour of sleep tonight, I am excited that more daylight is on the way! Winter lasts so long here and every year I welcome any glimpse of spring. Not to mention, by the way, the 58 degree weather we had here in Boston today... Dreamy! (We'll forget for a moment, the Nor'easter that hit last week and the hour I spent digging my car out... But, I digress.) It's supposed to be in the mid-50's again tomorrow. Smile.

Wow, so let's go there...?

I came across the article below this morning which caused me to consider American politics again. I've been trying to take a break since Obama was elected following the longest-contended election in US History. Instead of facing up to the truth (both sides), the process of seeking new scapegoats continues... Let's keep hammering one another. I'm quite fed up with it and I hope my fellow Americans will be too. This is beyond ridiculous.

Gold Rush: Dems launch Operation Rushbo

The Value Meal... By Starbucks

In introductory economics we learned that when luxury goods began to struggle, that's when the economy experienced a true down-turn. Not that Starbucks is considered a 'luxury' good by all in our world today, though I'd imagine that this is one area of household budgets being slashed in the past months (I know it has in mine). It's certainly not a necessity and as we've seen with the downward spiral of the stock market, Starbucks has been affected and has closed stores nationwide. Part of this is due to over-saturation of the market (personal opinion), thus the introduction of many more products (food and the like). I read an article months back that observed a key missing ingredient when walking into a Starbucks store: the smell of... Coffee. That tells you something. :)

At any rate, the recession we've found ourselves in also provides us with some positives (inclusive of making smarter choices with our resources) and of them, the Starbucks Value Meal. Might be worth checking out. It's actually in the range of what I spend at Cosi on the first floor of our building. At last, Starbucks offers a value.