Thursday, May 14, 2009

I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive



I watched Doubt last night which I liked, particularly the scenes where Philip Seymour Hoffman is delivering a homily about doubt or intolerance or the wind that we can't see that propels us to different places. Set on the cusp of Vatican Two, the movie is in part about the sadness of life, the deals we make with the devil, how change is always with us, both a blessing and a curse. I often feel this way when I write -- it's a difficult business in that you set your course and work with very little idea of where you're going.

I used to compete in Bible Bowls, a Jeopardy like contest where you answer questions about, well, the Bible. I still remember much from those days and now that it's in fashion to tattoo words on yourself, I could do it if only I could choose one I liked that didn't sound so bleak. Of course, those are the ones that stay with me, warnings and cries for help. Even so, it's comforting in a strange way -- we are bonded by our pain and suffering as much as anything else. I saw a woman the other day whose hair had fallen out and looked painfully thin, the look of cancer. She wore a t-shirt that said, I Did Something Spectacular Today! It made me smile to see her in that t-shirt, that bit of hope despite everything for all the world to see should they care to look.

Michelle's Spell of the Day
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Cocktail Hour
Drinking journalism suggestion: Columbine Dave Cullen

Benedictions and Maledictions
Happy Thursday!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

myCajunQ
FoxlyLadyD
NoOneHereGetsOutAlive
BFree
OMightyIsis
BlackBelt
R2C2
Shazammm!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wings win!!!! On to Chicago!!! Now beat the Black Hawks, Wings!!!!--JLCGULL

the walking man said...

I would suggest that the Word "Dufus" would be a good tattoo...you could use the old English D...just don't put it on your forehead...unless you have it placed backwards which would be forwards in the mirror...

Cheri said...

Great quote by MLK! I might have to use that today. ;)

jodi said...

Bells, don't you think that a certain amount of optimism is a byproduct of faith? Yes, the Wings rule! xo

Anonymous said...

MY FAVORITE SET OF WORDS ARE "DESPITE THE UGLINESS OF THE WORLD, BEAUTY PERSISTS".

chris said...

Ok wordy woman. Take it from me a tattooed person,stay away from putting any words on the Body. Most people seem to regret them.

Anonymous said...

Love the MLK quote myself. Ok, I'm def in enemy territory here so I'm just gonna throw it down.

GO BLACKHAWKS!

Wil Harrison.com

Scott said...

Michelle,

The only words I have tattooed on my skin are in are in Nordic runes...when people ask me what it says, I say, 'Don't they teach Old Norse in schools anymore?" Oh, I do have some Japanese letters , too..the kanji for the word "Godzilla" next to a picture of his face.

I would fail a game of Bible Bowl...I know little of the Good Book...mostly just the stuff in Revelations about the end of the world and all the monsters involved in it.

Hope you have a good weekend! Take care!