Category Archives: spirit

Jun 07 0 comments
Neil Armstrong, Series, spirit, Universal Mysteries

Mystery Creates Wonder

Part One: Trivial and Funny

Yesterday I found a hammer on my bed.  That was a mystery.  It made me wonder.  I wanted to understand why the hammer was on my bed.  I took a picture of the hammer on my bed. I posted the picture of the hammer on my bed on Facebook and Twitter to show others the mystery I had found. I wanted to see what they wondered about the mystery of the hammer on my bed.

Some thought it was a sign,    
Some thought it was a song.
Some thought it was a threat,
Some thought it was wrong.
Hammer on Bed
What does this mystery make you wonder?
Drawing, epic poem, photo and question by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Neil Armstrong, 1930 – not dead yet, American Astronaut, first man to walk on the moon.  My father, who was also in aviation, knew Armstrong. He introduced me to him at an air show in 1969 (the same year he flew to the moon ) and I got his autograph.  That was cool.
Dec 22 0 comments
Christmas, Jesus, judgment, kindness, love, spirit

It Is Christmas In The Heart

The second day of Christmas Week my true love gave to me…

Here’s the thing about ‘Christmas spirit’ – it is a cliche.  It’s overworked, overstated, overused, overforced and over the moon. But it’s also true.

I worked in the restaurant business first when I was 16.  I finished my on and off again illustrious career in that arena when I was 45.  29 years of serving people and I loved it.  I also loved when my customers would inquire as to how I was doing.

Now, all year long, Christmas or not, every time I go out to a retail store, or a restaurant, I always make a point to ask the sales person, waiter, etc. how there day is going or how they are feeling.  Something along that line.  If they say ‘long’ I ask when they get off and if they will be able to relax. If they say ‘good’, I say great. If they say ‘it sucks’ I ask why.  Then if they ask me in return I will tell them.

Christmas spirit has the cliche attached, it’s true. But kindness and thoughfulness do not.  Be kind to the least powerful among you, be thoughtful and don’t judge those whom you don’t know.  It isn’t hard, it just takes extending the reach of your care.  You don’t know how your kindness may be needed right then by that person.  

That was Jesus’s message, that is the Christmas message. And that is not now, nor will it ever will be, a cliche.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily

Quote by W. T. Ellis, 1866-? (probably not still alive I surmise).  



Sep 19 0 comments
Elbert Hubbard, God, Religion, spirit, theology

>The Intent of Theology

>Theology was, at the beginning, simple story telling. It was an explanation for why things were they way they were. It was handed down over centuries and it didn’t need to be very rigorous in it’s believability because the realm of what was known about the universe was very small at the time. It was their version of science, in a way.

But as time went on and people had more questions and were finding out more ‘truths’ theologians (as they were eventually titled) had to fill out the various stories to be more believable. But at the same time they had to stick with the story already told and somehow combine the new and the old.

The result was a pretty convoluted set of explanations for the how and why of the world that was separated from science as it was developing.

To test this idea clear your mind of any and all ideas of the universe and human origins and development. Now tell a brand new story that explains how we came to be and why we are here. Have it make sense in the here and now, consistent with what you now know about life. Would it be the same story you were taught as a child? Would you have the same organization of life, afterlife, material world, spirit realm? Would you have the same explanations for why things happen, good and bad? Maybe so, maybe not. But it is a good exercise to help us remember that we are listening to a story.

Drawing by Marty Coleman, The Napkin Dad
http://napkindad.blogspot.com
http://www.martycoleman.com

Quote by Elbert Hubbard, 1856-1915, American writer


Apr 22 0 comments
Heart, spirit, Sufi Proverbs

>When the Heart Grieves

>

The pain of a break up or loss is about so much. If you are the breakee, then it is
about wondering why you aren’t lovable, why you can’t keep a man or woman. If you
are the breaker, then it is about not wanting to hurt someone but needing to get out.
Those are just two things. But in either case, you will feel loss, you will feel something
missing, a hole in your whole.

The suggestion that you might get from well meaning friends ‘hey, look at all you
still have’ might seem like just so much torture, since at the time you don’t feel you
have anything at all. But in truth, in time, your spirit, in spite your hearts desire to
continue grieving, will look towards those remainders and will find in them your
strength and happiness for the days ahead. Cliche as it might be, it is how it really
does go.

This is for my friend, T.

The quote is a traditional Sufi Aphorism
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Mar 15 0 comments
coincidences, G. K. Chesterton, spirit

>Spiritual Puns/Plate of Shrimp

>Coincidences

But they make me smile more than verbal puns.
By the way, the best explanation for coincidences ever rendered by the mind of man is
found in the movie ‘Repo Man’. Check out the ‘Plate of Shrimp’ scene to be taught by
the master.

If you watch the scene, remember from here on out you will be compelled to use the
phrase ‘plate of shrimp’ whenever such a thing happens.

You are now being returned to your broadcast channel…

Quote author – G.K. Chesterton


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