I don’t think anyone is sad to see this year coming to a close. It’s been a difficult year for everyone. Hopefully with vaccines and better treatments authorized for use and more effective leadership at all levels, we will soon have the deadly COVID-19 pandemic under control.

The virus caused a great deal of disruption. Almost all of our art club meetings were cancelled, as were all of our art association shows. Some artists have responded by taking part in virtual shows and online events. For some, the increased “alone time” has resulted in greater productivity; for others, isolation has made it more difficult to unleash any creative spirit.

Hopefully better days are on the horizon.

As I always do at the end of the year, I want to spend a little time looking back at where I’ve been and what I’ve done. It’s been an interesting year, and I…

The greek translation of the poem “Boxes”.

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Όλοι ζείτε μέσα σε κουτιά.

Ζω επίσης μέσα σε ένα κουτί.

Το κουτί μου είναι πολύ μικρό.

Αλλά υποθέτω ότι το μέγεθος του κουτιού δεν έχει σημασία.

Παραμένει πάντα ένα κουτί.

Το κουτί μου μερικές φορές είναι σκοτεινό.

Αλλά υποθέτω ότι η φωτεινότητα δεν έχει σημασία.

Παραμένει πάντα ένα κουτί.

Αυτά είναι τα κουτιά που χτίζουμε για τον εαυτό μας.

Τα κουτιά ασφαλείας μας για να κρυφτούμε.

Και όταν νομίζετε ότι κανείς δε σας παρακολουθεί,

πάντοτε υπάρχει ένα κινούμενο, υγρό μάτι εκεί πέρα.

Κολλημένο επάνω στα σώματα – κολλημένο στη ψυχή σας.

Ακόμα και όταν είσαι μόνος στο κουτί σου,

παρατηρείς τον εαυτό σας.

Και μετά το κουτί περιστρέφεται.

Τι θα συμβαίνει;

Τί είναι αυτά τα κουτιά που έχουμε κατασκευάσει;

Δεν αναρωτιέται κανείς,

αν αυτό είναι το κατάλληλο μέρος για να είμαστε;

Ένα σάπιο κουτί.

Τα κουτιά που έχουν φτιάξει για εσάς.

Τα…

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SAINT JOHN APOSTLE & EVANGELIST 

APOCALYPSE

‘REVELATION’ 

CHAPTER XX

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Then an angel came down from heaven,

holding in his hand the key to the Abyss

and a huge chain.

He seized the monster the ancient serpent,

namely Satan or the devil,

and chained him for a thousand years.

He threw him into the abyss

and closed its gate with the key,

then secured it with locks,

that he might not deceive the nations in the future

until the thousand years have passed.

Then he will be released for a little while.

There were thrones

and seated on them were those with the power to judge.

I then saw the spirits of those

who had been beheaded for having held the teachings of Jesus

and on account of the word of God.

I saw all those

who had refused to worship the beast or its image,

or receive…

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”
First he said, “Sacrifices and…

The Work of Christmas
by Howard Thurman

 When the song of the angels is stilled,
 When the star in the sky is gone,
 When the kings and princes are home,
 When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
 The work of Christmas begins:
      To find the lost,
      To heal the broken,
      To feed the hungry,
      To release the prisoner,
      To rebuild the nations,
      To bring peace among the people,
      To make music in the heart. 

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This poem and others by Howard Thurman can be found in The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations, published by Friends United Press.