---o0o---
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Friday, August 15, 2014
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Prayer In Istanbul
By Jack Brummet
illustration by Jack Brummet
illustration by Jack Brummet
1.
On a dusty cobblestone street
I hear three muezzins
In three directions
Call people to prayer
At three mosques,
With a slight delay
Between the calls.
Three chanters in three different rooms
Sing the same song
In phase-shifted rounds
Through nine silver speakers
Mounted on three
Ivory-white minarets
Capped in gleaming cerulean blue.
2.
At the washing stations,
Water burbles from brass spigots
Into pale grey limestone basins.
The faithful wash,
Bag their sandals,
And for the fourth time since dawn,
Walk onto the lush carpet
Of the cool quiet mosque
Tiled in words and symbols.
3.
They kneel, face the wall
And pray one more time.
I don’t know what they pray for,
But when I see their faces
And watch their devotions,
I know it’s something good.
4.
It’s so still and calm
In the mosque
You could hear a fly expire.
---o0o---
On a dusty cobblestone street
I hear three muezzins
In three directions
Call people to prayer
At three mosques,
With a slight delay
Between the calls.
Three chanters in three different rooms
Sing the same song
In phase-shifted rounds
Through nine silver speakers
Mounted on three
Ivory-white minarets
Capped in gleaming cerulean blue.
2.
At the washing stations,
Water burbles from brass spigots
Into pale grey limestone basins.
The faithful wash,
Bag their sandals,
And for the fourth time since dawn,
Walk onto the lush carpet
Of the cool quiet mosque
Tiled in words and symbols.
3.
They kneel, face the wall
And pray one more time.
I don’t know what they pray for,
But when I see their faces
And watch their devotions,
I know it’s something good.
4.
It’s so still and calm
In the mosque
You could hear a fly expire.
---o0o---
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
We can do better: Misconceptions about suicide (from SAVE - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)
By Jack Brummet, Mental Health Ed.
I was very sad to hear about the death of Robin Williams, most likely by his own hand.
Most people who commit suicide don't want to die—"they just want to stop hurting." Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. It's hard, but don 't be afraid to speak up if you despair. And please speak up if someone you know or love is hurting.
FALSE: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide threats. Statements like "you'll be sorry when I'm dead," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how casually or jokingly said may indicate serious suicidal feelings.
FALSE: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness.
FALSE: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop them.
Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.
FALSE: People who commit suicide are people who were unwilling to seek help.
Studies of suicide victims have shown that more than half had sought medical help in the six months prior to their deaths.
FALSE: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.
You don't give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true — bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do.
I was very sad to hear about the death of Robin Williams, most likely by his own hand.
Most people who commit suicide don't want to die—"they just want to stop hurting." Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. It's hard, but don 't be afraid to speak up if you despair. And please speak up if someone you know or love is hurting.
Common Misconceptions about Suicide
FALSE: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide threats. Statements like "you'll be sorry when I'm dead," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how casually or jokingly said may indicate serious suicidal feelings.
FALSE: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness.
FALSE: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop them.
Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.
FALSE: People who commit suicide are people who were unwilling to seek help.
Studies of suicide victims have shown that more than half had sought medical help in the six months prior to their deaths.
FALSE: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.
You don't give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true — bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do.
---o0o---
A Priest calls Jesus's miracles "BS"
By Jack Brummet, Religions Ed.
I met a priest in Spokane this weekend, who surprised me. He was the warmest, and undoubtedly the funniest priest I've ever met (I'm not RC. so I haven't met that many). He radiated his love of and concern for his parishioners.
He got to talking about Jesus's miracles, calling at least two of them (changing water into wine and walking on water on the Sea of Galilee ) "bullshit," alluding that they were just parlor tricks (he didn't use that phrase, just "BS") to get people's attention. I go to thinking about what else would qualify--Lazarus, the fishes and loaves, etc.
As unconventional as he was, he drew it back in the end by saying the only trick that counted was getting up on that cross; the rest was just razzle dazzle. Wow.
I met a priest in Spokane this weekend, who surprised me. He was the warmest, and undoubtedly the funniest priest I've ever met (I'm not RC. so I haven't met that many). He radiated his love of and concern for his parishioners.
He got to talking about Jesus's miracles, calling at least two of them (changing water into wine and walking on water on the Sea of Galilee ) "bullshit," alluding that they were just parlor tricks (he didn't use that phrase, just "BS") to get people's attention. I go to thinking about what else would qualify--Lazarus, the fishes and loaves, etc.
As unconventional as he was, he drew it back in the end by saying the only trick that counted was getting up on that cross; the rest was just razzle dazzle. Wow.
---o0o---
Monday, August 11, 2014
Drawings: Faces #897 - Three scratchboards
By Jack Brummet
[india ink scratchboard/scanned & digitally reversed scratchboard]
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