Fireflies of Hope

Fireflies Poem

Hope will come to me like a firefly
In my hour of ebony fog,
Burning with luminosity
From nowhere else but God.

Excerpt from poem by, 
Gwendolyn Taylor Soper 4.10.06

Quote: Speak as if there were no tomorrow...

Speak as if there were no tomorrow
to take back what you said the day before.

~Quote from the French movie, "Mother" (588 rue paradis).

Poem: The Torchbearer

This poem inspired me so much during my eighteen months as an LDS missionary. That was almost thirty years ago. I'd written the anonymous poem into the back of my scriptures during my mission, and I read it so often that I had it memorized.

I'd not thought of it for a while until this week, when I said goodbye to my young almost-nephew, Ben Featherstone, before he left to serve as a missionary as well (our families aren't related but we are so close he calls me Auntie). I'd forgotten that I originally learned of this poem from his grandpa! His grandpa, Vaughn J. Featherstone quoted it in this talk in 1983.

The God of High Endeavor
Gave me a torch to bear.
I lifted it high above me
In the dark and murky air;

And straightway with loud hosannas
The crowd proclaimed its light
And followed me as I carried my torch
Through the starless night,

Till drunk with the people's praises
And mad with vanity
I forgot 'twas the torch that they followed
And fancied they followed me.

Then slowly my arm grew weary
Upholding the shining load,
And my tired feet went stumbling
Over the dusty road.

And I fell with the torch beneath me.
In a moment the light was out.
When lo! from the throng a stripling
Sprang forth with a mighty shout,

Caught up the torch as it smoldered
And lifted it high again,
Till fanned by the winds of heaven
It fired the souls of men.

As I lay alone in the darkness
The feet of the trampling crowd
Passed over and far beyond me,
Its praises* proclaimed aloud,

And I learned in the deepening twilight
The glorious verity,
'Tis the torch that the people follow,
Whoever the bearer may be.

[Author unknown, "The Torch Bearer," The Master of Men, comp. Thomas Curtis Clark (Freeport, New York: Books for Libraries Press, 1930), 205–6]
*the word "praises" has been substituted for the original word "paeans" in the poem.

"You Get To Be a Victim Once ~ After That, You're a Volunteer"

Sometimes we are all victims of circumstance. That’s just the way life is. Naomi Judd said, "You get to be a victim once and after that, you're a volunteer". That quote really got me thinking. How can a person accomplish the opposite behavior...becoming an "agent"; taking responsibility for positive and powerful thoughts and actions?

The power and responsibility to direct ourselves in within each of us. “It is not meet that I should command in all things,” saith the Lord. “Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.” ^[1]

When you have been harmed, suffered a loss, been tricked or swindled, become sick, been abused or attacked, or have noticed a person who has something you don't have, YOU ARE A VICTIM ...once...when it happened.

If you still feel like a victim a year later (or forty years later) YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERED for the position. It sounds harsh, but look at the behavior and thinking of a person with a victim mentality, and then look at it’s opposite ~ being an agent for yourself ~ taking control of your behavior and thinking.

What is a VICTIM?  A victim is

Come Listen to Living Prophets

  

Our church has a special world-wide meeting where living prophets speak to us about what we can do to make our lives more Christ-like. In case any of you are interested, you can log on to lds.org. The messages are translated into over 90 different languages.

Listening to these messages at this General Conference is my favorite part of Easter time. Each talk is a wonderful reminder that Christ is our Savior, that God loves us unconditionally, and has given us a path to find our way back to Him. The music is also very, very beautiful.

Conference sessions are held the first weekends in April and October. They are held Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. mountain time. 

Available in over 90 different languages: you can see archived general conference sessions in many languages. Click on a year, then choose April or October, then click on a message of your choice (to watch, listen, print or download).

Español: Haga clic aqui para leer or ver en español.

普通話:  點擊這裡閱讀或觀看在中國 

Français: cliquez ici pour lire ou regarder en français.

Português: Clique aqui para ler ou assistir em Português. 

русский: Кликните здесь, чтобы читать или смотреть на русском языке 

Deutsch: Klicken Sie hier, um zu lesen oder in Deutsch zu sehen 

Olive Oil, Eggs & Torta Pascualina: Symbols of Easter

Isn't Eastertime a joyous time? How could it not be? The symbols of Easter represent hope, immortality and eternal life. Some of those symbols carry over into many foods. Infact, I'm preparing to make my favorite savory Easter recipe next week: Torta Pascualina (meaning, Eastertime Tart). 

Olive oil, eggs and 33 layers of dough are some of the beautifully symbolic ingredients for this savory spinach and egg pie, which is very common in Argentina, Italy and Spain. Many countries have a long, long history of using the symbols of Easter in specialty foods which they make once a year. Torta Pascualina is one of them. I learned to make this many years ago when I was an LDS missionary in Argentina and I cherish the meanings the ingredients contain. 

SYMBOLISM of Olive Oil, Eggs & 33 Layers of Pastry:

Olive Oil & the Olive Tree: They are symbols of immortality and eternal life. If an olive tree "dies", new life springs from the base of the tree as budding shoots sprout. The tree eventually grows back to life again. This horticultural phenomenon took on mythical proportions thousands of years ago for the the Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. No wonder the olive tree is called "the king of all trees" in the Bible, which makes over 140 references to olive oil and hundreds more to the the olive tree itself.

The olive was so vital to the Greeks that Solon passed the "Olive Protection Law" in 620 B.C. This law carried a death sentence to anyone found guilty of

Family History Show: "Who Do You Think You Are?"

NBC recently aired their third season of this compelling genealogy show, "Who Do You Think You Are?". Each episode features a celebrity whose genealogy has been traced back several generations. As is the case with all of us, interesting stories are found!  Click here to choose an episode from people like Helen Hunt, Jerome Bettis, Reba McIntire, Blair Underwood and Marissa Tomei.

If you'd like to get on board and discover your own family history, go to ancestry.com, who partnered with NBC to create the show. Or, go to familysearch.org. I'm noticing that doing genealogy and family history aren't just for the older generation anymore.  I know so many teenagers and college students who are having a lot of fun discovering their own family history or helping others.  Who would have thunk it? 

Book: "The Cancer Conqueror" by Greg Anderson

The Cancer Conqueror is a very popular book among those who are recovering from cancer and for their loved ones. It is helpful for anyone who is discouraged and needs to feel more hopeful. You can buy a used copy here.  

The author, Greg Anderson, overcame metastasized lung cancer (he was given only 30 days to live), and wrote this book to share "how a positive attitude affects cancer and may even contribute to its cure". It is full of positive affirmations and information about the UNtrue things about cancer, and he focuses on the TRUTH about cancer.

Anderson says in the book:
Untruths [about cancer] lead to beliefs that result in despair.
With despair there is no power.
But the truths lead to hope.
With hope there is significant power.

The 3 Major UNtruths about cancer

1. Cancer means death
2. Treatment is ineffective and has bad side effects
3. Once you contract cancer there is nothing you can do to help yourself.

The 3 Major TRUTHS about those statements are:

1. Cancer may or may not mean death.
2. Treatment is getting more effective and side effects are less severe every day.
3. Once you contract cancer, there are many things you can do ~ especially spiritually, psychologically, and emotionally to help yourself. 

I got an email today from a friend of mine who has just learned that her lungs have stage 4 cancer.  It is a shock for everyone involved to find out news like that.  I know she will be okay.  

Six years ago I was in a clinic every day for two months receiving treatment for my illness.  There were many cancer patients there and they were all talking about this book. I bought it for myself to keep my spirits up (along with continued prayer and reading The Book of Mormon and The Bible).  I have loaned my copy of this book to many people with cancer, or other physical conditions, and they end up buying their own copy.  

Your Divine Nature: Remember Who You Are!

 

We often ask ourselves, "Who am I?", "Why am I here?", "Where am I going?"  Today I was reminded of the answers to those three questions by two lovely women who came to visit me. They are my Visiting Teachers (two ladies from my church assigned to visit me monthly to leave an uplifting message). I sure needed to hear their message today  ! The answer to these important questions are called The Plan of Happiness by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Who am I? We believe that God is our divine Father in Heaven, meaning we are His children, and that He loves us.  That knowledge is so meaningful to me. Why is it so difficult to remind ourselves every day of this? We are children of God, our Heavenly Father, yet we sometimes forget.  Can you imagine if we truly grasped the significance every day of this ~ our divine nature ~ how much

Easter: a Clear Reminder of Bright Hope

 

What "newness" can you experience this Easter-time?  Is there an old habit or an old belief that you would like to switch-out for a better one?  Even habits and beliefs have new-and-improved models. 

I love Eastertime.  It is a time to celebrate new life, rebirth, renewal and resurrection. What brighter hope is there than hope in eternal life . . . a life that springs eternal?  Easter is a time to open our eyes to the symbols of "newness" that surround us (all reminders of eternal life) like new baby chicks, new green buds leafing out, Easter scriptures and poetry, or ideas for making Easter eggs on Pinterest. It's a time to remind ourselves that we all get second chances to be new again.  I can't think of a better messenger than Jesus Christ to remind us of the new beginnings that WE can have whenever we decide the time is right to change and make ourselves a little (or a lot) better. This talk reminds me of that.

The next time you see a flower or tree that has just bloomed, a baby in a stroller, or a new cloud forming in the sky outside your window, remember:  you, too, can be new again through the atonement of Jesus Christ. A sincere prayer and the help of the Lord's Spirit will help you know what you need to do to feel re-newed. Your old thoughts, habits or beliefs can change with an immediacy that only the Lord can provide. Or, at least, a plan will come into your heart and mind on how to change with time and dedication. He wants us all to feel joy. His love is unconditional.

 

Poem: "Easter Reflections" by, Helen Steiner Rice

With OUR EYES we see
The beauty of Easter
as the earth awakens once more...

With OUR EARS we hear
The birds sing sweetly
to tell us Spring again is here...

With OUR HANDS we pick
the golden daffodils
and the fragrant hyacinths...

But only with OUR HEARTS
can we feel the MIRACLE of GOD'S LOVE
which redeems all men...

And only with OUR SOUL
can we make our 'pilgrimage to God'
and inherit His Easter Gift of ETERNAL LIFE.

[painting: "Christ in a Red Robe" by Minerva Teichert]

Happy First Day of Spring

SPRING 
(Gerard Manly Hopkins)

Nothing is so beautiful as spring --
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.
What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden. -- Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

 

For more Spring poetry click here.

Richard Peters Photography

Escape from Camp 14: Shin's Escape from a North Korean Prison Camp

"Hope is the poor man's bread" * for many people in the world today. 

For children and adults in today's prison camps, hope comes (on rare occasions) in the form of a few grains of rice or kernels of corn. Those found or stolen grains supplement their meager daily diet of corn porridge, pickled cabbage and cabbage soup. Yet, if the grains are found on a prisoner by camp prison guards it is punishable by beatings, often resulting in death, as in the case of a former female classmate of Shin Dong-hyuk who had five kernels of corn. She was only six years old. 

This remarkable article, "How One Man Escaped from a North Korean Prison Camp" in today's issue of The Guardian, tells the story of Shin, and opens our eyes to the condition of the people in North Korean prison camps. It brings new meaning to daily prayers when we say, "Please bless those in need".

The article, written by Blaine Harden is a preview for his soon-to-be-published book about Shin's journey, Escape From Camp 14. Shin is the only person to have been born and raised in a North Korean prison camp — and to have escaped to the West. He escaped in 2005. You can also listen to an NPR broadcast about it here.

In one touching account, when Shin was 13 years old, he was put in a tiny windowless prison cell and didn't see the sun for six months. He was being punished because

Edith Reed: 94 Years Old and Still Teaching Piano

Beethoven said, ‘I wish you music to help with the burdens of life and to help you release your happiness to others.’  

Edith Reed, piano teacher extraordinaire, and SUCH a person, says she tries to live by that philosophy and shared that quote when she was interviewed for this newspaper article. *  My daughter was fortunate to study with her many years ago, and considers Edith as one of the great influences in her life. 

I always loved sitting through her lessons and listening to Edith's wisdom as she taught.  Each week my children and I were guaranteed a magical moment: entering the iron gate to her garden which leads to her charming, small home. Her colorful and fragrant gardens make the Secret Garden look like a weed patch.

Edith managed not only to influence my daughter, but our whole family. How? Her wise words, the way she nurtures her beautiful home and garden and simply the way she lives her life. She is a treasure.

Edith graduated from Columbia University and also studied at Julliard. She has so much to offer and "for more than 60 years, she has offered free lessons to

Relax with Nature Sounds: 3-D Sound App for Your Phone

If you have trouble sleeping, or if you are stressed out or anxious, these über high-quality FREE ambient nature sounds may help you to sleep, relax, or reduce anxiety more effectively.

Naturespace audio has developed the most realistic 3-D nature sounds I've ever heard. The relaxing nature sounds seem to be above, below, behind, and all around you. It is available as a smartphone App, or you can listen to them on your speakers (available on iTunes). If nature sounds aren't as helpful for you, click here for other suggestions for audio sleep aids.

Naturespace "provides an audiophile-class listening experience to all headphone users, including earbuds...It is a truly profound new way of listening to the natural world". You listen to them, preferrably, with headphones. A few are suitable for speakers.  

The remarkable thing about Naturespace, versus other nature sound choices, is that the "3-D sound field is captured with accurate depth, distance, space and position". 

My twin sister told me about it last month when I was under a lot of pressure for many weeks to fulfill a challenging obligation.  Some days the stress was nearly overwhelming.  I got the Naturespace App and immediately felt more relaxed and the obligation I was working on felt much more doable.  I listened to it in the background for days. I still listen to it often simply because it is so beautiful and relaxing.

 

Positive Attitude: "I think I'll braid my hair today"

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
‘Well,’ she said, ‘I think I’ll braid my hair today.’

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
‘H-M-M,’ she said, ’I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.’

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror
and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
‘Well,’ she said, ‘today I’m going to wear my hair in a pony tail.’

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror
and noticed that there wasn’t a single hair on her head.
‘YAY!’ she exclaimed.

‘I don’t have to fix my hair today!’

[anoymous] 

Downton Abbey Fever

Downton Abbey, an immensely popular television series written by Julian Fellowes, has the UK and American viewers enchanted with it's humor and wealth of human predicaments like sibling rivalry and failed love. It has become the new "Upstairs, Downstairs" of our time, as it displays the lives of the Granthams, a wealthy English family, and the lives of their servants.  It has become the most popular drama in the UK in the past 10 years.

Who doesn't love a good film?  Cinema therapy proponents say that a well-chosen movie can help people deal with life's own ups and downs.  Downton Abbey, I think, falls into the lighter category of

"Lincoln's Great Depression" gave him tools to save the nation

Abraham Lincoln portrait, by Casey Childs

A new portrait of Abraham Lincoln caught my attention today.  When I saw the look in his eyes and the story his face tells, I put my head in my hands and got pretty teary.  It made me recall this poignant article about Lincoln from the Atlantic Monthly, written by Joshua Wolf Shenk.  Shenk writes, "Abraham Lincoln fought clinical depression all his life, and if he were alive today, his condition would be treated as a "character issue"—that is, as a political liability. His condition was indeed a character issue: it gave him the tools to save the nation."  

We all have weaknesses, yet sometimes it is exactly those "character issues" which lead to good things, even great things.

The closing paragraph of this article focuses on how Abraham Lincoln integrated his condition with his extraordinary contributions, unable to recover from his depression.  Shenk writes, "Many popular philosophies propose that suffering can be beaten simply, quickly, and clearly. Popular biographies often express the same view.

"Many writers, faced with the unhappiness of a heroic figure, make sure to find some crucible in which that bad feeling is melted into something new. "Biographies tend conventionally to be structured as crisis-and-recovery narratives," the critic Louis Menand writes, "in which the subject undergoes a period of disillusionment or adversity, and then has a 'breakthrough' or arrives at a 'turning point' before going on to achieve whatever sort of greatness obtains."

"Lincoln's melancholy doesn't lend itself to such a narrative. No point exists after which the melancholy dissolved—not in January of 1841; not during his middle age; and not at his political resurgence, beginning in 1854. Whatever greatness Lincoln achieved cannot be explained as a triumph over personal suffering. Rather, it must be accounted an outgrowth of the same system that produced that suffering. This is a story not of transformation but of integration. Lincoln didn't do great work because he solved the problem of his melancholy; the problem of his melancholy was all the more fuel for the fire of his great work." [Schenk, Lincoln's Great Depression", Atlantic Monthly, October 2005].  

Thomas Quasthoff: "The Voice" continues Teaching & Hosting Talk Show after retiring from the stage

Thomas Quasthoff, one of the world's greatest bass-baritones, recently confirmed his retirement from the world's concert stage after nearly 40 years (read about it here in an article by Norman Lebrecht).

Norman Lebrecht has said of Quasthoff, "He can shrink a 3,000-seat hall into the palm of his hand. His deep bass-baritone voice has a velvet quality that lends comfort to the mortal agonies he evokes in song. Visually, the striking thing about him is that he's just 4-foot tall with very short arms, the legacy of a drug called Thalidomide his mother was prescribed during pregnancy."

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau described Quasthoff as the "greatest male lieder singer of our time". Yes, but he is also much more than that. He is an examplar of what it means to follow ones dreams, no matter the obstacle, be persistent, and hold on to hope. I don't know how he would feel to be associated with terms like hero, role model or paladin, but that's what he is for me.

I had the honor to be on stage with Thomas Quasthoff in Boston Symphony Hall many times (he as a soloist, and I, as a choral member in the Tanglewood Festival Chorus). I recall an after-performance party with him at Boston Symphony Hall.  We had just closed our many performances of Britten's "War Requiem" and were celebrating. That very same evening he was also being awarded the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance (the year 2000). Someone obviously had to accept the award on his behalf . . . because he was with us (he loves the "War Requiem"). So, we gave him flowers. I suppose he got the best of both worlds that evening, the Grammy Award, and the unforgettable experience of singing Britten's "War Requiem" with Seiji Ozawa conducting. It was memorable for me to see Thomas Quasthoff talking and joking around after the concerts with maestro Seiji Ozawa and his fellow soloists, and later, leaving in his camelhair or cashmere coat in a limo. Hearing, and seeing him sing, was an unforgettable experience.

This sad news of his retirement from the stage has affected me deeply and given me pause to reflect on Quasthoff's influence on the whole human family. Everyone should watch this movie ("The Dreamer") about his life, or read this book about his life ("The Voice"). I've been reading it and highly recommend it.

Undaunted by his retirement from the stage, he will remain very active in the music world as he continues "to devote himself intensively to the next generation of singers by teaching, as before, at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin, as well as at international master classes" [Official press release].

He will also continue hosting his talk show series “Thomas Quasthoffs Nachtgespräche” (Night Talk). "Here he shows a different side of himself. Since December of 2011, the artist has been welcoming prominent guests from the cultural arena, politics, and high society to the Berlin Konzerthaus. At his next “night talk” meeting (on February 22, 2012), Mr. Quasthoff will speak with actress and director Katharina Thalbach about important phases in her life and the music that influenced her." [Official press release] 

I feel that Quasthoff has posessed on stage the rare ability to help listeners experience profound emotion when hearing him sing—emotions that couldn't surface, or had not yet surfaced, any other way, or emotions they didn’t know they could feel. He has become the embodiement of the songs he has sung. He has helped people to feel connected to the meaning of a song/poem, or even to the composer themself, and he has inspired countless people to follow their dreams and be true to what they have been given in life. 

Here is a special audio interview with Quasthoff where Norman Lebrecht speaks with him about "love, death, disability, relationships, hope and equinamity". 

***** 

"The Dreamer" movie trailer about Thomas Quasthoff's life, important career steps, and his dream to be an Opera singer on stage.

 

 

Schumann, 'Dichterliebe'. Verbier Festival 2007.

  

 

At the Jazz Festival Vienna (Wiener Staatsoper, 1 July 2008). There are over 250 Youtube videos of Quasthoff. This is one of his top 3 Youtube videos. 

 

 

Book: "In Pain We Trust"

Mother and son team, Vicki and Kevin Whiting, co-authored a book, "In Pain We Trust". Kevin Whiting (who learned much from his very long journey with pain and misdiagnosis) and his mother want to help sick or suffering people have better experiences in the health care system (which can be so incredibly hard to navigate!). The book is about patient advocacy and the power of listening. Over the holidays it shot up to #1 in its category on Amazon.  It is available for purchase here.

Kevin and his family have been through so much together (for years) searching for answers, suffering through misdiagnosis, and through Kevin's chronic pain and weight loss. Kevin was born with a rare intestinal compression (SMA Syndrome) that manifests itself in adolescence with what the doctors refer to as "cascading complications". Food simply could not, at times, make it past a blockage, making Kevin become more thin, making the blockage more pronounced. He is now eighteen years old and the pain is decreasing, but he is still very thin and trying to put on weight.

You can check out recent updates (or purchase the book from the distributor) at: vickiwhiting.com

The authors offer other ways you can help:

1. Use our book for your book club. A few groups have used our book for their book club and said it sparked great conversation.
2. Recommend our book for nursing programs, healthcare related degree programs, medical schools or patient advocacy programs. The book is being used in nursing programs. We can provide sample syllabi and teaching notes.
3. If you think of any conferences or advocacy groups where we might tell our story and share our lessons, let me know. Our recent presentation for a group of 200 healthcare executives was extremely well received.
4. Thanks! Our goal is to make healthcare better for all of us. Themore attention the book receives, the bigger impact we make.

 

The Symbols of Christmas

Madonna and Child, by Pomeo Batoni

My dear friend, Sherrie Mills Johnson, is a religious scholar/ teacher at Brigham Young University.  This month she is writing about the symbols of Christmas and their meanings ~ one symbol every day. You can read about them here. Her ability to deeply research and uncover details is helping me learn much more about how each symbol brings us closer to Jesus Christ. Understanding the meaning of Christmas little by little in this way fills me with a feeling of peace and gratitude for our Savior.

I've always loved the beautiful symbols of Christmas because they bring a much, much deeper meaning to this special time of year. We buy or make many of these symbols every year as a part of our celebration of Christ's birth ~ the tree (with the star on top), a wreath or the shepherd's cane (candy canes), among many others. My friend writes about other symbols too, such as swaddling clothes, frankincense, and the stable cave. 

Every Christmas my gift to myself is to search for extra ways to feel more connected to Christ at Christmas. I need to consciously make the effort to remind myself of his birth, life, mission and sacrifice for me...because there is so much that competes with Christ at Christmas time.  The symbols of Christmas, and their meaning, bring me closer to that feeling of connectedness, which fills me with gratitude and love for Christ and all that I have been given.  It feels good to realize that I can control what kind of meaning Christmas has for me. 

 

Nativity by Giotto Scrovegni

A Special Christmas Devotional: Focusing on Jesus Christ

"Christmas Wreath" by Everett Shinn

This year's annual LDS First Presidency Christmas Devotional was just what I needed to start off this special time of year. I try hard to keep things simple at Christmas time and to focus on being more grateful for Christ's birth and all that He did for me.  

The three talks can be watched here, "Of Curtains, Contentment, and Christmas" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Gifts of Christmas" by Henry B. Eyring, and "Because He Came" by Thomas S. Monson. They uplifted me so much.

The following video below shows the whole devotional, which includes the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing "Joy to the World", and "The First Noel".

 

 

 

 

"God Bless Us, Everyone !"

A Christmas Carol, Illustrated by Everett Shinn

Charles Dickens', A Christmas Carol, is arguably one of his greatest literary gifts to the world.  Dickens' poignant story of redemption ~ Scrooge's redemption ~ reminds us that there is hope for all of us.

Laughing and/or crying throughout the richly written story we watch the type of wonderful transformation that could happen to any of us.  

We see the emotional, ideological and ethical transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge...a greedy man who seemed hardened, indifferent, self-centered and past hope. Not only does he become a man full of goodwill and charity, but he overcomes his appalling lack of consideration for his fellow man and becomes a socially conscious member of society.

As truly exciting as it is to see Charles Dickens' heavily edited manuscript here (on display at the Morgan Library & Museum here), it is the theme of Dickens' story that endures; it has never been out of print since 1843.

If you haven't read A Christmas Carol in a while, nor seen the movie, perhaps this year would be a good year to do it!  Please enjoy the following charming

Quote: "Wait and Hope", by Alexandre Dumas

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world;
there is only the comparison of one state with another,
nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief
is best able to experience supreme happiness.
We must have felt what it is to die, Morrel,
that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life. 

Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart,
and never forget, that until the day
God will deign to reveal the future to man,
all human wisdom is contained in these two words,
'Wait and Hope.” 

~ Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo

"Fires of Faith" film series honors 400th Anniversary of the KJV Bible

"Fires of Faith: The Coming Forth of the King James Bible" is a new television historical film series you don't want to miss. It tells the story of how the most influential book of the Western world came to be (the Bible in the English language) . . . a surprisingly unfamiliar story, and how odd it was that most countries in Europe had a version of the Bible in thier own language, but England did not. 

"New York Times" Art Beats author, Neil Genzlinger, writes about it here. He says the series "mixes historical re-creations with well-chosen commentary by academics and religious scholars representing many faiths." It took three years to make this series, and you can read about the huge undertaking to create this project here.

This year marks the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. It's wonderful that BYUtv created such an important, and well-done series to cooincide with the event. 

It's occasionally rebroadcast on Dish, DirecTV and some cable systems. The series is also viewable online at the network’s Web site.

A Defense Against Alzheimer's: 4 Simple Spices

Keith Scott, M.D. teaches here that turmeric, garlic, rosemary and coriander are one of the only natural defenses against Alzheimer's Disease. 

Turmeric and coriander help your body get rid of toxic metals that may contribute to Alzheimer's, like aluminium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc. To get enough of these spices to fend off the disease, you may want to take them in capsules commonly available in health food stores. In addition, simply start cooking with these spices. Yum. 

Just thought you'd like to know!