Author Unknown

Have you ever heard of Author Unknown? Do you know anyone who has ever met him or her? Have you ever thought about how many centuries this individual has lived? (You think I jest!)

It is somewhat astounding to consider the number of truly profound and mostly inspiring poems written by this Unknown "character."

Here are just 3 Unknown thought provokers that I particularly enjoy -- especially at this time of year when our kindness and consideration barometers might be pushed to their limits.
  

Charity

There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it ill behooves any of us
To find fault with the rest of us.

Pray Don't Find Fault

Pray don't find fault with the man who limps
or stumbles along the road,
unless you have worn the shoes he wears
or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
though hidden away from view,
or the burden he bears, placed on your back
might cause you to stumble too.

Don't sneer at the man who's down today
unless you have felt the blow
that caused his fall or felt the shame
that only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows
that were his, if dealt to you
in the selfsame way, at the selfsame time,
might cause you to stagger too.

Don't be too harsh with the man who sins
or pelt him with word or stone,
unless you are sure, yea, doubly sure,
that you have no sins of your own.
For you know perhaps if the tempter's voice
should whisper as softly to you
as it did to him when he went astray,
it might cause you to stumble too.

High Resolve

I'll hold my candle high, and then
Perhaps I'll see the hearts of men
Above the sordidness of life,
Beyond misunderstandings, strife.
Though many deeds that others do
Seem foolish, rash and sinful too,
Just who am I to criticize
What I perceive with my dull eyes?
I'll hold my candle high, and then,
                                 Perhaps I'll see the hearts of men.

The Cohen Brothers Couldn't Have Scripted It Any Better

Note: Found this in my unpublished archives from 2 years ago --title included -- and thought it would be fun just to post my notes "as is"...Ho-Ho-Ho.

...we were fighting a series of events (catastrophes, disasters, tragedies...the usual stuff) - Christmas Eve Day - basement floods (Shirley's carpeted bedroom);

_early next day - kitchen floods (during prep of Christmas dinner), pipe falls apart, can't use sink, guest arrives (room in basement); 

_drank wine, ate dinner, drank more wine, dessert(s);

_next day - basement floods (again!?), Silver Grill for breakfast, still went to True Grit (escape!), say goodbye to guest, can't do dishes;

_next day, Monday - call plumber early, go to showroom to pick out new faucet, talk to plumber, kitchen out of commission until Thursday...

_and...I just came down with a little head cold, the sore throat kind. Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas.

_trying to figure out how to write all this with a humorous slant for my blog. I don't think I'm there yet.

Thinking of God at Holiday Time!??

Amidst the hustle and bustle and "Buy me!" of the holidays is not the time to be asking anyone how they feel or think about God. Why not? Because this is the one time of the year more than any other that, basically, is God-less. (I have my opinion...you may have yours.)

Guess one might say that sounds a bit calloused, but I simply cannot believe someone took a poll about "feelings and thoughts of God at holiday time," and wrote about it as if it is some sort of barometer on the subject for our country. Good grief!! Six months from now those same people will more than likely say something totally different. 

It's not that these people are hypocrites; it's just that buying more "stuff," out of our tired-economy wallets, brings out the darker side of our nature. (sigh...) Has anyone noticed!??


So...let's not stop and re-evaluate our priorities and values just now. And let's not stop long enough to hear, "Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus." Definitely, not.

Instead, let's just make it through all this hustle and bustle and "Buy me!" time of year without too much wearing-away of the edges, and see if we can spring into the New Year thanking God that we made it!!

Ho-ho-ho!! Merry Christmas!! :~))