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MKG Wordle
created @ www.wordle.net
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Friday, September 16, 2011
Shoes in Church
Received this story from a friend and it reminded me what it truly means to be a Christian. I hope it touches your heart as well. mkg
SHOES IN CHURCH
I showered and shaved.............. I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat............... In a chair, just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own, I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side...... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: 'Our Father'.......... I thought, 'This man with the shoes has no pride
They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'
'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on. The shoe man said.......A quiet 'Amen.'
I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?
'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor..
Then the prayer was ended............ And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters......... His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering...... And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached..... Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out............ What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me............ To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man.... For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service...... As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow............... And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer......... I reached over and shook his hand.
I got there and sat............... In a chair, just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own, I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side...... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: 'Our Father'.......... I thought, 'This man with the shoes has no pride
They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'
'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on. The shoe man said.......A quiet 'Amen.'
I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?
'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor..
Then the prayer was ended............ And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters......... His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering...... And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached..... Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out............ What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me............ To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man.... For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service...... As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow............... And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer......... I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark.... And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.
But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.
He said, 'My names' Charlie............. I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'
There were tears in his eyes........ But he had a large, wide grin.
'Let me explain,' he said.......... Wiping tears from his eyes.
'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''
'I know that my appearance............'Is not like all the rest.
'But I really do try.................'To always look my best.'
'I always clean and polish my shoes..'Before my very long walk.
'But by the time I get here..........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'
My heart filled with pain.......... And I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize........... For daring to sit so near
He said, 'When I get here..............'I know I must look a sight.
'But I thought if I could touch you..'Then maybe our souls might unite.'
I was silent for a moment............ Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.
'Oh, you've touched me,' I said.......'And taught me, in part;
'That the best of any man................'Is what is found in his heart.'
The rest, I thought,...................... This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am... That his dirty old shoe had truly touched my soul.
There were tears in his eyes........ But he had a large, wide grin.
'Let me explain,' he said.......... Wiping tears from his eyes.
'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''
'I know that my appearance............'Is not like all the rest.
'But I really do try.................'To always look my best.'
'I always clean and polish my shoes..'Before my very long walk.
'But by the time I get here..........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'
My heart filled with pain.......... And I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize........... For daring to sit so near
He said, 'When I get here..............'I know I must look a sight.
'But I thought if I could touch you..'Then maybe our souls might unite.'
I was silent for a moment............ Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.
'Oh, you've touched me,' I said.......'And taught me, in part;
'That the best of any man................'Is what is found in his heart.'
The rest, I thought,...................... This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am... That his dirty old shoe had truly touched my soul.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
TED -- learning about Richard Feynman (physicist) and so much more
Have you ever wanted to take a class or learn about something new? The TED website is a great place to explore your interests and be exposed to a variety of different and intriguing voices. I have gained much from the various videos I have watched -- on a personal and a professional level.
Take a few minutes and check it out.
Take a few minutes and check it out.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Thomas Goetz: It's time to redesign medical data | Video on TED.com
Interesting Ted video. Made me think!
Thomas Goetz: It's time to redesign medical data | Video on TED.com
Thomas Goetz: It's time to redesign medical data | Video on TED.com
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Blessings....
As I sit at my computer and prepare for my lectures on individual's interpretations of health, illness and disease and individual's responses to illness and treatment -- I am drawn back to stories I read in Rachel Naomi Remen's book "My Grandfather's Blessings". The stories that she tells -- hers, her patients -- remind me of how much I have truly been blessed.
Maybe it's the between stage -- you know the one that overlaps with the beginning of a new quarter and a new class of students (class of 2013) and with graduation for the class of 2010. Or maybe it's the being in awe of what I see in my new students -- how they are sharing themselves by creating word clouds (www.wordle.net) and being engaged in class. And then there is the pride, joy and sadness I feel for the class of 2010 graduates as they begin the next part of their journey. I will miss seeing them around campus. In between -- I have the classes of 2011 and 2012 -- students who continue to surprise me by sharing parts of their lives with me!
Then I have my friends from work and church who inspire me and make me realize how truly blessed I am. Any way you look at it -- life is a blessing.
Maybe it's the between stage -- you know the one that overlaps with the beginning of a new quarter and a new class of students (class of 2013) and with graduation for the class of 2010. Or maybe it's the being in awe of what I see in my new students -- how they are sharing themselves by creating word clouds (www.wordle.net) and being engaged in class. And then there is the pride, joy and sadness I feel for the class of 2010 graduates as they begin the next part of their journey. I will miss seeing them around campus. In between -- I have the classes of 2011 and 2012 -- students who continue to surprise me by sharing parts of their lives with me!
Then I have my friends from work and church who inspire me and make me realize how truly blessed I am. Any way you look at it -- life is a blessing.
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