Sketch Notes Weblog

April Inspirations

moonlea — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:15:16 +0000

Here in Charlotte, unpredictable March has gone out like a lion instead of lamb. But we are certainly very lucky not to have the disastrous flooding that has plagued some parts of the country. Instead, good steady rains have helped to alleviate the long drought, and have already brought out the lovely cherry, crabapple, and dogwood blossoms; their new, tender leaves hovering around dark tree bark like a pale green mist.It is now that April, dressed in Spring finery, leads the way through one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. The brilliance of the blue sky, the pungent aroma of flowers and of the dewy grass, the warmth of the yellow sun upon our skin–all do wonders for our starved senses and help to renew us in so many ways.Our religious holidays do these things, as well–Easter for me, in particular, brings back many memories from distant past.I remember my excitement in spying a bright pink, plastic egg against soft green grass, and the way the air smelled so fresh as I scooped it up to drop it into my basket. I remember my mother bent over her sewing machine, hard at work to make each of her four daughters a beautiful, special dress in lovely pastel fabrics to wear in time for Easter Sunday; then holding my father’s hand as we walked into church. Simple things, maybe, but all of these things and much more hold very special meaning for each of us.

I invite you to read and enjoy the wonderful work of several writers featured in this month’s Sketch Notes, the creative, seasonal page of my Website, The Book Mark. They, too, are bound to inspire!

http://www.leannmarshall.com/SketchNotes.html

December Thoughts…

moonlea — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:04:35 +0000

Through sights, sounds, and smells—the month of December brings moments of nostalgia and new opportunities for gatherings of loved ones, both family and friends.This year, when times are difficult for so many and it seems harder to find things for which to be thankful, I’m reminded of one of my favorite books, Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol," the much-loved story about one dismally selfish man’s eventual acceptance of the Divine gift of love and how, through such a miracle, it changes his life and the lives of those around him forever.Love and the spirit of giving is, indeed, very contagious. Its grace–shown through A simple smile, an act of kindness given to a stranger–can cause a rippling effect like those in a pool of water, spreading ever outward. And no matter how subtle or how small, those ripples are extremely powerful for those who’ve given as well as those who receive them.Through all the glitter of the holidays, all the different ethnic celebrations; candle lighting, singing of beautiful songs, hopeful reconciliation between those who are estranged; through regrets and loneliness, thankfulness and joy; the drama of office parties and reunions with those we love, and thoughtful re-acquaintance with our own inner truths—it is this one thing, this one constant–to which I hang on with all my spirit–that I know will help to carry me through to the end of this year and into the next and well beyond: Love. May the peace of this special season stay with us now and forever.

Taking Back America…

moonlea — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:56:56 +0000

Your Vote Does Count!

I overheard someone say, “I’m just not going to vote this time. My vote never counts anyway.” …strange logic—because a “non-vote” is guaranteed not to count.

It’s too easy to become discouraged with the politics of—and everything associated with—the elections. We’re bombarded with statistics and trends reported to us through the media. It’s easy to give those things too much power to influence our perceptions, forgetting that we each control our own destiny and that we can make a difference.

As Americans we’ve become discouraged in so many ways, feeling as though we’re being dragged along on a short leash to a place we didn’t really want to go in the first place, resentful of our own seeming inability to stop it—as though we’ve given up and become a nation of gripers instead of doers. And while feeling this way is understandable with the difficult challenges we continue to face, it’s not going to get us anywhere we want to go. In fact, I believe that more harm has been done to our society by our own apathy than any group or politician ever lent.

I believe that if every American takes his or her right to vote as seriously as our ancestors did—some of them having sacrificed their own freedom or even their lives to attain that right—educating ourselves on current issues and how they can best be dealt with, we’ll be likely to recognize someone who not only grasps these concepts but is best able to attain those goals set by them. Not only will we be helping ourselves, but also we’ll be inspiring a positive legacy of hope and stability for our children and grandchildren.

Regardless of your belief or affiliation, we all need to take back our own authority to make good things happen.