"Only on paper has humanity yet achieved glory,
beauty, truth, knowledge, virtue, and abiding
love."
-George Bernard Shaw
But we put these ideals on paper - into stories, poetry, music, and every form of artistic expression - because they exist in our yearnings, visions, and dreams.
They guide us toward humane philosophies, declarations of freedom and equality, and toward peace.
They are real in our highest reasonings and imaginings.
They are powerful in our hearts and souls.
But have we achieved them? Sometimes. Occasionally, in our finest hours. But do we live them? Not quite. Not yet. Perhaps we never will, not in an abiding, lasting way.
When we see horrific acts of violence, cold-hearted cruelties, and senseless
war, we may doubt they will ever be realized. But let's not despair.
Most people in every part of the world want to live with beauty, truth, knowledge, virtue, abiding love, fairness, freedom, justice and joy. And sometimes we experience them.
So, let's not be driven to fear, hate, or giving up on humanity.
Let's continue to hold visions of our highest ideals. Let's nurture them and reach for them. Every day.
With faith, hope, and love,
Charlene
PS - The flower in today's image was made with many little scraps of paper and love. My grandson and I made it together when he was about four. (He's now thirteen.)
I'm always amazed what we can create with scraps of paper, fabric, food, metal, wood - scraps of just about everything - and love.
Perhaps lasting love - lasting any one of
our ideals - is achieved by, again and again, piecing and peacing together all the torn and broken bits of every aspect of our lives, with courage and compassion. With faith, hope, and love. With the best of what's in us.
One more thing about paper:
"The canvas with which Picasso
painted
and the diary in which Anne Frank shared her story...
(and multitudes of creations) that transformed our world and society were once placed on sheets of paper."
(Double A Paper)
THE ELEVENTH GIFT IS LOVE.
It will grow each time you give it away.
-from The Twelve Gifts of
Birth
