A National Prayer

Although I've been feeling depressed today, I realize it's because my life has become too outward and not enough inward.  I haven't been meditating or praying hardly at all because I have been so preoccupied with making art, or trying to make it.  However, that isn't enough to make me happy.  I need daily contact with God and my spiritual nature.  Creativeness and the spiritual nature are closely linked, but they aren't quite the same.  Art can become a substitute for religion, but I don't think it's adequate, which is why many artists go bonkers (i.e., Van Gogh), and why I've been feeling very depressed.  My two-bit analysis of Van Gogh is that he was a very religious man, but felt rejected by organized religion, so I think he substituted art for religion, but that doesn't work.  Finding something one loves to do, like painting, gives one some satisfaction, but not real happiness.  Being obsessed with art doesn't keep one from drinking.  I've always felt a very close kinship with Van Gogh.

This evening I walked to my local park and opened the book "The Prayers of Peter Marshall" and immediately read this prayer that I copied below. The part of this prayer that really hit home with me is the line about giving love to those who can't recompense you.  I think that's the hardest thing in life to do, and I've failed at it most of my life.  I've always dismissed people who can't give me anything back, or can ever have anything to offer me, even elementary kindness, after I feel that I've given to them.  In looking back on my life, I feel most grateful for the people, who when I was very young and empty inside with nothing to offer, helped me anyway.  Now in my senior years, I remember those people the most of anyone.

The Reverend Peter Marshall, Chaplin to the US Congress

I found the following prayer in this book of prayers by Peter Marshall.  It seems to me this is not only a good personal prayer, but it would make a wonderful national prayer for our country, the USA.  We need to show love to other countries and the people in other countries who can't possibly recompense us at all.  We seem to show the most love for countries who have something we want in return like oil or loans.  But, being truly Christian, means loving and doing for others who have nothing to give back.  Jesus acted that way.  He gave love and understanding to prostitutes and other low-lifes who are people who have nothing to give in return, but in doing so, he saved their lives.  By acting that way to other countries, the United States could help save nations.  Only by acting that way, could the USA become a truly Christian nation.  The dichotomy between our country's political environment and Christian values astonishes me.

Kirsten Gillibrand on Obama Announcing Support for Marriage Equality

Dear Gayle,

 In an interview with Robin Roberts this afternoon, President Obama publicly announced his support for marriage equality.

This is a historic moment in our fight for marriage equality. We’re getting closer.

It was not long ago that we passed marriage equality right here in New York. Now, with President Obama on our side, we can take this fight all across the country.

We know that President Obama is going to come under attack from some members of the far right. That’s why I hope you’ll join me right now in telling President Obama that we stand with him.

Polls show that the public is on our side. President Obama is too. But you can be sure there are some who will attack him for taking this stance.

We must keep up the fight. Marriage equality depends on it.

Thanks,
Kirsten 

Remembering the Rev. Peter Marshall

Because it's Sunday, this is my little Sunday School Lesson today for grownups.

Peter Marshall was a great Presbyterian minister, originally from Scotland, who rose to the position of Chaplin to the United States Congress.  Once you read his prayers, you can understand how he got this position.  It's unfortunate that he seems so forgotten now.  I found this book, in someone's trash, of prayers called "The Prayers of Peter Marshall," which seems very hard to find now.  His wife Catherine Marshall became a well-known writer in her own right.

The following prayer really hit home with me.  For one thing it's a little political, maybe because he was to give it before a room full of Senators.  It's also his very last prayer written before he died in 1949.  He died before he could deliver it, so it was delivered in the Congress by another pastor.

Deliver us, our Father,  from futile hopes and from clinging to lost causes, that we may move into ever-growing calm and ever-widening horizons. 

Where we cannot convince, let us be willing to persuade, for small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. 

We know that we cannot do everything.  But help us to do something.  For Jesus' sake. Amen.

This prayer reminds me of a frame of mind of some people I've met in life.  They only want to do really big things, things that they don't have the capacity to ever do.  However, if they would start with just small, everyday things, they would be such better and happier people.  It's not like all or nothing.  It's like let me God do something, just something, the scale isn't what is important.  You start small and build.  If you want world peace, start with yourself and your family.

The line "Where we cannot convince, let us be willing to persuade" seems to me that this could really apply to President Obama's present political situation with the Republicans.

I recently rewatched the old film on Cable called "A Man Called Peter," which was his life's story.  The film is worth watching because the sermons the actor playing him gives are great sermons.  I've never heard anything better.  They seemed great to me, because they related so much to my own life and problems.

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Kirsten Gillibrand's Letter Concerning "Your Boss is Not Your Doctor"

Update 4/16/12:  New Letter from Kirsten regarding Equal Pay for Women.  Go to my other blog "One American Mind."


The following is an email I received today from New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:

Dear Gayle,

Thank you so much for joining our One Million Strong for Women campaign. My colleagues and I started this campaign to mobilize a grassroots movement to push back against the right wing's unprecedented assault on women's health – we're so glad you've made your voice heard and stepped up to join the fight.

It's becoming clearer every day that this is the most important election ever for women's rights. As the attacks on women's access to basic health care continue, both nationally and at the local level, we must come together to fight back against these egregious overreaches. 

No boss should be able tell his employee whether she can take birth control or not.

As you can see from this infographic we've put together documenting the laws the right wing has passed, their assault on women's health shows no signs of letting up.

I hope you'll take a look and share it with your friends and family.

Again, thank you for joining this fight for women's health. As long as the right seeks to reduce women's access to basic health care, my colleagues and I will be standing strong against them.


It's good to know you're fighting right along with us.


Kirsten

This message was sent to gaylealstrom@gmail.com. To unsubscribe from the Gillibrand for Senate email list, please click here. PAID FOR BY GILLIBRAND FOR SENATE

Hiking in Staten Island's Greenbelt--My Photos

I haven't written on this blog for a long time because I've been writing mostly on one of my other blogs, Old Woman on a Bicycle.  The reason I've been writing mostly on that blog is that I've been spending all my time painting, going to art shows,  and doing photography, rather than reading.  Since, this blog, Gayle's Stream of Consciousness,  is mostly devoted to what I've been reading, it's been terribly neglected recently. However, I have started reading--mostly when I'm on some mode of public transportation--Summa Theologiae by Thomas Aquinas.  Undoubtedly, I will write a post on that great work eventually.  I'm also very interested in the current political scene which I write about on my other blog called "One American Mind."

I did take a lot of photos today when I went to my gym at the Greenbelt Recreation Center in Staten Island, to workout, which I try to do 3 times a week.  The Greenbelt in Staten Island refers to preserved land in Staten Island that is in its pristine state and that has never been developed and hopefully will not be.  The Greenbelt is home to many wild birds, small animals like various rodents, turtles, opossum, and also purportedly some deer, but I've never seen any except for deer-crossing signs.

Following are some of my photos from today.  Take in consideration that it isn't quite spring yet here.  What I love about Staten Island is that it has lots of rural places and beautiful old houses.


An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day....Henry David Thoreau

In wildness is the preservation of the world
....Henry David Thoreau 

Going to the woods is going home...John Muir

Spring Pond, Blue Heron Park, Staten Island, NY

In every walk with nature one receives 
for more than he seeks...John Muir

Check out my post "Staten Island's Great Nature Trails" on my other blog "Old Woman on a Bicycle."  Also, my other post "Staten Island's Blue Heron Park," about more great nature trails in Staten Island.

P.S.  I started a new blog called Staten Island: The Wild Side, which, from now on, will be the venue for my nature photography and any nature writing I may do.