Discovery

Discovery is a great thing. This past week, I have done a lot of refreshing of my memory at Lulu.com, as well as doing research on other POD sites. I have found another, Blurb, that looks interesting—and with their BookSmart software download, which is free, a lot of excitement surrounding putting together photo books for publication. Maybe I will actually do something with my art photos and graphics that I also generate with them. I spent hours and hours using BookSmart, and enjoyed it. So, now, I have Lulu and Blurb to work with. No excuses for not getting things done!

Also, my current collection of short stories is still in progress. It is with “my” editor, who is bogged down with a zillion projects that are also consuming vast amounts of time. Which gives me a bit of a breather in order to work out the cover design for the book, as well as a title, which it still sadly lacks. I may add more to this blog later on, but for right now, that's where I'm at. Besides having too many thoughts flying around inside my head to keep up with. I have an editing group going on today that I need to prepare for, sit that is why this is so short. Not enough time in a day...as usual.

But I do want to leave with one final thought: today is 11 September 09. It has been eight years since the Towers were destroyed. Hate is such an insidious thing. We get caught up in it at our own peril—and the peril of others. I have noticed, in recent months, how much hate and invective is spewing forth in our own country these days. Talk show hosts and television wags dump vitriol out there, one side bashing the other in a continuous stream of one-upsmanship and blame-gaming. Even, and especially, before gathering the facts and getting to the truth of the situation. Politics has become so divisive that there is talk of potential riots in the streets of this country. We came together, for a short time, as a nation—a world—after 9/11. We can do it again. Just leave all the jargon and hate-mongering aside. Put down the old and tired ranting, the outworn shibboleths of our ancestors, and join in this prayer:

“O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.” - 'Abdu'l-Bahá

And when we are done praying for this Blessed country, let's not pick up hate and anger again, but, instead, educate ourselves—dig deep for the truth and let that be your guide. Then pray for the whole world. If we try, I believe we can discover love enough to circle the globe with our prayers. We all need prayers, right?