"On the Death of the Beloved (by John O'Donahue)

                    THOUGH WE NEED TO WEEP YOUR LOSS,
               YOU DWELL IN THAT SAFE PLACE IN OUR HEARTS
          WHERE NO STORM OR NIGHT OR PAIN CAN REACH YOU.

                              YOUR LOVE WAS LIKE THE DAWN
                              BRIGHTENING OVER OUR LIVES,
                              AWAKENING BENEATH THE DARK
                              A FURTHER ADVENTURE OF COLOR

                                 THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE
                                            FOUND FOR US
                                            A NEW MUSIC
                              THAT BRIGHTENED EVERYTHING.

                       WHATEVER YOU ENFOLDED IN YOUR GAZE
                          QUICKENED IN THE JOY OF ITS BEING;
                             YOU PLACED SMILES LIKE FLOWERS
                                   ON THE ALTAR OF THE HEART.
                                 YOUR MIND ALWAYS SPARKLED
                                       WITH WONDER AT THINGS.

                        THOUGH YOUR DAYS HERE WERE BRIEF,
                   YOUR SPIRIT WAS ALIVE, AWAKE, COMPLETE.

                     WE LOOK TOWARD EACH OTHER NO LONGER
                     FROM THE OLD DISTANCE OF OUR NAMES;
                  NOW YOU DWELL INSIDE THE RHYTHM OF BREATH,
                        AS CLOSE TO US AS WE ARE TO OURSELVES.

              THOUGH WE CANNOT SEE YOU WITH OUTWARD EYES,
                 WE KNOW OUR SOUL'S GAZE IS UPON YOUR FACE,
                 SMILING BACK AT US FROM WITHIN EVERYTHING
                   TO WHICH WE BRING OUR BEST REFINEMENT.

                   LET US NOT LOOK FOR YOU ONLY IN MEMORY,
                 WHERE WE WOULD GROW LONELY WITHOUT YOU.
                YOU WOULD WANT US TO FIND YOU IN PRESENCE,
                          BESIDE US WHEN BEAUTY BRIGHTENS,
                                      WHEN KINDNESS GLOWS
                          AND MUSIC ECHOES ETERNAL TONES.

                          WHEN ORCHIDS BRIGHTEN THE EARTH,
                       DARKEST WINTER  HAS TURNED TO SPRING;
                      MAY THIS DARK GRIEF FLOWER WITH HOPE
                             IN EVERY HEART THAT LOVES YOU.

                           MAY YOU CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US:
                   TO ENTER EACH DAY WITH A GENEROUS HEART.
                      TO SERVE THE CALL OF COURAGE AND LOVE
                      UNTIL WE SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE AGAIN
             IN THAT LAND WHERE THERE IS NO MORE SEPARATION,
               WHERE ALL TEARS WILL BE WIPED FROM OUR MIND,
                   AND WHERE WE WILL NEVER LOSE YOU AGAIN.




                                                        **************

COLLEGE DRAMA ( from SLDIGEST )

          A COLLEGE DRAMA GROUP PRESENTED A PLAY IN WHICH ONE
          CHARACTER WOULD STAND ON A TRAP DOOR AND ANNOUNCE
          "I DESCEND INTO HELL!"  A STAGEHAND BELOW WOULD THEN
          PULL A ROPE, THE TRAP DOOR WOULD SPRING AND THE ACTOR
          WOULD DROP FROM VIEW.    THE PLAY WAS WELL RECEIVED
          WHEN THE ACTOR PLAYING THE PART BECAME ILL, ANOTHER
          ACTOR WHO WAS QUITE OVERWEIGHT TOOK HIS PLACE.  WHEN
          THE NEW ACTOR ANNOUNCED, "I DESCEND INTO HELL!" THE
          STAGEHAND PULLED THE ROPE AND THE ACTOR BEGAN HIS
          PLUNGE, BUT BECAME HOPELESSLY STUCK.  NO AMOUNT OF
          TUGGING ON THE ROPE COULD MAKE HIM DESCEND.  ONE
          STUDENT IN THE BALCONY JUMPED UP AND YELLED.
          "HALLELUJAH! HELL IS FULL!"

ROMANCE.....SENIOR STYLE ( from SLDigest )

          AN OLDER COUPLE WERE LYING IN BED ONE NIGHT.
          THE HUSBAND WAS FALLING ASLEEP, BUT THE WIFE
          WAS FEELING FRISKY AND WANTED TO TALK. SHE
          SAID,  "YOU USED TO HOLD MY HAND WHEN WE WERE
          COURTING."   WEARILY, HE REACHED ACROSS, HELD
          HER HAND FOR A SECOND AND TRIED TO GET BACK
          TO SLEEP.  A FEW MOMENTS LATER SHE SAID, "THEN
          YOU USED TO KISS ME."  MILDLY IRRITATED, HE
          REACHED ACROSS, GAVE HER A PECK ON THE CHEEK
          AND SETTLED DOWN TO SLEEP.  THIRTY SECONDS
          LATER SHE SAID, "THEN YOU USED TO BITE MY NECK."
          ANGRILY, HE THREW BACK THE BED COVERS AND GOT
          OUT OF BED.  'WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"  SHE ASKED.
          "TO GET MY TEETH!"

FASHION GUIDE FOR SENIORS (from SL Digest)

          MANY OF US OLDER FOLKS ARE QUITE CONFUSED ABOUT
          HOW TO PRESENT OURSELVES.  WE'RE UNSURE OF THE
          IMAGE WE ARE PROJECTING AS WE TRY TO CONFORM TO
          CURRENT FASHIONS.  DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY HAVE
          SEEN ON THE STREETS, THE FOLLOWING COMBINATIONS
          ARE A NO-NO;

                              1.  A NOSE RING AND BIFOCALS

                              2.  SPIKED HAIR AND BALD SPOTS

                              3.  A PIERCED TONGUE AND DENTURES

                              4.  MINISKIRTS AND SUPPORT HOSE

                              5.  ANKLE BRACELETS AND CORN PADS

                              6.  A BELLY BUTTON RING AND A GALL
                                   BLADDER SURGERY SCAR

                              7.  UNBUTTONED DISCO SHIRTS AND A
                                   HEART MONITOR

                              8.  MIDRIFF SHIRTS AND A MIDRIFF BULGE

                              9.  BIKINIS AND LIVER SPOTS

                             10.  SHORT SHORTS AND VARICOSE VEINS



          PLEASE KEEP THESE BASIC GUIDELINES FOREMOST IN MIND
          AS YOU SHOP.


                                                        *************

MI PADRE, SUS AÑOS Y YO

          YA VIEJO, SIN LAS FUERZAS DE SUS 25 AÑOS
          MI PADRE VIVE CONMIGO ULTIMAMENTE..
          YA SON POCAS LAS VECES QUE NOS HABLAMOS
          TAL VEZ PORQUE MIS PROBLEMAS PUDIERAN SER
          TAN GRANDES COMO LOS DE EL CUANDO YO TENIA
          CINCO..SEIS.. O QUINCE AÑOS.

          SIN DARME CUENTA, FUI OLVIDANDO LOS DIAS
          DE MI JUVENTUD DONDE MI PADRE Y YO ERAMOS
          UNA SOLA PERSONA.

          Y POCO A POCO, TODOS EN LA FAMILIA ME DECIAN
          QUE YA MI PADRE ESTABA ESTORBANDO...
          Y ASI LLEGUE....ASI LLEGUE A LA CONCLUSION
          QUE LLEVARLO AL ASILO DE ANCIANOS SERIA LO
          MEJOR.

          Y UNA MAÑANA, SENTADOS EN EL BALCON
          CON TEMOR, LE DIJE LO QUE PENSABA.
          SIN DECIRME NADA ENTRO EN LA CASA:
          RECOGIENDO SUS COSAS SALIO NUEVAMENTE.
          "YA ES HORA, HIJO."

          AL CABO DE UN LARGO RATO,
          CAMINANDO PASO A PASO, ME DIJO.
          "DESCANSEMOS EN ESA PIEDRA."
          Y AL MIRARME YO EN SUS OJOS, NOTE UN BRILLO
          QUE POCO A POCO SE CONVIRTIO EN LAGRIMAS.

          "PORQUE LLORAS, PADRE?"
          "PORQUE EN ESTA MISMA PIEDRA
          DESCANSO MI PADRE Y AHORA ME TOCA A MI.,
          MAÑANA TAL VEZ A TI."

         "VAMOS PADRE, VAMOS PA' LA CASA;
          QUE YO NO QUIERO QUE A MI ME PASE
          LO QUE HOY A TI TE PASA"

          ASI MI PADRE, SUS AÑOS Y YO REGRESAMOS
          A LA CASA......

                                       

                                             ************

         

DON'T CRY FOR ME, SUDAN

          From the story of Catholic priest ( John Lee Tae Seok ) a South
          Korean missionary who served Southern Sudan.  The 9th of 10
          children, he was born in 1962 and died 2010 at age 48.

                                   ***PASSION***  ( Korean song )

                         IN YOUR HEART I WILL BECOME A PEARL
                         AS SPLENDID AS A FLOWER
                         AND RADIANT AS A STAR
                         AND WITH ALL MY LIFE,
                         WITH ALL MY LIFE
                         I WILL IGNITE THIS FLAME IN MY HEART,
                         LIKE FIRE THAT NEVER TURNS TO ASHES.
                         I WILL IGNITE A LOVE,
                         AS SPLENDID AS A PEARL.

                                             *************    



                                          ***MEDITATION***



                                                   
                                    ( composed and written by:  Lee Tae Seok )


                          KNEELING BEFORE THE CROSS
                          I ASKED THE LORD
                          WHY DO YOU JUST WATCH THOSE
                          WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM COLD
                          AND HUNGER?
                          THOSE WHO ARE BLEEDING AND DYING?
                         
                          WITH TEARS IN MY EYES
                          I ASKED THE LORD
                          WHY MUST THERE BE SINNERS AND PRISONS?
                          WHY MUST PEOPLE SUFFER THROUGH PAIN?
                         
                           IN THE SILENCE I HEARD THE LORD SAY
                           LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...JUST LOVE.

                





                                 
                        
              
                                       







                                                  

CARTA ( E.D. )

          PAPITO DIOS,
               QUIERO HACER ALGO CON MI VIDA, PERO NO SE COMO.
          SIENTO QUE EL TIEMPO PASA.  QUE YA NO ME QUEDA MUCHO
          POR RECORRER.  POR FAVOR, PON A ALGUIEN EN MI CAMINO
          QUE ME DE ANIMO, QUE ME DE FUERZA Y QUE ME HAGA CREER
          EN MI MISMA. 

               QUIERO HACER TANTAS COSAS BUENAS Y NO SE COMO.
          POR FAVOR, AYUDAME Y DAME LA ENERGIA PARA TRATAR.

               PRIMERO QUE NADA QUIERO DARTE LAS GRACIAS POR
          TODOS MIS SERES QUERIDOS, A QUIENES AMO CON TODO MI
          CORAZON Y CON TODA MI ALMA.  ELLOS SON MI VIDA Y LO
          MAS IMPORTANTE PARA MI.  SIN ELLOS NO TENGO ALEGRIA.
          ELLOS SON MI UNICA FELICIDAD.  SON LAS ROSAS DE MI
          JARDIN.
         
               PADRE,  CUANDO YO YA NO ESTE AQUI, POR FAVOR NO TE
          OLVIDES QUE DEJO MIS ORACIONES PARA QUE LOS  ACOM-
          PAÑEN SIEMPRE A CADA INSTANTE DEL DIA Y DE LA NOCHE.
          POR FAVOR, ALEJALOS SIEMPRE DE TODO LO QUE NO SEA
          SANTO.

               PADRE, DIME QUE HACER PARA SENTIRME COMPLETA.
          PARA SENTIR QUE MI VIDA NO HA SIDO EN VANO.

                                                   TU HIJA

                                 

       

              

ANOTHER CHANCE (by HELEN STEINER RICE )

                    HOW OFTEN WE WISH FOR ANOTHER CHANCE
                    TO MAKE A FRESH BEGINNING.
                    A CHANCE TO BLOT OUT OUR MISTAKES
                    AND CHANGE FAILURE INTO WINNING.

                    IT DOES NOT TAKE A NEW DAY
                    TO MAKE A BRAND NEW START,
                    IT ONLY TAKES A DEEP DESIRE
                    TO TRY WITH ALL OUR HEART.

                    TO LIVE A LITTLE BETTER
                    AND TO ALWAYS BE FORGIVING
                    AND TO ADD A LITTLE SUNSHINE
                    TO THE WORLD IN WHICH WE'RE LIVING.

                     SO NEVER GIVE UP IN DESPAIR
                     AND THINK THAT YOU ARE THROUGH,
                     FOR THERE'S ALWAYS A TOMORROW
                     AND THE HOPE OF STARTING NEW.

DO IT ANYWAY ( by MOTHER TERESA)

          PEOPLE ARE OFTEN UNREASONABLE,
          ILLOGICAL AND SELF-CENTERED;
          FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.

          IF YOU ARE KIND,
          PEOPLE MAY ACCUSE YOU OF SELFISH
          ULTERIOR MOTIVES;
          BE KIND ANYWAY.

          IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL,
          YOU WILL WIN SOME FALSE FRIENDS
          AND TRUE ENEMIES;
          SUCCEED ANYWAY.

          IF YOU ARE HONEST AND FRANK,
          PEOPLE MAY CHEAT YOU;
          BE HONEST ANYWAY

          WHAT YOU SPEND YEARS BUILDING,
          SOMEONE COULD DESTROY OVERNIGHT;
          BUILD ANYWAY.

          IF YOU FIND SERENITY AND HAPPINESS,
          THEY MAY BE JEALOUS;
          BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

          THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY,
          PEOPLE WILL OFTEN FORGET TOMORROW;
          DO GOOD ANYWAY.

          GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE,
          AND IT MAY NEVER BE ENOUGH;
          GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST
          YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.

          YOU SEE, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS
          IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD;
          IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN
          YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

                                       

                                      ****************