Quotes

Fog

Quote | | Marie Griffith

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Creepy.”

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This is the very first photo I snapped on my iPhone. Let me correct that. It’s the first one I kept. The first shot wasn’t focused at all. I tried again and this was the outcome. It’s grainy, but that adds to the feeling of the photo.

One of the first things I do in the morning is look out the window. I was surprised at the dense, heavy fog that covered the landscape and I wanted to capture the scene.

Everything seemed quieter than usual that morning, muted. The bare tree against the foggy mist looks so lonely there.

Quote | | Marie Griffith

That an ape has hands is far less interesting to the philosopher than the fact that having hands he does next to nothing with them; does not play knuckle-bones or the violin; does not carve marble or carve mutton. The chasm between man and other creatures may have a natural explanation, but it is a chasm.

G.K. Chesterton in Orthodoxy

Quote | | Marie Griffith

Man must have just enough faith in himself to have adventures, and just enough doubt of himself to enjoy them.

G.K. Chesterton in Orthodoxy

To Do

Quote | | Marie Griffith

My weekly “to do” list is as long as it was on Monday.  I’ve checked some items off but added others. I have ongoing projects at work and my plan to complete them hasn’t happened. The business letter I need to write is only half written.

At home the garage is still unpainted and the new garage door opener hasn’t been installed.  My closet is still a mess and some of the pretty plants I bought to put in my front flower garden are still in the pots I brought them home in.

I did other things.  Things that aren’t on the list.

I cooked homemade chicken noodle soup for my family and helped my oldest daughter with her Geography homework Monday night. I planned to be in bed early but had a nice conversation with my kids instead.

The next evening, my daughters and I did a 2 and 1/2 mile walk on the country roads around our home.  We talked with the neighbors when we returned.

I ran into a friend this week and visited with her.  Played in the yard with my youngest daughter and the dog and stayed up late one night talking with my husband.

And something I rarely do….I watched a favorite TV show.  It was splendid.

Sometimes our plans don’t happen when or how we want them to.  It’s frustrating.  This week I chose to be flexible instead of staying irritated about thwarted plans.  With three kids, full-time jobs, and all the other things we have going on…..I have to.

I will check those things off my “to do” list eventually.  I have more important things to do first.

What if the choices you thought were small, were actually the ones that mattered?

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Satisfaction of a List.”

Quote | | Marie Griffith

“I had always believed that the world involved magic:  now I thought that perhaps it involved a magician.  And this pointed to a profound emotion always present and sub-conscious; that this world of ours has some purpose: and if there is a purpose, there is a person.  I had always felt life first as a story; and if there is a story there is a story-teller.”

G.K. Chesterton in Orthodoxy

Quote | | Marie Griffith

“Evangelicals are the kind of responsible citizens most Americans appreciate as neighbors but don’t want to spend much time with.”

Philip Yancey in the Introduction to Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton

More painful th…

Quote | | Marie Griffith

A post I read yesterday reminded me of how much time I used to spend thinking about what could have been.  In fact, I was a bit jealous when she talked of her carefree time in Europe.  I always wanted to travel.  But that dream was set aside because of the responsibilities of caring for my family, jobs, bills, and then caring for my parents.

I’ve spent way too much time daydreaming of things I could have done, places I could have seen or people I could have met.  What if I had taken that trip across the country, what if I hadn’t taken a break from my career, where would I be, what would I be doing…….on and on with more what ifs – major ones –  that I won’t mention here. While driving to work one morning, thinking again of what could have been, I realized it was stealing the joy of what is. My “what is” is a beautiful thing. It’s not perfect -it’s messy and painful and glorious all at the same time.  But it’s mine.

And this is what came from all of my wishing and thinking and realizing. Parts of the idea rolled around in my head for weeks until it finally came together and said exactly what I meant for it to say.

Thanks to http://onegirlsjourneytofreedom.wordpress.com/  for sharing her thoughts that inspired this re-blog of the quote from earlier this year.

More painful than “what could have been” is what could have been if I’d not wasted my time wondering what could have been.

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Quote | | Marie Griffith

The Christian season of Advent is a time of anticipation not for the harmless baby surrounded by lights and presents, but for the dynamic savior who is born into our midst in a way that must forever change us.

Jill Carattini

Quote | | Marie Griffith

If we are in this for the long haul, we have to take care of ourselves, support healthy habits, and encourage our employees to have fulfilling lives outside of work.

From Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull