72nd Birthday Blog

 Dear Friends

As I get older (the bottom picture is not a self-portrait!) I am just as thankful for my baptism day, December 7^th, (and all that it means to be baptized) as I am for my birthday today, May 25^th.

But for my birthday this year, I simply want to quote three of my friends….Ralph Waldo Emerson, who was born on May 25^th in 1803, Amy Klobuchar, who was born on May 25^th in 1960, and St. Bede the Venerable, who died on May 25th in 735.

Ralph Waldo Emerson:

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else, is the greatest accomplishment.

For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.

Write it on you heart that every day is the best day of the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one who owns the day allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously.

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

It is not the length of life but the depth.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.

Amy Klobuchar: (I hope she invites me to her birthday party at the White House, when she is elected president someday---a smart, kind, full of energy 64 year old moderate, with a great sense of humor.)

Courage means standing next to someone you don’t always agree with for the betterment of the country. I have tried to treat people on the other side civilly and look for common ground.

St. Bede the Venerable:

I was no longer the centre (center) of my life, and therefore I could see God in everything.

He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor.

I implore you, good Jesus, that as in your mercy you have given me to drink in with delight the words of your knowledge, so of your loving kindness, you will also grant me one day to come to you, the fountain of all wisdom and to stand for ever before your face.

I am so thankful for 72 years! Every day forward (after my free “Value Slam” at Denny’s this morning) is just frosting on the bundtcake of an already blessed life, made richer by all of you, my family and friends.

John