Medicine & Health
Different views around the world
Culture & Health
All ancient and modern cultures and societies had developed “health beliefs” to explain what causes illness, how it should be cured or treated, and who or what should be involved in the process. Although, “culture” is a term that appears frequently in the medical literature, it is typically used to denote “non-western” cultures. It is generally assumed, but not proved, that western industrialized societies, such as the USA, England, France etc., have principally the same view on diagnosis and treatment of illness, and at least similar rules for maintaining health, except maybe the “French Paradox”.
Medicine & Culture
Lynn Payer is the author of several books including her most important, Medicine & Culture. This book was first published in 1988, republished in 1995 and is still in print. Over the years we have shared copies of Medicine & Culture with many friends, family and clients. It is delightfully easy to read yet has many important things to say.
Medicine & Culture compares and contrasts the practice of medicine in the U.S.A., Britain, Germany and France. This is not a book about different health care systems, but rather a book about how doctors in the four countries diagnose and treat disease – and the evidence is that they do so very differently. To the layman at least, the differences are at worst scary and at best provide a dramatic illustration of how little medical care is really “evidence-based” and how much medical care depends upon fundamental assumptions about the body and disease which are not based on clinical research or outcomes data. What Lynn Payer made clear is that these assumptions differ dramatically from one country to another, that what is consensus-based medicine in one country would often be considered malpractice in another.
In his foreword to the 1988 edition of Medicine & Culture, Kerr White wrote that “only about 15% of all contemporary medical interventions are supported by objective clinical evidence that they do more good than harm.” In her preface to the 1995 edition, Payer wrote that this may have risen to 25%. Let’s be optimistic and hope that it is now up to 30%. Over the last two years Harris Interactive has conducted and published new surveys of physicians, large numbers of whom continue to practice medicine in ways which are neither evidence-based (where solid evidence exists) nor “consensus-based.”
Many people are surely unaware of how little diagnosis and treatment is evidence-based. They will find Medicine & Culture a true eye-opener – whether they live in the United States or anywhere else.
Therefore this article is devoted to reminding those who read Medicine & Culture of some of its contents and to encouraging those who have not read it to buy and read it.
Most of what follows are therefore quotations from Medicine & Culture, so that Lynn Payer can speak in her own words.
The big picture which emerges from Medicine & Culture is that doctors in the four countries practice medicine very differently because their national culture, history and medical training are fundamentally different.
Medicine & Culture
Varieties of Treatment in the USA, England, France & Germany
In the introduction to the 1995 edition Payer wrote:
“British, Canadian and American specialists in genitourinary oncology were asked how they personally would want to be treated if they had cancers. For locally advanced bladder cancer, 92% of American and Canadian specialists wanted radical surgery, compared to only 30% of British specialists. In the case of localized prostate cancer, 79% of the American specialists, 61% of the Canadian specialists, and only 4% of the British specialists wanted radical surgery.”
“Patients and doctors in England and America, while often taking opposite sides on the issue of whether it is better to do something or nothing, tend to see disease as something that comes from the outside. By contrast, Continental doctors and patients are more likely to emphasize weaknesses of particular organs or imbalances between various organs and/or systems.”
“French doctors will diagnose vague symptoms as spasmophilia or something to do with the liver; German doctors will explain it as due to the heart, low blood pressure, or vasovegetative dystonia; the British will see it as a mood disorder such as depression; and Americans are likely to search for a viral or allergic cause.”
“When psychiatrists from six countries tried to agree on who was dangerous, the overall level of agreement was under 50% for three-quarters of the cases considered, and the psychiatrists did not agree any more among themselves than did non-psychiatrists.”
“Not all French doctors are Cartesian, not all German doctors authoritarian romantics, not all English doctors kindly but paternalistic, not all American doctors aggressive. As with most caricatures, these pictures may be distorted, but they are based on truths found in the overall practices of each country.”
No doubt some of the many examples given by Lynn Payer are now out of date, but many differences surely remain. We are deeply indebted to Payer for making us aware of the different medical cultures, and we deeply regret that she will not be around to keep us informed.


The world began to cave in on me
as everything grew distant
stuck in a place I no longer wanted to see, I yearned for a touch that wasn't consistant
I would give my everything for that touch
even losing myself
just for my all to still not be enough
my words would no longer hold value
as there was nothing I could say
my thoughts became hopeless
like that of a lost child who thought to bust his gun was the only way
I begged to understand, my heart became numb
until I stumbled across something that was grand
no longer feeling deaf, blind, dumb
I found something greater than wealth
I was able to discover and understand SELF.
My dreams as a child were hopeless
as I confided in the beliefs of Satan
using me as his puppet, I was dumb as he always wanted
keeping me dumb because he knew I had more power
as long as he kept me blind
he continued to control my mind
praising him when in reality he was praising me
holding the truth from me as its been for thousands of years
until the sun suddenly shined and made sense
I then realized I was god
he no longer could control me because he already knew
I was just last to find out.
Written in hotel in the Mountains
As my isolated thoughts
turn to it's flourishing misery
I'd dwell in this beautiful estate
where those questions of origins
suddenly become familiar
as I could only imagine
true Kings and Queens
who spoke nothing but truth
on a quest for their words to be heard
suddenly robbed by thieves
living off animal instinct
using their power for greed
Balancing the evils and happiness of our fondest memories
How does one maintain solitude in a world of misery?
From the many animals slaughtered and force fed
To the mothers who lose their children from constant bloodshed
It is indeed the devils playground
How can one survive in a world where death and disaster is the only thing bound?
I know if god wanted to change this then he would
So I question if god truly understood
How one could live at a respectable distance from evil
When outside all u see is the struggling, lost souls of your people.
Living to Suffer
If the only thing promised is death
Then why are we living to suffer
Gasping for breath
Nothing lasts forever
This I know 2 be true
So am I living to see?
Or living to die
In exchange 2 be free for eternity
A man will die a thousand times
Before letting go of his pride
Wandering searching for the signs
We put pride first
And everything else we hide
Tough is what we have to B
Our life is trivial
Even a blind man would say he can see
Pride only hurts
And never brings tranquility.
In the corner of my heart
My loneliness sank
As if my soul ripped apart
With a mind that is blank
I see people enjoying one another
And I sit back and wonder
Am I a dead man being eaten by a crow?
do I exist?
Or am I just a shadow?
When my eyes close 4 me 2 rest
I lay in dignity
Knowing I did my best
May the frowns I've created
Turn 2 smiles
And the birds sing their song
Ever so beautifully, flying
for miles and miles.
Mountain of foundation
Sometimes I find myself lying on the edge of a mountain
in a quick glance this could all be over
I use this mountain as a shoulder to dry my tears
I travel this far to lean on it
cuz I know nobody is near
till the moonlight turns to sunshine
i'll lay here looking at the city in the distance
everything will be fine
as long as I show up to this mountain with persistence.
Dance with the Devil
When the sun goes down
she dances with the wolves
draped in her beautiful gown
when the moon appears full
she dances all night with a frown
Her hair is jet black
beautiful and pure
but confidence is what she lacks
she's a flower waiting to bloom
with a dark side that likes to howl at the moon
I hear sometimes she dances with the devil
and they share a lust for sin
but she's just special
he loves the way her hair blows in the summer wind
they say that's no good to be playin with fate
but here she feels free
when she dances on this estate.
Give me a sign
I need to talk to god
sometimes I talk
but I don't know if he listening
and maybe he mad
cuz sometimes I question his existence
I know I let him down
when I'm low
is the only time I come around
but I guess this is my way of showing
so where do we go?
after we sin
do we have time to grow?
or is it true that heaven got a ghetto?
Night 2 Remember
We stayed up all night
said a lot of words
we spilled wine
stains cover your white blouse
I could say I'm falling again
but I know this will not last
lets bathe in lust
and tomorrow live in the past.
I've seen a side of u that is heartless and cold
After all the time we shared
To think our memories would soon fold
And I'd see the day u no longer cared
My words would no longer hold value
Wishing I could just crawl into your arms
Forced in a place where I'm stuck
Your words now cause harm
Now everyday sucks
Because you chose to not give a fuck.
Sometimes I talk
Sometimes I don't talk at all
Sometimes awkward silence is better than noise
Sometimes I like to remember
and sometimes rememberin just aint no fun.
Fire of the unknown
The unknown is the biggest weapon of fear
the endless possibilities
a man with a gun
could scare god himself
Holding the fire of the unknown.
Days I longed for your touch or to hear your voice
it is now I rejoice
and turn the page from those rainy days
I was just a boy learning to be a man
and it is now I truly understand
to heal all wounds
before the damage spreads rampant
u are the dream I always imagined
I know this because I didn't realize at first when it happened
I thank u for all the joy and the pain too
because through it all it lead me closer to u.
I know how it feels to die
my eyes once gleamed at the sky
back when I felt alive
my heart lingers to feel joy like hollywoods fame
all I've lived is a life filled with pain
quick to look for someone to blame
instead of looking in the mirror
which is the cause of all this rain.
all things come to an end
then I rather just be
to prevent what could have been
and deep down I know they do
so it'd tear me apart
to stare at u
knowing we r promised to be apart
I would care 4 u 2 dearly
to leave u with a broken heart.
2 go crazy
I'd go crazy
tossing and turning for days
longing for peace in my mind
that night I drove miles just to see u
I promised to hold u like it was my last
trying to forget what's in the past
but u said things
I would never say to u.


Further on my exploration of self. A quote struck me as rather poignant:
“When we think of experience, we have this internal concept of a controller of the experience, an experiencer, but this is a fallacy. We invent the experiencer because it helps us process the experience. When really, the experiencer is part of the experience.”
I find matters of phenomenology incredibly hard to describe to people…it feels as though words themselves are in the way of an explanation. This seems to be the reason Heidegger is so difficult to read as well.
I am a Programmer.
Well actually I prefer Software Developer.
But I don’t just build software. I work in an advertising agency. So I like saying “I work in advertising”. A little mystery, a little bit exciting.
But, I’m just a programmer.
My mind has difficulty, feels guilt, shame, and other things when I try to think of myself as something else. Why is that?
Why has my mind become so attached to this label “programmer”. Why do I see it as a central pillar of my identity. Sure, I’ve done a lot of it, and I’m fairly knowledgable in some areas… But I also walk lots, I never think of myself as a “Walker”.
But everyone walks, just like everyone breathes, no one builds an identity on commonalities. It has to be on (perceived) uniqueness. I’m a programmer who works in advertising… that’s pretty rare (relative to walking). But why do I need this identity? What does it offer me, other than the safe confines of a pigeon hole?
Perhaps it’s societal, if I didn’t have a neat line to describe myself, it makes me awkward. Strange. Tedious? I become that guy at the pub not holding a drink, or the one who showed up to the dinner without a collar. Is identity really that shallow?
I think objectively, yes, it is that shallow. I don’t want to be part of the herd of humanity. I’m special, different… This is the loose end one ends up when they rise too high on Maslow’s hierarchy.
Just by having the concept “Self” I’ve immediately split the world. There is me, and then there is that which is not me. We are trained since childhood to have this concept. It permeates our thinking in everything we do… It is nigh impossible to think of the world sans the concept of “Self”. But it is just a concept, like any other, the world and its contents would continue to exist without it. But how does one describe such a world? A world of no-self?
I’m not sure if it applies to other industries, but I’ve found in my industry (software/technology). There seems to be a huge obsession with self improvement, specialisation, and continuous learning.
You will often find software developers who live and breathe particular technologies/languages/operating systems. It’s quite amazing to meet these people, because they are a wealth of knowledge.
But there is of course a downside to this world. People who don’t actively learn new technology, are silently frowned upon. Viewed as apathetic, lazy, or having jumped the shark. This attitude ignores the fact that it is impossible to stop learning, even if you aren’t reading the latest tech book, or experimenting with a new deployment methodology. You are still learning.
There is a place for both, active learning, and passive learning. If you focus too much on one, you seriously lack in another.


The character of Gaston Lagaffe returns after 30 years of absence and the disappearance of its creator Franquin, who, however, did not want his hero to survive him, announced the Dupuis editions in Angoulème as part of the International Band Festival drawn.
The Belgian publisher, celebrating its centenary, entrusted the series to the Canadian Delaf (Marc Delafontaine from his real name). The Return of Lagaffe, a 48-page classic album and the 22nd installment in the series, is out October 19. The print run equals the fame of this sweet, idealistic, lazy and inventive anti-hero: 1.2 million copies.
†It’s taking a risk. Even if it means relaunching the series, we told ourselves there was no point in doing it with a small arm. Because he is one of the most emblematic characters of Franco-Belgian comics. If we hadn’t, he wouldn’t have many more years of fame ahead of him, because most comic book heroes who don’t find a sequel just disappear.“explains Stéphane Beaujean, the editor-in-chief of Dupuis.
Legendary characters such as Asterix, Lucky Luke or even more recently Corto Maltese, relaunched by Casterman Editions in 2021, experienced a rebirth after the death of their creator. The choice for Delaf was imposed after the publication in 2017 of a tribute to André Franquin, The Gaffe Gallerywhere the sign drawn by the Quebecer readers had been struck by the mimicry with the work of the Belgian designer (1924-1997).
†This tribute to Delaf imitated Franquin perfectly, everyone said so. It is therefore the return of Gaston in his canonical character, closer to the original version. We made the choice to resuscitate Gaston in his golden age, the 70s, which is the most appropriate choice to bring a hero back to life.“, has explained Stephane Beaujean during a press conference at the Angoulême International Comics Festival.
Franquin’s 21st and final album, Gaffe to Lagaffe, dates from 1996. The launch was printed on 900,000 copies at the time. The character was the subject of a film adaptation in 2018, Gaston Lagaffe, which greatly displeased Franquin’s daughter, Isabelle. †I am helpless witness of the disaster“, she had said to the Belgian newspaper The future†
Isabelle Franquin also opposes this revival of the comic strip, with respect for her father’s wishes. But she can’t stop it. †Franquin has spoken out publicly several times that he does not want Gaston to be taken over“and Isabelle Francin”verbally to“, recognized Stephane Beaujean. But, he added, the rights to the character belong to Dupuis, under a contract of which “the clauses specify that recovery is possible†
The publisher also announced the end of another emblematic character of the house, Spirou, on the occasion of an issue 56, The Death of Spirou† †Spirou, our ambassador, accompanied us during our first century, and he will give way to another hero“explains the editor-in-chief of Dupuis. It will always be a groom accompanied by Fantasio, soon to be featured in Spirou magazine. Dupuis editions have been owned since 2004 by the French publishing house Média-Participations.


When it comes to visiting a new place for the first time or revisiting a place which has been a part of your precious memories, travelling remains unparalleled. But there is more to it than to spend quality time with loved ones and enjoy one’s self on vacation. There are other benefits of travelling that many people often overlook.
One of the key benefits of travelling is the individual finding and keeping humility. Too often, people get wrapped up in their monotonous lives. They become self-absorbed to a point that their work life starts affecting their health, their happiness, and their perspective.
Travel reminds people paying attention to the fact that they are but just a drop in the ocean of humans all around the world. French novelist Gustav Flaubert has rightly substantiated this fact in his own words –
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
This is quite a humbling experience – to go to another geographical location and see large numbers of peoples living differently, and coming to understand how large and diverse the crazy world actually is. When people who learn return home, they keep with them this perspective for the rest of their lives, developing a new and humble perspective.
Travelling makes a person adventurous, to live life to the fullest, to take the most of this precious gift of life and use the time they have to discover new things, meet new people and experience a completely different life – away from the tension of meeting the project’s deadline and how the boss will react to it. They live outside themselves.
To conclude, travelling is beneficial for a person of any age. It not only helps people to form a better understanding of themselves, their beliefs and their lives, it also provides people with a better understanding of the world in which they live, even if it’s beyond their immediate environment. By visiting a new place, a person crosses path with so many lives, meets and greet so many unknown and new faces, uncertain if they’ll ever see each other’s faces again. This is a whole different level of refreshing experiences one needs to have in life.
Eon Club gives you the opportunity to create such memories with its different, yet affordable membership plans that are bound to make you feel special. The luxury we provide, the customer assistance we give remains unparalleled. The long menu of various destinations is definitely going to take your breath away. Eon Club ensures that travelling is actually fun for its customers, providing them memories for a lifetime.


October 31st 2007:
The relationship between a man and a woman is, from my experience(s), a mish mash of awkward moments, stimulating conversation and intimacy.
Sometimes none of it makes any sense...and other times it makes perfect sense. Either way, you enjoy the ride and want to stay on or you don't and want to get off.
It is something that everyone has to, or at least should, experience - even just the once.
© Rachelle Hull 2007


Whether you’re married, single, have kids or not, life will always throw things your way that can distract you from your relationship God. For this reason it’s important to take time to examine your life and your walk with God every so often.
It’s important to ask yourself, am I getting closer to God, or am I drifting away?
If you find yourself drifting it’s very important for you to examine why and work on getting yourself back on track because the further you drift the harder it will be to get back on track and you will end up falling away from God.
I know for me, the pandemic that we’re going through right now has really made me fight for my relationship with God without the weekly fellowship that I was accustomed to with other Christians.
The reason I’ve had to fight is because I had a routine that helped me stay tuned in with God that all of a sudden was disrupted and upended. With that I haven’t been praying and reading as consistently as I need to.
So I stepped back to examine what I could do better.
I’ve had to create a new routine even if it meant reading one scripture a day to keep my mind focus on the spirit and not the worries of the world we live in. Because it’s so easy to become overwhelmed with how broken the world we live in is right now. Whether it’s the pandemic or even social injustices that minorities continue to battle with on a daily basis.
One scripture that I’ve been meditating on is one that’s been helping for a long time now and that’s Matthew 6:25-34.
“25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
I know it’s easier said than done when someone says “don’t worry.” But God desires for us to trust him and rely on him because stressing ourselves out isn’t worth it. We have a father in heaven who will care for us.
Another scripture that helps me is James 1:2-8.
“2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
God also allows us to go through tough times to help us grow. Growing isn’t easy and will hurt.
As I close out, I wanted to share a song that always encourages my soul. It’s called “Your Love Never Fails” by Jesus Culture. You can watch it below.


Today's youth often choose to tattoo the image of the Valkyries for the beauty and sophistication . Not many people have the idea that it is a powerful symbol of the sacred Slavic , having Scandinavian origin .
Valkyrie connects a main qualities that are needed a real warrior . It's an honor , wisdom , generosity , and justice .Valkyrie symbol bears shelter warring for their family and land. Valkyrie smooth out the negative aspects of the war , taking care of the balanced spirit of the soldiers . But Valkyrie does not carry only the meaning of peace . It represents a human right to protection of their foundations . Valkyrie as a tattoo has a value of militancy and strength.Valkyrie became known thanks to the mythology . The myths describe the beautiful and brave maiden . They honored the soldiers who fought for their land and faith . Valkyries were in the retinue of the god Odin . They carried off the souls of dead warriors to his castle and there waited on them during the feast . Each Valkyrie was responsible for a certain time of the fight.
It was believed ,Valkyries that affect the fate of a man from his birth . Valkyries were lovers of the great warriors - Velenda , Siegfried , Helga . In the Middle Ages , at the time of witch hunts , women often recognized Valkyries , ie witches .
Initially, these mythological virgins considered ominous spirits of military battles . Valkyrie ,flying over the battlefield on behalf of one spot - to live or to die a soldier . Later Valkyrie became referred to as romantic and beautiful creatures with golden hair and a snow-white skin . They often fall in love with the mortal heroes. Over time, the Valkyries are increasingly endowed with destiny and appearance of real women ,who lived in Scandinavia at the time.
Among the soldiers there was a belief that if you pray to the gods and to go into battle is fair, maiden , Valkyrie takes brave men died on the appointment to the god Odin . Help of Odin carried away from the field only the most worthy battle . Those who were not awarded their attention, forced to live in the underworld in the ordeal and agony.Part of the myth presents us flying on the wings of the Valkyries . Other legends say about Valkyrie , rider , riding horses are out of the clouds . That is why the wings of the Valkyries is so popular in the tattoo to represent .
The world has learned about the Valkyrie thanks to the monument of ancient literature , " Elder Edda " . In the poem each Valkyrie called by name,which defines its character and essence. Translated all these names linked with militancy .
In the Anglo - Saxon legends of some Valkyries come from noble families , who are elected by the gods . Other virgin descended from elves . Girls prefer a tattoo in the form of the Valkyries , reading the German epic "The Song of the Nibelungs ."In one of the parts of the work describes the punishment Sigrdrivy Valkyries , who dared to go against the will of the god Odin . One Valkyrie plunged into a deep sleep . Upon awakening maiden he lost immortality and become an ordinary woman .
For girls Valkyrie - a tattoo , which stands talisman , strengthening spiritual strength and helps unlock the potential.
If you like the idea of beat tattoo Valkyries can find sketches on the Internet or browse the albums in the tattoo parlor . The skilled artisan skillfully draw you liked tattoos .


Guilded Age: Volume I
This is it-- the full-scale FIRST VOLUME of the mind-blowing fantasy epic! All pages by T Campbell, Phil Kahn and Erica Henderson, including a special NEW STORY from Byron the Berserker's early days, which could only be called "Entitlement!" This book, the product of more than a year of hard labor, is a thing of beauty. Enhance your life with it. $19.99.


To help others meet their spiritual needs, first start with being conscious of how you meet your own. You might already be aware of how you meet your spiritual needs, or you might not have given it much thought. To help you get started, here are examples of how I meet my spiritual needs.
First and foremost, I follow the Golden Rule to treat others as I would like to be treated, and the Q'ero practice of Munay, which is to love myself and others as we are. I connect with nature every day to remind myself that my body and everything here is temporary, to nourish myself with life energy, and to experience awe and wonder.
I practice the Great Principles of many of the world's great spiritual traditions: I do my best to bring no harm to myself or others; I honor my agreements and am true to my word; I don't steal; I use the life force within me wisely; I give more than I take and am fed by both the energy of what I've given, and the energy of what I receive; and I practice loving kindness toward myself and all beings.
I inwardly chant the holy names of God, listen to them in the form of music and kirtan, and dance to them whenever I can. I celebrate Life by trusting it and letting my heart be free of worry. I express my gratitude for Life many times every day.
I believe that Creation is not finished and that human beings can and do participate in Creation's unfoldment. I enjoy contributing my part. I open my receptivity to the Seven Sacred Directions to hear God's guidance for me. I align myself with that guidance, then accept full accountability for how I've chosen to follow it.
I use the Medicine Wheel as a map to guide my evolving consciousness so that I can be a healed / whole person; living my life fully and meeting my needs in ways that honor shared resources. I share my energy where I mindfully choose to contribute.
I do a breathing practice that brings me to conscious awareness of my connection with Source and fills me with life force and insight. I will share that breathing practice with you later in this course.
Through these practices, I meet my needs for love, purpose, meaning, and alignment with Life. I do my best to practice continually, but sometimes I forget. As much as I can, I consciously observe the effects on myself and others when I am meeting my spiritual needs, and when I am not.
Now it's your turn. What are your spiritual needs, and how do you meet them? I invite you to record where you are with this question today and put a date on it. My guess is you will find it interesting to revisit again down the road.
In my experience, after you have become aware of your spiritual needs, the next steps are to practice connecting with Divine Love and working with that energy.


Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis – Short Story
Watch Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis – Short Story watchanime Online free in HD.
Other name: 【神撃のバハムート GENESIS】 Short story, Rage of Bahamut: Genesis – Short Story
Plot Summary: The short movie, labelled “Short story #1,” focuses on Favaro and Kaiser between the events of the first and second series. It features Megumi Hayashibara as Favaro’s mother. An episode 2 is planned.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Demons, Fantasy, Magic, Supernatural


I could not allow then to defeat ne again. Not this tine! fit first, I thought it worked. I no longer felt emptg. I could finallg feel the emotions I had lost for so long. I knew how this timeline would end. I used what was left of mg power to fulfill mg plan. П complete RESET? Hmn. I wonder what happened to that lonelg little flower? I had some water for hin in case he was thirstg. I knew exactlg what needed to be done to rekindle that power. I quicklg realised I did not twist fate. Mg adult form was as weak as a flower. The human had tainted mg soul... \'V >!f □
UNDERTfllL op be loved written by Jasonaf ex & Illustrated by Kabler Taking me in on such short notice? The sane caning, beautiful mother I have always loved. Oh dear. Mg son has not only returned to me, but he has matured into a gentleman! Although I am concerned I of gour... exposure? My child, I thought I had lost you forever! I’ll never let harm fall upon you again. Vou must be starving! Veah well, I’m back now! Oh right... Clothes! Vou could probably fit into one of my robes. There’s no time for that. Is something wrong? Let me help gou! I had a feeling you would say that. My appearance here is no coincidence mother. I brought myself to this exact moment, because you are in danger. In danger!? Of what? human. Uh, flsriel? This is my bedroom... Would you not like to see the rest of the house before sleeping? That can wait. И-mother? Gosh, it’s been so long! I almost d-didn’t recognise you after all this time! Don’t you remember your own son? Vou may as well come out. I know you are there. Was it you who harmed my garden?
UNDERTfHL op be loved written by Jasonaf ex & Illustrated by Kabler I never reach flsgore. The human has a power that I lack, the determination to SAVE. I am doomed to reset dazed, bare and confused. Countless attempts to increase ny OVE have reduced my time from days to hours. A w X v i X My time here is very limited. Soon, you will encounter the human that brought me here. They will break your and you will forget we ever met. Га .1 That OVE needs not come from determination, but compassion. That’s what has given my soul new life. I know now that to break the cycle, 1 need you to show as much compassion to me as you can before this all resets. Rsk what you need of me my child, your mother will comply. v Timid affection such as hugs and kisses aren’t enough to satisfy my compassion within the time I have left. Vou likely already know what we need to do. Vou will need to be prepared to make some sacrifices to fill the void in my heart. you don’t mean... That’s right. In ways father could only dream. That is of-course, you would rather I fade away forever? / / r
UNDERTfllL op be loved written by Jasonaf ex & Illustrated by Kabler Is this the first tine you have asked this of ne? v Rm I doing a bad job? That’s a good start, however you need to get nore into it. Try sucking ne to the best of your ability, or else it won’t be genuine compassion! There is Tittle tine for doubt, mother. 7 I can’t say I’m very experienced in that... / Vou under-estimate yourself, stay deternined! Why not fondle my balls while you’re at it... 7 £ ь \ Very good, it’s starting to work! r \ \ 4 О s Better go all the way, just to be sure! \ Mppphhl! Ho pulling away, swallow it all! \ / Vou had so much, I swallowed all that I could. What happens now, did we break your spell? A
UNDERTfHL op be loved Almost? My heart surges with new vitality. I must reach climax again before the human arrives? A This soon? Do you not need rest? written by Jasonaf ex & Illustrated by Kabler And risk a reset? Strip off your clothes, dance for me to restore ny vigor? ft Dancing? Naked?? If I must... Do you really think I’m attractive enough to make you hard again that quickly? У Vou still seem a little soft... Keep swaying those hips, then you can come find out for yourself. Two blow jobs in a row bores me. Vou’ll have to do better than that. Why the hesitation mother? Do you not feel our hearts racing? It has been so long... and with my own son? rc Is that doubt I hear, or curiosity? It will be our little secret. \ Li s
UNDERTfllL op be loved written by Jasonaf ex & Illustrated by Kabler Do those thoughts excite you, mother? I want that feeling again, cum inside met Vou definitely take after your father. I haven’t behaved this risque in years! & /^4 I Sex with mg s 1 bed he was cor on on the same iceived, Oh mg... Rhhhht... Vest Keep it coming! I have missed that feeling, I have missed you. What happens now? ь * 1 I must return to my own timeline, now I can Y 'Ld n restore my full power and break the barrier. Spreading peace L_ among monsters and humans. Just as you’ve always wanted! Will I not see you again? Don’t worry, I have a feeling we will be seeing each other sooner than you think. Because having sex with you didn’t affect my power at all, it’s all just for show. I’m milking this adult form for all it’s worth! \ T >1 1 ПЛ/ХЛ+ + U L 1 11 reset t won’t remembei this time arou he day and you ^ a thing. I think ind, I’ll try anal.
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One thing that will definitely stand in the way of manifesting what we want on the physical plane is holding a grudge. I get it: You’ve been wronged. It was unjust. It hurt. You want the other person to acknowledge their mistake and say they are sorry – or pay with a little pain of their own… But it is a rare moment, indeed, that people will take ownership of someone else’s (your) feelings and lamenting over the upset only acts as an energetic block in that area of your life.
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha
You know this. You know that forgiveness is not consent for the mistreatment and that forgiveness has to do with freeing yourself from the pain. But sometimes it feels as if we just can’t let go. We replay the abuse over and over again in our minds and struggle with shutting off our negative thoughts and feelings. In such situations, ritualized forgiveness may help finally release you from the agony.
Schedule a quiet time when you will not be interrupted. Write out a letter to the person who hurt you. (It is preferable to do this by hand.) Allow yourself to go ahead and let out whatever you feel you need to. Be angry. Cry. Anything goes.
When finished with the letter, fold it nine times, making the folds away from yourself each time.
Prepare the candle by dressing with the essential oil. Ignite the candle and hold the paper over the flame, saying:
I forgive [person’s name].
I give my pain to the purple flame;
I release it and feel it no longer.
[Or whatever similar wording resonates with you.]
Ignite the paper and allow it to burn in a fireproof container.
Sit and meditate in front of the candle, imagining that as the wax melts, so does your anger and pain. This spell should be seen through to total completion, allowing the candle to melt all the way down until it extinguishes itself, so it is encouraged to select a smaller-sized candle. Once the spell is complete, scatter the ashes at a crossroads or in a cemetery.
It is my sincere hope that all who read this find peace. ❤
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Launch of Michael Cavanagh’s Works
Best of luck to the Michael Cavanagh Society which is launching its 400-page book of Michael Cavanagh; His Life and Selected Writings at the Community Centre on Saturday, November 27th at 8.30. The book will be on sale for a special launch price of €15 on that night only, and will be available in local shops and through the Civic Link website, www.cappoquin.net after November 27th, and we hope through other outlets. All proceeds are going to Bunscoil Gleann Sidheain and we hope everyone who can will support the launch of this high quality hard-back production of the writings of Cappoquin’s literary son, and support our school into the bargain. Full details are given in a separate article.
This week’s picture
From the wonderful collection of Eddie Fraher, this week’s picture shows a Cappoquin Gaelic football team lining out for a championship match, probably at Lismore. The state of the hairstyles of some of the known protagonists suggests that this dates from the second half of the 1950s. More interesting still is that among this group of junior footballers are the holders of at least four All-Ireland hurling medals. Enjoy figuring that one out!


From Ashes To Life
May I speak in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The themes of the liturgy and the readings of Ash Wednesday are powerful and important - that dynamic and profound mix of repentance and forgiveness. I hope that each one of us in this service tonight will feel the promptings of the Holy Spirit in different ways - we may feel conscious of a particular sin, or amazed by an experience of grace - we are all in different places on our spiritual journey, we have different personalities - but if we are open to the Holy Spirit, we will not go unaffected by tonight's service- there is truth here, healing here, grace here, an opportunity for repentance here.
For some repentance may have a harsh ring. Some of us have grown up with a sense of God's condemnation ringing in our ears. Some of us have drunk too deeply from the well of unworthiness and not deeply enough from the cup of grace. Others have been too drawn into our modern culture's ideas of our own self-importance - we've bought into the 'me-generation' and our own brilliance.
Most of us are a complex mix of both.
It's incredibly hard to get the balance right between acknowledging our sin and knowing we are forgiven. We are either too hard on ourselves, or not hard enough. Ash Wednesday is a day when we try to get the balance right. Reboot the system - be open to repentance, be open to grace.
We come here tonight, at the start of Lent, to mark Ash Wednesday - which is essentially a day of penitence in the church - a day where we humbly say sorry to God for all the things we've done wrong - we confess it in front of each other, as brothers and sisters, knowing we are all in the same boat. We all mess up. We all let ourselves down. We all have weaknesses, secret sins, things we don't like about ourselves, things that don't want to acknowledge in front of others - that's the reality of being human - and so when we say the liturgy of penitence together - we say it acknowledging our individual and corporate weakness and frailty. And there is something so good about that. Away from the 'bravado' of keeping up appearances, we say to each other and to God - I messed up - I need forgiveness, I need grace, I need your strength to be your disciple, to be a better human being.
And we might think this would feel hard, or like a punishment, or like a colossal 'being sent to the headteacher' - but it doesn't. And it surprises me every time that it doesn't. Telling the truth about ourselves to each other and to God - unlocks something up in the economy of salvation (the way God works in our lives to save us) - and what we experience is not a colossal telling off, but rather grace and forgiveness.
Even before our words are uttered - grace comes with love and wholeness and forgiveness and freedom - and a lightness in our spirit. We find ourselves at peace and aware that we are known and loved by God.
This is the experience of the woman caught in adultery. Jesus doesn't condemn her, or judge her - his actions are healing, strengthening, protective. He doesn't shout, he doesn't stone, he doesn't ignore, he doesn't hate, he isn't self-righteous, but he does call the woman to live a better life. He doesn't do this through judgement - but by the gift of his presence, his love, his holiness and his grace - so that when he says - "Go your way, and from now on do not sin again." she would have felt his pardon and peace, giving her the inspiration to live a different life.
We encounter Christ like this (perhaps in a smaller way, but no less significantly) in worship, in prayer, in the scriptures and in receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion. We are suddenly startled by his grace and called to new life.
But we could also be startled by his grace and anywhere and everywhere - God's grace is not trapped in church - we can sense the Holy Spirit on the bus, out on a walk, at work, with the people we love, all alone - he is there beside us, calling us into new life - calling us to be his whole-hearted disciples.
This six week period of Lent is a time when we intentionally focus on our spiritual lives - in order to be even more aware of God's presence in our lives. It's a period of abstinence and self-denial. A period of almsgiving. A period of spiritual preparation - in readiness for Holy Week and Easter.
That is not about spending 6 weeks with ash on our forehead - in repentance. That is rather about receiving that grace and forgiveness on Ash Wednesday and then committing to 6 weeks of spiritual focus - intentionally focussing on our spiritual lives - to grow and deepen who and what we are as Christians.
Fasting can be part of that - perhaps we give up chocolate, alcohol, meat, social media.
Silence can be part of that - perhaps we get up 10 minutes earlier, watch less TV, switch off the radio, and use the additional silence to sit in God's presence.
Gratitude can be part of that - perhaps we take up a practise of ending the day by prayerfully writing down 3 things we're grateful for.
Isaiah challenges us about the kind of fasting we should be about - he brings God's word to us: calling us not to be hypocrites or self-focussed, but to fast in a way that brings the values of God's kingdom into play - justice and peace, love of neighbour, serving and helping others :
"Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
How might you live that kind of fast this Lent? At work are there ways you can loose the bonds of injustice? How might you let the oppressed go free? These are huge themes - global in proportion - but there are oppressed people all around us, hungry people, lonely people, vulnerable people - can our lives be seasoned with the love and grace of Christ - be lived in such a way as to bring hope to them?
Think about the next 6 weeks. Think about what Lent will be about for you.
But know that you are loved by God, forgiven in Christ, touched by grace and sustained by the Holy Spirit. You are not ground down by unworthiness or shunned from God's presence. You are beloved children of God. Live worthy of that calling. Amen.
(Sheridan James - Ash Wednesday 2017)
The Liturgy of Penance
|Holy Week & Easter Calendar|
|Big Bill Chip-In|


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Self Care in These Trying Times
Many folks have asked me what I am doing to be ready for the Coronavirus and how am I dealing with this threat. My answer is both simple and complicated because with viruses I believe in a 3-S way of dealing with this virus, "Shield, Sword, and Stand."
Shield: My shield is made up of of washing my hands and immunity boosting herbs, like elderberries, astragalus, codonopsis, lemon balm, vitamin C and D, and raw honey. My shield is fresh chemical free foods, sunshine, fresh air, laughter, gratitude, and my prayer filled energy field.
Sword: My sword is herbs like ginger, thyme, oregano, fresh garlic, Reishi mushrooms, elderflowers, chamomile, colloidal silver, yarrow, Cordyceps, and mullein to help alleviate the symptoms for when and if it strikes in my community or family. My sword is also my willingness to say no to anything that I choose not to be healthy. My sword is orgasms because orgasms boost your immune system, relieves stress, and it releases certain organic compounds within our bodies that are greatly beneficial for us in times like this. If y’all don’t have a clean safe partner it can be a DYI project.
Stand: My stand is my refusal to be afraid, but to be aware and cautious. My stand is the same as my ancestors when they faced invisible and seemingly indestructible monsters, to protect my loved ones as well as myself to the best of my abilities. My stand is to love this life and those who are in my life like tomorrow is not promised. My stand is fear will not dim my gratitude for this life experience, because I can not decide how and when my life will be over but I can decide how I embrace each day and every challenge.
This coronavirus is ancient yet new and it is not the only crisis our world is facing, but within every crisis we are given a dangerous opportunity to change and or recalibrate our lives. Let’s choose to face this monster with sacred love, understanding, compassion, wisdom, and remembering we are all in this together. So much love and so many prayers for health and blessings are being sent from my hearth to yours in these strange and stress filled times. Breathe beautiful souls for this too shall pass and together we can heal our world and our bodies and souls.🌱💕🦋
About the Author:
Debra is a Homesteader, a natural farmer, a family and community herbalist, mother of three, grandmother of nine, and a great grandmother to one. Now she teaches gardening, preserving the harvest, seed saving, along with her Women's Empowerment group and her individual coaching sessions 0n Healing ourselves and our generational trauma, Rewilding, Renewing, and Reclaiming our ancestral wisdoms to help us raise a healthier more loving future, and Wyldwood Wysdoms. Connect with her on Facebook at Wyldwood Herb and Farmacy, Wyldwood Wysdom FB group, The Apothecary at Wyldwood. Email: email@example.com


If you have seen the movie “Forest Gump,” you will remember the scene where Forest begins to run. He runs…runs…runs…and runs some more. Along the way, he gathers other folks who begin to run with him.
And then…one day…suddenly, and without warning…he stops. Stops cold. And with no explanation, he turns around and reverses his journey. In some sense, he had to run, but in an equal way, he had to stop–to stop now. Abrupt, but a necessary clean break. For to keep running would only take him farther and farther away from home.
Forest’s experience mirrors those of historic reformers–men and women who ran in a particular direction for a long time. And then…the Spirit said, “Stop! Stop now!” We are here because of their willingness and courage to do so. We are here because they listened to the Spirit.
I believe (as others do) that we are in another period like this–in a time when God is calling the Church to another great emergence, but one that begins with God saying, “Stop! Stop now!” I believe that a fresh Wind of the Spirit is blowing, and God is challenging us to raise our sails and move in the power that the Spirit provides and with the guidance the Spirit gives.
But before we can hear God’s “Go!” we must first hear God’s “Stop!” It comes to us in one word: repent. The word (metanoia) fundamentally means to change. It includes the confession of sin, but it is broader than that. Essentially, God’s call to repent comes to us in this question, “Are you willing to look at life in a new way?” It is the question God is asking us, individually and collectively, right now.
If you received a “For the Bride: Inevitable Vantage Points” post last evening, it came by mistake. It is actually scheduled for November 14th, and fits into the stream of writings at that point.
It has been moved to that date, and you will see it again in its proper time frame. So, stay tuned for the reprise of the post. It will make more sense in its correct location.
Don’t let the word throw you. It simply means to rotate, spin, or dance in some kind of coordinated fellowship. Gregory of Naziansus (late 4th century a.d.) is believed to be the first to use the term in relation to God, but theologians over the centuries have either used the term or the idea to talk about the nature if God as Trinity. Jurgen Moltmann and Miraslov Volf are two contemporary theologians who do so.
Another one to use the idea is Leonard Sweet in his book, ‘So Beautiful.’ Sweet unites theology and science through DNA, the helixical nature of life as two distinct entities rotate /spin in a coordinated fellowship around a third fixed axis.
As I have pondered this complex idea (and without the expertise of scientists and theologians who can go far deeper than I can), I have found myself increasingly fond of it. On the scientific level, the perichoresis of DNA may hold promise for tangible evidence that bears witness to the divine Being–something the late physicist, Victor Stenge, said could not be found in creation.
But I have to leave it to the geneticists and astrophysicists to figure that out. For me, perichoresis opens me to the realization that life is a dance, and with that primary image I can go on to think of life in terms of things like meaning, joy, goodness, purpose, etc. I can be in a place to hear God say, “Let’s dance!”
Read: In Over Our Heads
One of the things I like most about Brian McLaren is that he makes me think, without ever demanding that I agree with him–which, ironically makes me more likely to agree with him. But even when I don’t, I do not feel judged the way I do when I read or relate to those who position themselves as so “right” that anything other than agreement is “wrong.”
I start in this way this week because I have not studied the role of stories in ancient cultures enough to be able to track his presentation as carefully as I would like. Like McLaren, I have struggled with God and God’s actions in some of the Old Testament narratives–and I (again, like McLaren) have done so as early as the Great Flood story, especially (as both Genesis and McLaren note) that it does not solve the problem of sin in the human race. Hmmm.
But rather than try and make all this fit together and make perfect sense, and do so in the span of one chapter of the book, I take away the importance of reading Scripture in order to get the Bigger Picture that may not emerge in respective details.
For example, why does God send a flood to deal with a problem the flood itself does not solve? Even Genesis doesn’t tell us, so I surely don’t require McLaren or myself to know. Instead, I think McLaren leaves us facing in the right direction this week–facing in the direction of a God who takes sin seriously, deals with it decisively, but does so with the last word being “redemptively.” Even when we cannot make sense of some details, these ancient stories tell us that God is always at work to effect goodness (as per the repeated word in Genesis1) on the earth.
I have intentionally entitled this week’s post with the title of Philip Yancey’s new book that will be available on October 21st.
I find it interesting that this highly-esteemed and long-respected writer has concluded that our problems have increased in the Church as grace has decreased. I look forward to learning how he describes our peril. He has always been a valued mentor, and I expect that he will be again.
But we do not need to wait for Philip Yancey to speak up. The Bible already has, the Spirit moving Paul to write, “where sin increased, grace multiplied even more” (Romans 5:20, CEB). And what we take away is the clear revelation that when the level of grace is higher than the level of sin, there is hope! It is only when grace vanishes that the Church ceases to be the Church.
As a Christian in the Wesleyan tradition, I recognize Wesley’s desire to see Methodism be a grace-filled community–a united society of people who interpret theology in relation to the story of grace, calling that story an order of salvation.
We are in a confusing time–in a time when calls for the increase of grace are rebuffed by mistaken allegations that such calls are “soft on sin.” But the fact is, the restoration of grace–the reversal of vanishing grace–is not peddling cheap grace; it is the proclamation of amazing grace! Grace is the key word God expects the Church to use in understanding its nature and its mission.
If we view orthodoxy as a single point, our ego will easily convince us that we are standing on it. Other points will necessarily be judged as closer to, or farther from, the truth.
But if we view orthodoxy like a circle, our ego has to yield that the point where we stand is but one vantage point on the circumference of an array of perspectives. What holds us together is the Center, Who is God.
And it appears that God has used upwards of four thousand years of Judeo-Christian history to create and place multiple vantage points on the circumference. In Christianity we broadly speak of them as Roman, Orthodox, Protestant, etc. And within each cluster, a wide variety of segments further represent orthodox belief.
This means that church is plural, not singular–at least theologically speaking. It means that God has distributed truth rather than putting all of it in one place. And recognizing that, we see that the call is to come together with the truth our vantage point contains, offer it, receive what others have to offer, and find the glory of God in the community, not the individual–the greater Light in the candlelabra, not the candle
Read: The Drama of Desire
One of our formative experiences is to begin with original righteousness, not original sin. The first two chapters in Genesis show us, however briefly, what God intended, and how the world is supposed to be.
It was a world of congruence, with each dimension reflecting the glory of God and fulfilling the purpose God had in mind. It was a world of beauty and harmony. Far from being bland or boring, it was a place where desire existed. The communion between God and humanity was one of joy and fellowship. Ordered in relation to God, our desires were passionate, pleasurable, and proper.
And then….sin. Summed up in the single word ‘egotism.’ Desire for God deteriorated into humanity’s craving to be gods. Our orientation shifted from God-glorification to self-gratification. And if two or more people are on this path, there will eventually be blame and rivalry–the collision of egos. And that is exactly what we see in Genesis 3 and following. There can only be one ego in charge where sin prevails.
And so it has been ever since. Whether the one ego is personal or corporate (e.g. “group think”), there is only room for “me.” The originating sin produces a host of things–all having to do with the exaltation and preservation of the false self.
McLaren rightly weighs into this by emphasizing that the problem is not eliminating desire, but rather restoring it to the place that it had before the Fall. The God who desired to make the world desires for us to desire to be co-creators in the ongoing making of it, and to do so on God’s terms, not ours.


I work with people across the Wellington region from many backgrounds and situations to enable a fitting ending for a loved one.
Never easy, managing the sometimes emotional rollercoaster that accompanies a loss of life, can challenge many families as they prepare for a farewell ceremony. There is much to think about and for lots of people, help to construct a meaningful rite of passage may smooth some of the heart ache that is part of significant loss.
- Contact me to check availability and see if I can meet your needs. If so,
- Meet together with as many of your family and others close to your loved one as you think best, to develop a meaningful ceremony. After firstly acknowledging your loss, we will talk about your loved one and what you as a family want to say and do – who needs to be involved, who wants to be involved, when and where you will hold the ceremony; giving tributes, sharing images, videos, mementos, special music and anything else that will help reflect on the life of your loved one.
- Draft the ceremony and send to you for accuracy, changes and/or additions.
- Ensure you see the final draft before the funeral date.
I acknowledge, respect and understand the emotional impact we experience when a loved one dies and respect the privacy and confidentiality of all people involved.
I will ensure documentation is accurate and will conduct the ceremony in a professional and ethical way. I will arrive at the ceremony at least 30 minutes before to ensure everything is ready and in place.
- O’Donahue John Benedictus A Book of Blessings. Transworld Publishers. (2007)
- Sturm J.C Dedications. Steele Roberts Publishing. (1996)
- Agnew Pinky Lifesongs. Readings for Milestones. Random House. (2006)
- Johnston Andrew Ed Moonlight. NZ Poems on Death and Dying. Random House. (2008)
- Touching Hearts
- Good Reads
- Hospice readings


BIRMINGHAM FOOTBALL | A SEASON UNDER THE LIGHTS
For the Carter family, character counts
Patriots linebacker close with his coach father and adopted sister.
By Ramona Shelburne
It took about three days for Brandy Rainey to size up her new brother.
Having lived in 14 foster homes in her 13 years, she had gotten pretty good at getting a quick read on people.
She already loved and trusted her new foster mom, Diane Carter, who had offered her the first real home and family she had ever known.
Her new brother, Donovan Carter, looked a bit intimidating though. He was a year younger than her, but he was already big and thick in that football player way.
If he never opened his mouth, he could have ruled the schoolyard. But as soon as he did, Rainey could tell they were going to get along just fine.
“He found out that I liked to write poetry, so he said, `I’m going to write a poem for you,” ‘ Rainey said, already starting to laugh. “His poem was something like, `The sky is blue, the grass is green and sunflowers grow in the sunlight.’ It was kind of stupid. But he was so sweet. He came into my room, stood up on my bed, read that poem and I just fell in love with him.
“I know some people might think he’s intimidating, but he’s definitely not.”
Tell that to anyone the UCLA-bound senior linebacker has tackled on the football field.
Birmingham of Lake Balboa teammate De’ Von Flournoy got a little taste of Carter’s ferocity in practice once.
“I was supposed to block him this one time,” the Patriots junior wide receiver said. “But when I came across the middle and saw him running at me, I just ducked out of the way. I didn’t realize how big he was until then. It was scary.”
It’s hard to blame Flournoy. Carter is a chiseled 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds.
He tackles like he’s trying to knock your teeth out and would not feel all that bad if he actually did.
Sometimes, when a player has this kind of reputation on the field, they cultivate that persona off the field, too. Not Carter.
If anything, he seems to make every effort to diffuse his fearsome reputation. He dresses unpretentiously in shorts and a T-shirts, gives teammates rides home from and seems born for
the role of class clown.
“He’s like two different people, on the field and off the field,” Birmingham senior safety Okechukwu Meke said. “On the field, he’s real serious, he never says a word. Off it, he’s such a clown.
Said Carter, “I’m never serious. You have to make me really mad to get me to be serious. It’s just how I am.
” If he has a weakness, Birmingham coach Ed Croson said, it is that sometimes he takes a little too much time to switch off the silly part of his personality.
“In a lot of ways, he’s still a kid,” Croson said. “It’s always a game to him. It’s always fun. Some guys are like that. That is how they play. But when he blends that with becoming a man, he is really going to take a huge jump. UCLA really got a steal when they got him, and he is not even close to as good as he is going to be yet.
“The thing is, when you get the final analysis (in recruiting), great athletes are a dime a dozen. So it becomes about character and Donovan has that from deep inside.”
Croson has seen enough players like Carter pass through his doors to know you can’t push them too hard, too fast. If you make football too serious, they will start to hate it. Or worse, they will lose that fearless edge that makes them so good in the first place.
His father, Donovan Sr., came to the same conclusion a few years earlier.
He coached his son until high school. He pushed him hard, he disciplined him. If Donovan goofed around too much at practice or in the classroom, his father would make him wake up at 5 a.m. and run laps at the park before school.
“I’d tell him, `You’re going to do up- downs until you’re too tired to talk so much in class.’ I’d be all Sergeant Carter with him,” his father said. “But I kind of quit getting on him a few years ago. You can only say the same things to him for so long. He needed to hear it from someone else.”
He knew his son had the talent to be as good as he wanted to be, and he was going to make sure he had every opportunity to fulfill that potential.
Donovan Carter Sr. was an All-City fullback at Westchester High in the mid-1980s but finished his senior year with a naive belief that the college recruiters would somehow find him. When the phone never rang, he served in the Navy for six years, then went to work. Pretty soon afterwards, he started coaching Pop Warner.
When young Donovan got old enough to play, it was obvious he could be a star. He played every position on the field and mastered each one.
The football gene runs strong in the Carter family. His cousin is Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis. His uncle is Allen Carter, a running back who played for USC and the New England Patriots.
The Carters’ Northridge Knights teams of the mid-1990s became legendary, with future stars like Dayne Crist (Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks), Chris Potter (Oaks Christian of Westlake Village) and Milton Knox (Birmingham).
But when his son went to high school, Donovan Sr. stayed behind with the Knights. He still coaches them three nights a week, though he’s never earned a paycheck for it.
“My dad and I are really close,” Carter said. “He’s always been there for me, with school, sports, everything. I don’t think he’s ever even missed a game. He’s hard on me sometimes, but I know it’s just because he wants me to have what he didn’t have. … and when it comes down to it, whatever I do, in the back of my mind, I want to make my parents proud.
” Because of their Pop Warner ties, the Carters are close with a number of players and families around the Valley. Donovan is generally regarded as a nice kid who never stops joking around.
His sensitive side, the side his sister fell in love with the day he read his childish poem, only comes out in drops.
“I don’t want people to know I’m too nice,” Carter jokes.
But for Rainey, now 19, that’s the only way she’s ever seen him.
“Before I came to live with (the Carters), I’d never had a family or a home. But they just made me feel like part of the family right away,” she said. “Donovan was the best little brother I could ever have. I don’t even know how to put it into words.
“He seems a little intimidating, just looking at him. But he’s not. Looks are definitely deceiving with him. He’s always helping people, giving them rides, making sure no one’s feelings get hurt. He just wants to keep everyone happy all the time.”


Weight loss on sarms, ostarine
Weight loss on sarms
The men were randomised to Weight Watchers weight loss programme plus placebo versus the same weight loss programme plus testosteroneand placebo plus placebo plus testosterone. They were tested for weight reduction and fat reduction in a group dieting for at least 12 months. The outcome variable in study 2 was mean weight and fat loss as assessed by anthropometric measurements, how to train on sarms. Results At baseline the mean age was 41.1 (8.0) years, and the BMI was 23.7 (5.5) kg/m2. No significant group differences were found for the main weight loss measures (body mass index, waist circumference) between the weight loss treatment arms. At post-baseline testing, the men on Weight Watchers had the lowest mean weight loss (5, loss sarms weight on.0 kg) relative to the men on placebo (5, loss sarms weight on.9 kg), loss sarms weight on. For body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference were not associated with weight and fat loss measures after adjustment for potential confounders [adjusted ratio of weight loss to BMI (weight minus waist circumference)/BMI = 0, weight loss after sarms.93 (p=0, weight loss after sarms.19); adjusted ratio of weight loss to waist circumference (weight minus circumference)/BMI = 0, weight loss after sarms.94 (p=0, weight loss after sarms.24); adjusted ratio of weight loss to total body weight (weight minus total body length)/BMI = 0, weight loss after sarms.75 (p=0, weight loss after sarms.16)], weight loss after sarms. Intervention and follow-up characteristics are shown in Table 1, weight loss sarm. After 12 months, the placebo group had significantly lower body weight (3.3 kg), BMI (BMI=24.2, mean=25.1) and waist circumference (BMI=21.0, mean=19.3). There was no difference between the weight change in men on Weight Watchers and men on testosterone or placebo. There were no significant differences between the men on Weight Watchers and the men on testosterone or placebo concerning age, sex, body mass index, waist circumference, body weight or fat reduction during weight loss (Table 2). In addition, there was no significant interaction between weight loss and testosterone, weight loss and BMI and weight loss and serum total testosterone and total testosterone, or sex. Body weight loss was not significantly different between the men on Weight Watchers and the men on testosterone or placebo, after adjustment for body weight and all other potential confounders (Table 3), ostarine. Conclusion The results from this study suggest that long-term Weight Watchers weight control program is significantly more effective and more effective than an exercise intervention in reducing weight and increasing fat loss in men with obesity.
Sixty elderly men were put on various Ostarine dosages for 3 months, and it was found that simply taking 3mg of Ostarine per day led to an increase in muscle mass by 1.4 percent. This was a significant effect that would not have been possible if they had taken the drug for extended periods. So, why did the elderly seem to get more muscle mass, weight loss using clenbuterol? One hypothesis is that they were eating more protein and getting more amino acids to build muscle. However, a study by Volek et al, weight loss with collagen peptides. suggested that the elderly could have increased protein intake by taking Ostarine in the morning on an empty stomach with a meal, weight loss with collagen peptides. They found higher protein levels for the elderly after taking Ostarine, even with no meal, prohormones vs sarms vs steroids. So, there could be a placebo effect on how much protein is required for the elderly to gain muscle mass. L-Arginine If you are a normal person and you are able to get a lot of calories, why aren't you going to gain muscle? Because if you don't keep a daily calorie intake, you don't gain weight, weight loss on clomid. L-Arginine is a water molecule that helps in the absorption of sugars and amino acids. In a study by Gorman et al. they gave subjects a meal containing 35 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent fat, and 35 percent protein. The researchers found that the L-Arginine had a greater effect than the placebo, weight loss with collagen peptides. Some studies suggest that when you are on a high fat diet, the ingestion of L-Arginine will make it easier for you to maintain your weight loss and may prevent you from gaining weight. L-Arginine may also help prevent the symptoms of low glycogen that most people feel when they go on a low carb diet, weight loss using clenbuterol. It has been shown that adding low amount of L-Arginine in the diet can help to combat the decrease in the levels of glycogen in the blood after a long fast and after exercise. When you take L-Arginine you also get some other beneficial effects from the amino acids that you are taking, such as improved growth hormone and IGF-1, weight loss pills like clenbuterol. N-Acetylcysteine Researchers from Australia studied the effects of N-Acetylcysteine on skeletal muscle metabolism and found that N-Acetylcysteine would increase the expression of two enzymes, mTOR and Akt, best sarm for shoulder pain. This increase in Akt protein expression, however, would also help to prevent the loss of muscle mass.
If you are having difficulty Losing Weight or are particularly concerned with losing fat and not muscle, counting macros for weight loss could be the way to go. Calculator: How Many Calories You Get Per Weight Loss/Gain You only get the calories you burn every day, once every 24 hours. The formula Let's suppose that a person starts out with a weight weight=7 + 5+ 2 = 10lbs. So the body weight is 7lbs, the fat is 5lbs, the muscle is 5lbs, and the bone is 2lbs. To lose weight, this person will need to burn 5lbs of fat and 2lbs of muscle (calories) every day. So the calories burned/weight: (5lbs fat = 5*5=25). (2lbs muscle = 2*2*5=6). (7lbs weight = 7*(2lbs muscle)) To lose weight if the person only loses 2lbs of muscle, this person will burn 4lbs of fat and 2lbs of muscle (calories) per day. We just did the math. Here's one final equation: Calories burned = Calorie deficit + (calories burnt - ((calories burned - ((calories burnt - ((calories burnt - ((calories burnt - ((calories burnt - ((calories burnt - ((Calories burnt (6,5)*(2,4))*5,2 ) ) Calorie Burned = ((6,5)*(2,4))*5,2) + ((6,5)*(2,4))*5,2) = 1250 + (4,200) – ((6,5)*(2,4))*5,2) = 1235 So if the person does not lose any weight, they will lose 1235 calories per day over a long period of time as a result from burning fat instead of eating food. As they will now have a caloric deficit, they can then eat as much as they want, if they so wish. As a result, they can lose more weight than if they did not. Calculate your calories lost/gain and find out how many pounds you'll lose. Weight Calculation Tool: Related Article:


A recent article in HBR suggests that winning cultures are comprised of two interrelated and reinforcing elements. First, every high-performing company has a unique identity—distinctive characteristics that set it apart from other organisations. These characteristics give employees a sense of meaning just from being part of the company. They also create passion for what the company does.
Secondly, the best performing companies typically display a set of performance attributes that align with the company’s strategy and reinforce the right employee behaviors. Research revealed seven of these:
- Honest. There is high integrity in all interactions, with employees, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders;
- Performance-focused. Rewards, development, and other talent-management practices are in sync with the underlying drivers of performance;
- Accountable and owner-like. Roles, responsibilities, and authority all reinforce ownership over work and results;
- Collaborative. There’s a recognition that the best ideas come from the exchange and sharing of ideas between individuals and teams;
- Agile and adaptive. The organisation is able to quickly adjust when necessary and adapt to changes in the external environment;
- Innovative. Employees push the envelope in terms of new ways of thinking; and
- Oriented toward winning. There is strong ambition focused on objective measures of success, either versus the competition or against some absolute standard of excellence.
Few organisations exhibit all seven of these attributes. But high-performing organizations typically spike on the three or four that are most critical to their success.
Culture plays a vital role in performance. Winning cultures treat performance as an explicit output and foster an environment that is conducive to generating the best possible results — not just for employees, but for customers, suppliers and shareholders…
A tad prescriptive perhaps but we think this adds clarity to a subject area which by its very nature is difficult to pin down.


Writer / Performer / Visual Artist
Patti Smith is a writer, performer and visual artist. Her recording, Horses , the first of thirteen, was inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2010. She is a four time Grammy nominee, and was a Golden Globe nominee for the song Mercy Is from the film Noah .
Her acclaimed memoir, Just Kids , chronicling her friendship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe, received the 2010 National Book Award. Her other books include Coral Sea, Woolgathering, Auguries of Innocence , M Train , and Devotion, recently published by Yale Press.


Friday, August 14, 2009
Potential Treatment for FIP
Legendre, A.M. and J.W. Bartges, Effect of polyprenyl immunostimulant on the survival times of three cats with the dry form of feline infectious peritonitis. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, 2009. 11 ( 8 ) : p. 624-626.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a baffling and clinical important disease of cats caused by a virulent biotype of feline coronavirus. Despite the fact that the disease is relatively common, veterinarians are faced with a frustrating dilemma because there are no individual tests that are reliable for the diagnosis of FIP, the clinical picture is highly variable, and there is no known effective treatment. Polyprenyl immunostimulant (PI) is an investigational veterinary biologic manufactured by Sass & Sass, Inc and is comprised of a mixture of phosphorylated, linear polyisoprenols. This case series from the University of Tennessee describes three cats with the dry (non-effusive) form of FIP treated with PI. The cats were treated with varying doses of the drug, and by both subcutaneous and oral routes. Two of the three cats were still on treatment and were alive and well 2 years after diagnosis. The third cat survived 14 months but was treated for only 4.5 months. The investigators conclude that further studies to assess the therapeutic efficacy of PI for the treatment of FIP are warranted. [SL]
>> PubMed Abstract
Addie, D., et al., Feline infectious peritonitis ABCD guidelines on prevention and management. J Feline Med Surg, 2009. 11(7): p. 594-604.
>> Full text article
Pedersen, N.C., A review of feline infectious peritonitis virus infection: 1963-2008. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, 2009. 11(4): p. 225-258.
>> PubMed Abstract
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Food plays a very crucial role in a person’s physical and mental wellbeing including our emotional wellbeing and happiness. Whilst our choice of food today is largely based on our taste desires and emotional needs, the primary role of food is to sustain life, maintain growth, reproduction and health. Ayurveda recognizes that food gives prana (life-force), varna (good complexion), indriya prasada (pleasant sense organs), sausvarya (good voice), jeewithah (longevity), prathibha (intution), sukha (comfort), thushti (happiness), pushti (nourishment), bala (strength), medha (wisdom).
When explaining about nutrition, Ayurveda refers to Ahara, which in Sanskrit means anything that we intake to nourish our body and mind including food, water, breath and inputs we take in from our senses. Ayurveda notes that when Ahara is consumed in proper quantity, proper time and in proper way, it gives Bala (strength), Varna (good complexion) and Ojas (immunity). It also describes that the origin of most diseases is the intake of wrong Ahara. Therefore it is clear that to ensure right nutrition, one needs to focus and balance all of the above, whereas most modern discussions about nutrition is limited to food. For the purpose of this article we will focus on food from an Ayurvedic perspective.
There are many distinctions between the Ayurvedic approach to nutrition and traditional Western approaches:
- Western approaches largely tend to focus on a biochemical analysis of food and thus identifying the perfect ratio / quantity of different food groups (e.g.: carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, etc) and / or nutritional content in each food item / group and its benefit to all humans. In stark contrast, the Ayurvedic approach is based on the constitutional make-up of food and the person consuming it. Ayurveda focuses on the constitutional make up of each individual, which is largely categorized using the three bodily humors: Vata, Pitta & Kapha. This constitution then determines an individual’s mental and physical tendencies including their digestive strength and careful attention is given to how each individual external interaction (such as intake of food, water, quality of breath and sense inputs) impact their constitutional balance.
- Ayurveda places high emphasis on the digestive capacity whilst western approaches assume the digestive capacity to be the same for all individuals. Therefore, Ayurveda does not have concepts such as identification of a specific food as a ‘super-food’, because a food which could be highly nutritional for one could be the cause of disease for another if their body is unable to fully digest it. Focus is on eating food that is easily digestible for each person and maintaining a strong digestive strength.
- Western modalities are now starting to correlate the impact of food on the mind. Ayurveda describes in detail how food we consume has an important effect on the mind. Ayurveda described Manasika Gunas or qualities the food can create on the mind and the need to consume food that would create a Sattvic, or calmness of the mind. Thus, food is categorized based on the effect on the mind and best would be to eat food which create a Sattvic impact. These foods also need to be eaten in a way that is easily digestible and therefore recommended cooking guidelines and food combinations are given in Ayurveda.
- There is also a focus on the environment in which we consume food, a concept not present in other approaches. Ayurvedic scriptures notes that “one should eat food alone, in a pleasant, unpolluted and clean place, which is decorated by aromatic flowers”. Eating alone avoids being interrupted by others allowing for mindful eating; a pleasant place keeps the mind happy; unpolluted and clean environment avoids food being contaminated; and a place decorated by aromatic flowers to help one relax and enjoy the meal.
- Ayurveda describes balancing of tastes when planning a meal because of its impact on the mind and body. A meal with all six tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent, and astringent, is considered ideal and most balanced.
- The order in which foods are to be ingested is also important. Sweet items should be eaten first to pacify hunger which is then followed by sour and salty tastes to enhance digestive process and end the meal with pungent, astringent and bitter tasting foods to reduce over eating and lethargy. (Su.su.46/460-464)
In addition to the above principles, Ayurveda describes good practices for the intake of food. These are summarized below:
- One should consume food when he / she feels hungry and at proper times. It is important to eat only when the previous meal is digested properly. If you eat before proper digestion, it can result in undigested foods in the digestive tract leading to harmful chemical reactions that will flow through the body impacting one or many bodily organs. Ayurveda introduces the concept of Ama – a harmful substance created / resulting in the body from improper digestion. This Ama is believed to be a sticky and heavy substance which travels throughout the body with the essence of digested foods. It creates blockages of shrotas (body channels) resulting in the origination of diseases. Ayurveda recommends a healthy adult to eat twice or thrice a day, ideally morning, midday and evening.
- Speed of eating is also prescribed: one should not eat food very fast neither very slow (both may cause indigestion).
- Food should be light, warm and unctuous; light being easy to digest, warm and unctuous qualities aiding the improvement of digestive fire.
- Quantity of food is very personal and can change at every meal time. Sufficient amount is described as one which will cause no pain in the abdomen after meal, no pressure in flanks, no gripping sensation in the heart, and no heaviness in the abdomen. It is individualized and easy to measure than prescribing how much of carbohydrates, proteins or fat.
- Ayurveda recommends eating foods close to the form produced by nature. Each food item contains prana or life force which reduces with each stage of processing.
- As mentioned above, a key focus on Ayurveda is good digestion. Spices such as black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, and coriander seeds, are common examples of the spices which can aid digestion. These spices help to activate the digestive fire and are commonly used in Ayurvedic cooking.
- Eating local seasonal food: local foods are wholesome for those living there. Our bodies have specific orientation for the food from our home region. Nature also provides what is needed to survive in that locality. Furthermore nature itself try to maintain the balance of the universe and seasonal growth of food is based on this balance. Therefore Ayurveda recommends eating local seasonal produce.
Our food habits and selection have changed much from the ancient times. The modern rush to save time has lead to an increase of instant foods and fast foods. Food preparations are minimized as people rely more on processed or semi processed food to save both time and effort. Most of these foods claim to have fortified vitamins and minerals which are meant to increase our strength, vitality and brain power however it is a far cry from the way in which these nutritional requirements are provided by nature. Our food habits are made more complex by the abundance of food availability with supermarkets selling foods from all over the world breaking geographical and seasonal distinctions. Our busy and stressful lives lead us to ‘treat ourselves’ to foods to satisfy our taste buds and cater to our emotional eating regardless of nutritional value and actual physical need. Meals are also rarely eaten mindfully and instead eaten in front of a computer or TV if not in a social environment. Scientific research on food and medicine is at an all time high and yet many people seem to be unwell. Majority of the population of developed countries are on prescription medicine and digestive disorders such as IBS, constipation, heart burn and indigestion are so common that we are learning to accept it as ‘normal’.
Food plays a very important role in our health and wellbeing. Perhaps time is ripe to return to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda on how and what to eat to bring back physical and mental wellness. In consideration of the above Ayurvedic principles on food, keep focus on these important factors: have awareness about your body constitution; have a good understanding about your digestive capacity; be aware of your capacity to assimilate nutrients; and know how to recognize if food is not digest properly. Then, using this awareness and principles, and the good practice guidelines given above, you can devise your own food choices. Living in harmony with nature, eating right and maintaining a feeling of wellness will provide good health and happiness.


During the Spring Festival holiday, burning calories has become a new trend from an internet catchphrase, chinanews.com has reported.
“I will go,” said Yu She, a renown general of Yuan Shu, stepping forward.
So Yu She went, and almost immediately one came back to say that Yu She had fallen in the third bout of Hua Xiong.
Fear began to lay its cold hand on the assembly.
then Imperial Protector Han Fu said, “I have a brave warrior among my army. Pan Feng is his name, and he could slay this Hua Xiong.”
“Who is he？” asked Yuan Shao.
Gongsun Zan told them it was Guan Yu, brother of Liu Bei.
“And what is he？” asked Yuan Shao.
“He is in the train of Liu Bei as a mounted archer.”
“What！ An insult to us all！” roared Yuan Shu from his place. “Have we no leader？ How dare an archer speak thus before us？ Let us beat him forth！”
But Cao Cao intervened. “Peace,
O Yuan Shu！ Since this man speaks
then Lu Bu called the attendants and said,
“He was an unjust man, and I have slain him.
Let those who back me stay. The others may depart.”
Most ran away. Next day,
with the head of the murdered man as his gift,
Lu Bu betook himself to Li Su,
who led him to Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo received him with a warm welcome and had wine set before him.
“Your coming is welcome as the gentle dew to the parched grass,” said Dong Zhuo.
the adviser Li Ru never ceased from urging him to carry out the design of deposing the young Emperor.
the now all-powerful Dong Zhuo prepared a banquet in the capital at which all the officers of state were guests. He also bade Lu Bu post a company of armed men right and left ready for action. The feast began and several courses were served with nothing to distinguish that banquet from any other.
then suddenly the host arose and drew his sword, saying,
“He who is above us being weak and irresolute is unfit for
the duties of his high place. Wherefore I, as of old did Yi Yin


Review of Business Continuity
Business continuity management is important because the success of any organisation depends on its ability to continue functioning through both normal and abnormal events. These range from everyday occurrences such as the loss of power, failure by a third party service provider or an IT outage through to a natural or man-made disaster.
In the case of Victoria Police, lack of effective business continuity planning can result in its inability to carry out its core functions, which are an essential community service.
Victoria Police's approach to business continuity is centred on disaster recovery and emergency management. It pays much less attention to maintaining continuous access to information in the case of an event, even though many members interviewed agreed that information is fundamental to their work. The Force relies on a highly detailed 'template' approach to business continuity which encourages a 'tick-the-box' approach and discourages members in the field from actively thinking about what the specific continuity needs of their workplaces might be, especially with regard to access to data.
CLEDS considers that Victoria Police complies partially or fully with parts of the implementation guidelines for Standards 34 and 35, but finds an overall rating of non-compliant. That is principally due to the lack of attention to information (law enforcement data) continuity (Standard 34) and the lack of evidence that testing of business continuity plans (Standard 35) takes place.


What, you ask, does childbirth have to do with Montessori? I'll tell you ...
I come from a relatively large and more or less fertile family, so I grew up around babies being born. It wasn't a particularly scary thing, or a foreign thing, but I never gave it much thought. I did know that you showed up at the hospital and they gave you something called an epidural. Assorted family members hung around the waiting room and wandered in and out of the birthing room until that baby was finally out. Someone usually had a video camera and interviewed various family members, who gushed about their excitement as they waited. Eventually, the baby came out and everyone piled into the room where he or she was passed around from person to person for ooohs, aaahs, and photo ops. And that's how it was done.
When I began my Montessori journey, however, my idea of everything having to do with children changed. I was barely 18 when I began reading The Secret of Childhood and it was then that my whole picture of birth was completely turned upside down. Dr. Montessori writes,
But what care have men taken to assist the child as it makes the most difficult adjustment of all, that of passing from one mode of existence to another? At no other period in his life does man experience such a violent conflict and struggle, and consequent suffering, as at the time of birth...it has grown in a place where it was protected from all assaults, from every change of temperature, in a fluid created for its rest. And in an instant it has changed this dark and silent home for the hostile air... The doctor handles it without any particular regard, and when it starts to cry in desperation no one takes it seriously...
... a newborn child should not simply be shielded from harm, but measures should also be taken to provide for psychic adjustment to the world about it... The needs of a newborn child are not those of one who is sick but of one who is striving to adjust oneself physically and psychologically to new and strange surroundings.How a woman chooses to birth is a very personal decision and what feels right for one woman may not for another. What this helped me realize, however, was the importance of birthing peacefully, gently, and consciously.
Our attitude towards the newborn child should not be one of compassion but rather of reverence before the mystery of creation, that a spiritual being has been confined within limits perceptible to us. The manner in which we touch and move a child, and the delicacy of feeling which should inspire us at the time, makes us think of the gestures that a priest uses at the altar. His hands are purified, his motions are studied and thoughtful, and his actions take place in silence and in darkness that is penetrated only by a light that has been softened in its passage through stained glass windows. A feeling of hope and elevation pervades the sacred place. It is in surroundings such as these that the newborn child should live.
The first period of human life has not been sufficiently explored, and yet we are constantly becoming more aware of its importance. Hardships and privations in the first months of a child's existence can, as we now know, influence the whole course of his future development. But if in the child are to be found the makings of the man, it is in the child also that the future welfare of the race is to be found.
Too little attention is paid to the newborn child that has just experienced the most difficult of human crises. When he appears in our midst, we hardly know how to receive him, even though he bears within himself a power to create a better world than that in which we live ourselves.
The words which we read in the prologue to St. John's Gospel are in a sense applicable to the newborn child: "He was in the world ... and the world knew him not. He came unto his own and his own received him not."