Halloween

'Hallomas', or All Saints,' or 'All Souls' Day observed in old English; the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctity' used to honor all Saints in Heaven known or unknown. They used to consider it with all solemnity as one of the most significant observances of the Church Year.

The American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called 'Samhain' celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced 'Sow-in', with sow rhyming with cow. Thus most of the customs connected with the Day are remnants of the ancient religious beliefs and rituals, first of the Druids and then transcended amongst the Roman Christians who conquered them.
"Trick or treat' may be innocent fun to relish on Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils, and animal sacrifices associated with it. Are these stories a myth or is there a blend of some reality? You decide!

FIRELIGHT

It’s night and yet in some eerie way,
It’s just as light as tho it were day.

I’ve heard there are goblins and witches about
And from what I’ve seen I have no doubt.

How else explain a night so weird,
The things that happen you view in fear.

You see a black cat run in flight,
Then by some magic snatched from sight.

Forms in human shape float around,
And if you listen close you hear a sound
That calls - come yonder to the firelight.

You want to explore but you’re in suspense
Then curiosity triumphs e’en tho you’re tense.

You see a broomstick on which to climb
Ignore the shivers running down your spine.

Suddenly you’re zooming thru the air
What possible reason could make you dare

O seek yonder lighted sky in haste?
What sort of witchery is taking place?

It’s a fire ablaze shooting flames to the sky
With a portion brewing in a kettle nearby.

You watch and listen for someone to tell
You all about this magic spell.

But as you wait the fire dies down
And darkness again descends on the town.

The goblins and witches fail to appear,
The magic eludes you until another year.

by Wilhelmine E. Mitchell

COMPASSION

Thursday, October 18, 2007 was the yearly Pastoral Care Banquet. Due to health reasons I was resigning as a volunteer after 10 years. The chaplains honored me with a few complimentary words and a dozen red roses. I was asked just why I volunteered with Pastoral Care. My thought was God was so good to me, I wanted to share that grace with someone else. Then again, I have been in the hospital so many times as a patient that I have real empathy, compassion for those in the hospital.

The dictionary defines compassion as "the deep feeling of sharing the suffering of another in the inclination to give aid or support or to show mercy." More than that, compassion is a vital virtue. No teacher has ever uttered words of such eternal value as Jesus, the prince of teachers, concerning compassion. No word of Christ reveals His heart's concern for human need so much as the word compassion. Whether it was his friend, Lazarus, or an alien Samaritan, a little child, or an aged cripple-he cared.

Compassion and helpfulness are kindred souls. It has been said that there is no exercise better for strengthening the heart then reaching down and lifting someone up. We must dedicate more time for Christ and keep our eyes open so He can show his thoughtfulness through us.
Many years ago Pope Leo XIII said: "No one is so poor as not to be useful in some way to his fellowman and the disposition to ask assistance from others with confidence and to grant it with kindness is part of our nature."

A wise man once said: "God is the best helper, but He loves to be helped."
Be earnest in prayer, but do not neglect human means, Spirit-led lives are ours when we ask.

COMPASSION

We are prone to take the blessings
We receive from day to day,
Without a word of 'thank you'
Till they pass away.
Let us express appreciation
For our blessings, come what may,
And try to be more worthy
Each and everyday.........for
Love is concern compassion
Shown for others less fortunate than you
The dirty, the ragged, the lost ones,
Red, yellow faces, yes, black ones, too.
To gain life is to lose it.
Another's burden you must share.
Love is gratitude in action,
To show that you really care.
If indeed you are grateful
For the blessings you enjoy,
You will show it in the things you do,
And how you are employed.
The more you have, the more you give,
This feeling you cannot supress.
You have to do something for someone.
To express your thankfulness.

by Wilhelmine E. Mitchell

Happiness

I recently heard Steve Blow talk on the subject, happiness, taking references from a book by Dr. Seligman. What I remember most was the statement: "Live in the present and do those things that help others; the end result will bring you gratification." It started me thinking - just what is happiness.

Happiness is the one thing that almost everyone is seeking. Many search in vain, but only a small number have actually attained it. A great Philosopher once wrote: Happiness is neither within us or without us; it is the union of ourselves with God.

However, a more practical man said: Happiness consists of the attainment of our desires and in our having only right & justifiable desires.

It is difficult to explain just what happiness is, but it can certainly be considered a habit which is worth cultivating. The Boy Scout Motto says: "Do a good turn daily." Be as concerned about bringing happines to others as you are to yourself. When you bring happiness to others, it rubs off on yourself, making it the by-probuct of your efforts to make someone else happy.

A quote from Norman Vincent Peale: "The way to happiness is to keep your heart free from worry, live simply, expect little, give much, scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others."

Socrates said, "Know Thyself." Here are some pertinent points made by Dr. Frank Caprio , published in the National Inquirer several years ago:
1. Give yourself a daily mistake allowance
2. Find something that's lovable about yourself
3. Find a few kind words for someone else
4. Find something good to admire in others
5. Find something to laugh about
6. Find something to celebrate
7. Find a challange
8. Find something useful to do for someone else

There are many worthwhile causes in all communities in which to volunteer your time & talents thus having the gratification of helping someone else.

Finally, if you see someone without a smile, give that person yours - it is contagious. Remember the grouch here at Chambrel that I referred to in an article titled 'Act or React.' Well, I have been smiling at him every morning and saying a cheery good morning and he is smiling back! I found the following words of insight, printed in the Dallas Morning News several years past, written by the Rev. Blair Monie, who was at that time pastor of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. He used these words in a sermon.

One smile begins a friendship;
One bird can herald the spring;
One song speaks a moment;
One star guides a ship;
One candle wipes out the darkness;
One laugh dispels the gloom;
One touch shows you care;
One word begins a prayer;
One note can change a nation;
One life can make a difference!

I'll end with my favorite quote on happiness by Dr. Norman M. Bradbury: "Happiness is when the positive satisfactions outweigh the negative experiences."

You're aging when.........

The following was taken from the Dallas Morning News 'Viewpoints' by Stanley Marcus. He states : A friend sent me a single-spaced typed sheet with the subject, Aging is when...Unfortunately, the author wasn't identified, but it started by saying, "Aging is when everything hurts and what doesn't hurt doesn't work." The piece went on: Aging is when.............

The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bifocals.

You feel like the night after, and you haven't been anywhere.

Your little black book contains only names ending in M.D.

You get winded playing chess.

Your children begin to look middle-aged.

You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it leaning against the wrong wall.

You decide to procrastinate but never get around to it.

Your mind makes contracts your body can't meet.

You know all the answers, but noboby asks you the questions.

You look forward to a dull evening.

Your favorite part of the newspaper is "Twenty-Five Years Ago Today."

Your knees buckle, and your belt won't.

You are 17 around the neck, 44 around the waist and 96 around the golf course.

You stop looking forward to your next birthday.

Dialing long distance wears you out.

You are startled the first time you are addressed as an 'old-timer.'

You burn the midnight oil until 9 p.m.

Your pacemaker makes the garage door go up when you watch a pretty girl go by.

You get your exercise acting as a pallbearer for your friends who exercised.

Stanley Marcus adds further observations: Aging is when.............

Tying your shoelaces leaves you breathless.

Your reminiscences aren't as interesting to your listeners as they are to you.

Your memory fails to recall the name of the gorgeous blonde you were madly in love with when you were 21.

The big house in which you grew up has shrunk in apparent size 70 years later.

Your friends keep telling you how great you are looking.

You sleep less and nap more.

Your realize that the good old days actually weren't as good as they were cracked up to be.

Passers-by stop to pick up objects you have dropped.

You allow yourself to luxuriate in casual attire at improper times.

You slump instead of standing erect.

Stanley Marcus ended with: 'Aging is when you have too much room in the house and not enough room in the medicine cabinet.'

Those observations are fine, but I still think the best antidote to aging is to stay active and interested in the world around.

If you have any desire to live to be 100 plus, you had better ignore this whole column.

Viewpoint

One hundred years ago today, Herbert Marcus, his sister Carrie and her husband, A.L. Neiman, opened the doors of Neiman Marcus. All four of the Marcus sons worked at the store with varying specialties. Stanley was the retailing prodigy and probably the one most of us know. For more than 15 years, Stanley Marcus also graced the Viewpoints page of the Dallas Morning News. Here is a sampling of the sage advice of "Mr. Stanley," who died at the age of 96 in 2002 as printed in the Dallas Morning News.

Sept. 22, 1987-AGING: The best antidote to aging is to stay active and retain an interest in the world. Life is too exciting and interesting to retire from it. Tackling new problems appears to be a good prescription to stimulate the brain cells and maintain good health.

Sept. 11, 1990-COMMON COLD: At the risk of sounding cold-hearted, I think there is only one thing worse than having a cold. That is being around someone who has one. The next time you have a cold, stay at home for a couple of days. An occasional day in bed is something we all need. You may not get over your cold any faster, but the rest may enable you to avoid complications and side effects. And with any luck, your associates will avoid catching it at all.

June 6, 1995-HAPPY MARRIAGES: The quality that probably is most important in happy marriages, but seldom mentioned, is a short memory. At first, that doesn't seem logical, for one could argue that an accurate memory would lead to bliss, providing recollections of successes. On the other hand a long memory also recalls past grievances, petty disputes and differences of opinions that can become constant irritants if one allows them. Those endowed with a short memory are able to forget minor slights to the ego and irritating reminders of minor spats. Nothing in life can be perfect, and a long memory that remembers everything and forgets nothing can destroy almost any marriage.

More of Mr. Stanley Marcus' viewpoints to come.

Teach Him Gently

With school starting, I wanted to share this article written by Dan Valentine and published in the Garland Daily News, August 26, 1979; submitted by Lorene Jones as a letter to the Editor. Lorene is a retired school teacher.

Teach him gently, if you can. My young son starts to school tomorrow. It’s all going to be strange and new to him for a while, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

You see, up to now, he’s been our little boy. He’s been boss of the back yard. His mother has always been around to repair his wounds, and I’ve always been handy to soothe his feelings. But now things are going to be different. This morning he’s going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start out on a great adventure. It’s an adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow. To live his life, in the world he will live in, requires faith and love and courage. So, world, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him, but gently, if you can.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true.Teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, and that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend.

It will take time, world, I know, but teach him if you can, that a nickel earned is of far more value than a dollar found. Teach him to learn to lose, and to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy, it you can, and teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn quickly that the bullies are the easiest people to lick.

Teach him if you can, the wonder of books, but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the band-wagon. Teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen on truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him, it you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure, and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness. Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidders, but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob, and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.

Teach him gently, world, but don’t coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel Let him have the courage to be impatient. Let him have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind. This is a big order world, but see what you can do. He's such a a fine little fellow, my son!

FRIEND

I recently visited with a long time friend who had moved out of town. As we shared “The Happenings” in our life since she had moved, it was like we had never been apart. We started our conversation right where we had left off months ago. So what is a friend? A person with

whom you dare to be yourself.

Thoreau said: “A friend is someone with whom you can think out loud.”

A friend is someone near or far away,
You don’t have to see them everyday;
A closeness, a thought you might say,
A oneness now and forever may,
Unite the two as one.
Even tho time passes you just
Know your friend is someone you can trust
Your wealth, your health, your life if must.
You might disagree, you might fuss,
But a true friend is forever.

Emerson wrote: “The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand , nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.”

Proverbs 17:17 " A Friend loves at all times."

A Chinese proverb wisely points out: There are plenty of acquaintances, but very few real friends