CowPi Journal

Received this in an email—

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present
“Seven Wonders of the World.” Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter’s Basilica
7. China’s Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.”

The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.

“The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ are:”

1. To See
2. To Hear
3. To Touch
4. To Taste
5. To Feel
6. To Laugh
7. And to Love

Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

— Author unknown

When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was “Information Please” and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone’s number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. “Information, please” I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear, “Information.”

(more…)

Standing on the beach in North Carolina this evening. Outer banks. Nighttime. Dark. The strong salty air permeates my soul. Everything is shades of dark grays. The waves roar as they break close to shore, immature white caps peak, stretching their energy and water as far as possible over the beach. Then the water gracefully slips back to try again. The sand has long since given up the battle to stand against the relentless water. The sand simply flows with it now, works with it now.
Have I learn to flow with the water of life like the soft sand beneath my feet? Or am I still trying to resist it, trying to make my stand?
Lightening off in the distance over the ocean. Can’t hear any thunder over the crashing waves. Will it come to shore or move out to sea? It does not matter.
The ocean at night has a way of making you feel small, as if you too where a grain of sand. The vastness of it all has a way of stretching you out to infinity, and at the same time squishing you in upon yourself.
There is nothing here for me to do. I cannot cross this ocean. I cannot build or make anything on this beach. The water will simply wash it away. I cannot stop the waves. I cannot move the sand. I cannot control anything. I am helpless. All I can do is be here. Experience the moment. I am left to accept the present moment as pure gift and not doing anything in return.
Within the roar of the ocean, a silence envelopes me. Awe. Wonderment. The only prayer I can utter in my heart is, “Thank You.” All other words lose their power and meaning.
Amidst the chaos of the crashing waves, a gentle peace takes notice from within and begins to seep throughout my being. I am nothing. But I am here. And that makes all the difference.
The water of life ebbs and flows.

Welcome home, welcome home;
so far away, so long and so alone.
The journey’s not been easy, the road, it seemed so long.
It matters not now, child. Oh, welcome home.

Hollow dreams, like the desert sand,
can shine so bright but slip right through your hands.
The treasure you were seeking turned out empty in the end,
but your heart knows what it’s after, so come on in.

Though you think this journey’s over,
feel you lost out in the end.
Funny thing is, now it’s over,
it finally can begin.

Far and wide, your soul will seek
to find a love that quenches your heart’s need.
But none on earth can give you what so desparately you need.
There’s only one true love that sets you free.

So the shattered heart you’re holding
may seem fragile, may seem small,
but sometimes only when it’s broken
will we let God have it all.

Matters not what you followed far.
It’s love that brought you back here where you are.
See nothing said or done will keep this father from a child.
Your heart could see the treasure all the while,
a heart that led you back here down this road that you know.
So fall into these arms child, and welcome home.

— Steve Angrisano