Helen Plus Three

I recognize that we all have different problems to deal with and inconveniences, whether it be our selves or just demands on our time. Somehow it is balanced based on how much we can give and not how much we are willing to give. We are called to perform our duty or called to just heed our conscience. Many of us have aging parents and we have been enabled in different ways to look after them. For some there is no wheelchair, just your time which you have and for some there is a wheelchair yet you have a car and siblings when time is stretched on each's part. And then there are the family squabbles to put obstacles in our way. God bless those who give with their heart. As I finished the chapter about Edna's hospital I had this thought that God comes out of hiding where there is no one to help. Then again why do these atrocities happen? What's wrong with man... being what he is not -infallible... weak. Give to KIVA. It's a good way to help the poor even if you d...

A MOMENT  in my Life I took the bus home today from work. Got on the single decker, plenty of seats, sat down to a pleasant unconscious- oblivious-to-all ride while I read my Nora Roberts book. I got an empty seat, took my place beside the window and relaxed. Quarter way into the trip, an old man came up and sat down beside me. Oh man ! He definitely, definitely had not bathe in a month or year maybe. I held my breathe,  tried to breathe through my nose, tried to continue to read, still controlled my breathes and finally began to hope (pray)  that the old man would get off really really soon or I just might have to get out of there before I comatose d! About 15 tortuous minutes later he got up and left.  Oh thank God (although I doubt God would call that a prayer), I took a huge breathe. By that time I was already developing a mild headache from the ride and heat and lack of oxygen probably. Definitely not one of those times to 'live in the moment!

I recall a line that went something like, the best part about going away for a vacation, is the coming back. Instantly I shook my head and went uh-uh, no way.. Sure it’s about the comfort and not having to worry about hotel rooms. laundry and the suitcase! But coming back means returning to reality. So if life is about balance, why is there always more reality than vacation time ?

If only the signposts of our life were this clear..!    Signs should be direct. I like this one. Alx took this while in Melbourne....

I'm still reading ' Half the Sky' , am about 3/4 ways through. Here's a quote of a quote from the book from the father of an Afghan woman, it captures the very essence of the problem, within which is the solution . 'That is why these people are afraid of educating women - they are afraid that then the women will ask questions, will speak up... That's why I believe in education. It is such a powerful tool to overcome poverty and rebuild the country. If we took the foreign aid that goes into guns and weapons and just took one quarter of that and put it into education, that would completely transform this country." In the introduction there was a discussion from security experts that stuck in my mind that 'Empowering girls.. would disempower terrorists', the discussion stems from the marginalization of women and it's consequences. Lots of food for thought !

'Half the Sky ' by Nicholas D Kristof & Sheryl Wudunn Slavery of women exists today. It's not fiction. Gender discrimination in the East 'is lethal'... millions of females are missing from the globe because of it :- - priority for health care by parents is given to boys, ultrasounds spell doom for females... .... girls have higher fatality rates. - human trafficking of young girls into prostitution runs into millions - India : bride burning .. tales place once every two hours - Pakistan :  over the past 9 years, 5,000 women and girls set alight, doused in kerosene.. - rapes and ruthless murders in Africa I just started reading and it is maddening to realize this is about modern day depraved cruelties against a huge number of women and girls that is allowed to go on, very much in our backyard.. ... because they are 'discounted humans' defined by a society or culture, because politics is 'divisive' on the subject, because of corruptio...