Wednesday 27th December, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by Edward Habib McKuen. ©2006 by Stanyan Audio Video Archives

A Thought for Today

Don’t be too quick to question everything. There are wild roses that have bloomed far into December seemingly without reason.

 

FROM the¨BOOKS

SWEET SEASON

Here in
the California winter
a mile away from snow
we hike down through
the holidays happily
but not so hurriedly
that we forget
our friends who celebrate
this same sweet season
beneath the southern sun.

And may we never
                 once forget
the birthday of God’s Son.

Good God give us more
than just our daily bread.
Pride in what we do for you,
hope for every new tomorrow,
love for all things living.
And as we forage in the New Year
let our foraging be done
                          in your name only.

Make the songs we sing
songs of praise
                    and not of glory
God of our fathers
Be the one our singing turns to
As this Christmas passes into history.

-from Rod McKuen’s Folio, 1975 and "An Outstretched Hand," 1980

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notable birthdays John Amos o Gerard Depardieu o Marlene Dietrich o 'Howdy Doody' o Tovah Feldshuh o Sydney Greenstreet o Rich Jones o Michael Joseph o David Knopfler o Eva LaRue o Oscar Levant o Dr. William Masters o Heather O'Rourke o Louis Pasteur o Cokie Roberts o Roy White
Rod's random thoughts There are no wise men. Only men and women who go on gaining wisdom.

Most of our needs should far exceed our grasp. Or what are needs for?

Love is an act of giving. Giving is an act of love.

FOR A SON AT CHRISTMAS

 When Christmas comes around this year, I’d like to give you something that you least expect: your father’s wisdom. If, indeed, he’s yet acquired enough to share. Your father’s charity, if he can truly say he has done nothing all these years to harm his fellow man. Your father’s understanding, if he understands your needs well enough to listen to whole paragraphs of your young troubles without judging you mid-sentence. Your father’s absolution, though he has yet to be absolved for the recklessness he’s passed down to you both knowingly and unknowingly. Your father’s future, if he can see untroubled days ahead. Your father’s needs, that you might meet the ones he never filled himself.

I hope, though, that your father, your old man, is not so selfish as to burden you with his unanswered prayers. You will need all the God that you can get to answer some of those requests you are making now and many you have not thought up yet, but will.

- adapted from "An Outstretched Hand," 1980
 
     
 
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