Here it is the end of April and I've got nothing to say. Nothing. What is that to mean? Absolutely NOTHING. How many times are we caught with nothing to say? We sometimes use cliches like 'cat's got my tongue', being 'dumbfounded', to name a few. There are so many events taking place around me, but alas, I've got nothing to say. Some might say that I have said enough so far and that it's good that I've got absolutely nothing to say.

However, I beg to differ. I want to say something yet I think it's all been said. I am therefore content in calm contemplation of existential paradigms. There is a redeeming quality to this type of thought. It is a regrouping, if you will, a reflection just before I embark on a new venture. A reflection which will be based in an eclectic freedom. Bucking the status quo can sometimes be admirable and necessary. Necessary because if our great inventors, thinkers, writers and politicians, yes politicians, did not say no to the status quo, we would therefore not grow as enlightened human beings. Even physics has to be creative to produce invention. We should all learn from the study of quantum reality.

So, as I enjoy my time of repose in preparation to rejoin my cohorts and others, I must say again, I have indubitably and absolutely NOTHING more to say.

Keep this thought - Nothingness is only a state of mind.

"THE VOICE OF THE IRISH"

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

May the rain fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again,

May GOD hold you in the hollow of his hand.

from the Watts' kitchen on Downie Street

For many of us, honouring Saint Patrick occurs each and every day. We honour him in action, words, thought and heart. Patricius was born during the time that the Roman Empire ruled Europe. Kidnapped from his home in Roman Briton at the age of 16 by raiders, brought to Ireland and sold into slavery, Patrick finally escaped at age 22. Patrick came from a wealthy family who themselves owned slaves. Plus, the Irish at this time were known as the largest slave traders of the land, not to mention warring barbarians who took frequent rituals of human sacrifice. Druid paganism at its most extreme.

Interestingly, the title of this piece came to Patrick in a dream after he had returned home to Briton (was not spelled Britain until later). Six years of being a shepherd in captivity and no formal education, he began to study for the priesthood upon return to Briton. Ordained as a bishop at the age of 43, Patrick returned to Ireland to fulfill a calling he believed from Christ. His mission was to rid Ireland not of snakes as common myth would proclaim, but of the serpent symbolism of the Druids.

Consequently, Patrick procured protection from the Kings and began evangelizing to the Irish while setting up and establishing monasteries. As well, he ordained Priests. Whether or not he used the Shamrock to teach the uncivilized primitive Irish is a mystery. The Shamrock represents the Holy Trinity of three divine people in God, not what we commonly refer to today. Remarkably though, the Christian foundation he set up in the Irish Monasteries was the only literacy that survived the fall of the Roman Empire.

Saint Patrick showed ultimate courage, humility and forgiveness to return to the place which was the source of his pain. He was the first to speak out against slavery; his message was to include all. He held women in high regard and spoke of them as individuals, as Jesus had. During this time, women were merely servants of men and objectified in asceticism. Essentially, he defined Christianity as a celebration of God, creation and the natural world. This took a strong hold in Ireland due to the fact that the land had no Greco-Roman political baggage. It was still Catholicism, but not Roman Catholicism.

Christ will judge all other Nations;

Saint Patrick will sit in judgement of the Irish

Old Legend

By the time Saint Patrick died, slavery was to an end never to be revisited in Ireland. He is buried at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick of the County of Down. In the Annals of Ulster, his life began in 415 A.D. and ended March 17th 493 A.D. Saint Patrick revolutionized and created a road map for his successors to evangelize in distant lands.

I have always felt a familiarity with Saint Patrick. My great-grandfather came from Ireland to the east coast of Canada as a school teacher, roll-top desk and all. My family's religion has Catholicism roots in Ireland, and upon learning of Saint Patrick, folk lore passed on to me makes sense.

I must leave you, the reader, with a most profound prayer, words taken from the breastplate of Saint Patrick:

"Christ shield me this day:

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me."

Concluding then, every day is Saint Patrick's Day to some, but to all, everyone is Irish on Saint Patrick's Day.

Pondering a Thing or Two

"Well then," said I, "What is the private character of such men, as they show it even before they are rulers? Whom do they mix with? Either with flatterers who are ready to do anything for them; or if they want something, they themselves grovel and condescend to any grimaces of friendship - but when they have got what they want, they don't know you!"

Socrates, 469-399 B.C.

Human nature has not changed one iota. Humans have only become what one can characterize as more civilized...but that does not translate into changing human nature. Every day we bear witness to acts of kindness, greed, hate, love and envy. One's personal end game often is the result of a combination of these emotions that moderate one's behaviour. Some of us are stars and need no announcement; others crave to be noticed and will do anything for the end game.

SINGLE OR NOT

All of us, at least in Western civilization, contemplate the single life. Think of this...we are born alone...we die alone. As we grow up, our psycho-social being is inundated with a learned moral cognizance. Essentially, we learn right from wrong including that of social mores according to our ethnicity, religion, race and culture. From anthropological science to judeo-christian credo, we contemplate nature vs nurture.

So, I ask...are some of us meant to be single for life, married for life, hangers on or just quitters? I think it is an individual learned preference. Can one be described as a maximized individual if one prefers one's own company to that of others'? Or, in more specific terms, one may prefer to not co-habit with a partner of one's peers and still thrive on valuable intimate and casual communication. Alternatively, one may need to be in constant company of a partner and not want or need the company of any others.

In some cultures, co-habitation with a partner serves a practical purpose to keep the family line and/or race going for survival. In North America, we have a somewhat relaxed attitude. We are constantly putting our social trends to numbers to make sense out of how our mores and religious values have changed. We can't truly judge another human being for what style of life they choose to live.

Rather, we must celebrate their life...help one another when it is needed...all to appreciate the gift we have of existence to effect positive change.

KEEP GOING!!!!

How we lose track of time in the throes of everyday life's responsibilities. It is so terribly easy to not take note of the wonderful creations before us. Everything is a creation; from the smallest moments to the largest monument.

My youngest will be leaving the nest this year to embark on her very own journey. With hard work near completion, she will begin a new threshold to endeavour bigger and greater experiences and milestones. She has been grounded to keep it going, to turn it around, to relish all there is as she moves on. All that is bright awaits...celebrate!!

JUST FOR YOU

October 1st, 2008...Wow, soon it will be Xmas and .... 2009!!! Where did time go? What with our busy lives moderated by a progressive digital society...WHEW!

Regardless of what era we live in, WE HAVE TO STOP AND ENJOY WHAT AND WHO IS AROUND US!!!

All of us-each and every one of us-is connected. In a nutshell, those connections are what we are here for. Our connections to things and other beings define our soul...we are supposed to grow and learn from our experiences and interpretation of the world around us. Divine intelligence in its most basic form guides us. However, we become disconnected by allowing materialism dictate who we are and what the daily priorities should be. That is when we must remember to appreciate all that is part of our world.


**Just a thought for you to keep you going!!!**

Have a fantastic life and enjoy every minute of it

Election Nightmare

Well, it looks like the Canadian media once again is speculating about a federal election. Of course the speculation has its roots somewhere from the PMO. Not to worry though...the electorate is stupid and politicians count on this proven fact. For an event where people can make their mark to make a difference, their apathy is shown through low voter turn out. I mean, really...even if a person is undecided, it is no reason to not vote. One could have a brilliant epiphany in the voter's box and come out proud upon doing one's duty in expression of free choice.

Instead, we've seen the likes of Brian Mulroney (federal) and Mike Harris (provincial) take advantage of the voting process...and believe me, it wasn't hard to do. In this day where people don't feel that they can make the time to research political candidates, and instead rely upon media snippets, soundbites and politically endorsed messages, the entire process is usurped. The general public is told what to believe and on that belief vote for the most capable candidate. So the rest of us educated voters are left shaking our heads. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!! It only takes the better part of an hour to educate oneself properly on the parties and candidates.

In the case of Mulroney, can you now believe how erroneous it was that he was voted in. Clare Hoyt penned a book "Friends in High Places". Poor Mr. Hoyt shortly lost his job at the Ottawa Citizen due to his critique of Mr. Brian Mulroney. I still have that book. However, I didn't need to read any critique to know what kind of person was being elected in as Canada's PM. If there ever was a show of self-serving gluttony and kissing the derriere of our neighbours to the south, we seen it with Mulroney. Remember when he broke out in tune to "Irish Eyes are Smiling" at a stately dinner with President Reagan? Mulroney taxed us more, squeezed Ontario out of funding when Bob Rae was Premier and then made us watch his exceedlingly dripping extravagance. Imagine...fitting 24 Sussex Drive with plumbing small enough for his children to reach. An expensive job with taxpayer money. Well we shall see in the coming year how much flew out the window and what policies were changed to serve his and his friends interests. Let me be clear, these 'friends' are what got him into power and of course, he paid them back with political appointments and exclusive multi-million dollar contracts.

As far as Mike Harris goes, there is a public record of his time on the school board in terms of absences and other episodes that I will leave you, the reader, to research. Basically, the damage he did to Ontarians is still being felt. What with downloading costs to municipalites...that's a catchy phrase...people seem to forget that when that happens, the taxpayer pays double or triple now what they were before. THAT MEANS YOU AND ME!!! Mike Harris and his government of the day were all about creating crises out of thin air...and they succeeded because people bought it!... and we're sorry later. Before Mikey was elected in, I went around to as many people as I could to ask their opinion on the coming election. What aggravated me most was the response "I'm going to vote the way my family has always voted". LED SHEEP I could say more, but both of these men in power illustrated power gone amuk.

If one really wants a good example of a true Canadian statesman who made you feel proud to be Canadian, it was Pierre Trudeau. He's not the only PM of that calibur, but at least I felt that Canadian interests were protected and everyone in the country had a real chance at becoming prosperous. Policies back then were for the enrichment of the people.

Growing up, politics and the state of the world were ongoing conversations. Encyclopedias and dictionaries were always front and centre. As I grew up, I noticed not everyone had the same education that I had. One thing though. We were taught to keep our voting preference to ourselves, even from other family members...as it is an individual's right to vote with free conscience.

I'll be disappointed again next election. One, for voter turnout. Two, for grave inaccuracies and/or the convolution of facts.

Keep this mind. You know the way the crowd gets excited and cheers watching a game of sports? That's how some of us are on election night. It's because we are expressing our pride in being Canadian and knowing that we did not sit silent but more importantly, we used our democratic right for a say in how this country is to be run.