Banking on Tomorrow

 Day 1:  Prayerful Noticing We notice moments of gratitude, peace, joy, irritation, fear, sadness, resistance, compassion, and love.  We ask: Where was God present? Where was I open to God? Where did I resist God? What might God be inviting me to see? I find it hard to see the Lord moving in the mundane things - doing the laundry, cleaning up around the place, scrolling on social media, et al.   This prayer assumes that God is already present in our days. The question is whether we are learning to notice. Read Foster’s prayer connected to the Examen.  Spirit of the Living God, You have been with me today, and I thank you. There was sunrise and sunset, and I am grateful for both. Family and friends are gifts of your grace. The creativity to envision new possibilities and the strength to bring them into reality are signs of your action in my life. Thank you, Lord for being with me today. Amen.  (Foster, Prayers from the Heart) As you read, ask:  Wh...

  Scarborough Marsh in September

Moments that seem to define an entire generation: My grandparents remembered the day the stock market crashed, which came to mark the beginning of the Great Depression.  News was slower for that generation and this was more of a gradual onslaught of consequences for everyone.   My parents could tell me where they were when they heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor that precipitated the US joining in WWII against fascism - and introduce the world to the horror of atom bombs My generation can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when the news that JFK had been assassinated was spread.  On that day we lost the idea of Camelot and the days that followed laid the foundation of a deep distrust of what the government was telling us. My kids know where they were and what they were doing 25 years ago today.  This was the start of the Patriot Act, TSA, Islamophobia, and wars in the Middle East "to combat terrorism" that only seems to have made matte...

Day 1: Honest Prayer 1. Stop and reflect--where am I and what am I feeling? 2. Imagine--what words or thoughts describe who you are and where you are at THIS moment? 3. Pray for 3–5 minutes. Here are some possible starting points: Right now I feel hurt, and disregarded, unappreciated and devalued..  The one thing I wanted in life was to matter and I don't feel like I do.  Granted that I have never made work my identity, but I did expect myself to be seen as a professional, not as housekeeping.   God, here I am . . .   This is what is true in me today : I am unmotivated to work, to sew, to do anything.  I just want to distract myself from reality.  I'm not happy with myself when I am like this - and if I don't like myself, how can I expect others to care about me.  How can I expect the God to give a damn if I don't? Meet me here.   I'm sorry.  "Lord I am not worthy; only say the Word and my soul shall be healed" Reflect: Where do I feel ...

  Beinn Eighe in the morning Bottom to top:  Lewiston Gneiss: 1.65 billion years old.  Torridon Sandstone: +/- 1 billion years old.  Cambrian Quartzite: A mere 550 million years old. Photo by Steve Carter @GetCarter@mastodonapp.uk

 Today is the 6th day of the 36th week, the 4th day of the 9th month, the 247th day of 2026 [ with only 111 shopping days until Christmas ], and: Bring Your Manners to Work Day College Colors Day Eat an Extra Desert Day National Chianti Day National Food Bank Day National Lazy Mom's Day National Leadership Day National Macadamia Nut Day National Newspaper Carrier Day National Spice Blend Day National Wildlife Day Stand Up to Cancer Day Wear Teal Day the moon is at its last quarter as of 3:51 AM EDT Quote of the day: " Time and memory are true artists; they remold reality nearer to the heart's desire " ~ John Dewey - American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer  [ no relation to Melvil Dewey who created the Dewey Decimal Classification ]  Today in my photo memories app, this picture from 2017 pooped up.  The fountain was located in a gazebo in the middle of the grassy area between the three buildings.   It was a peaceful place on the grounds ...

Del Mar in San Diego County, California, just north of La Jolla https://petersironwood.com/2022/08/06/castles-made-of-sand/

 Today is the 4th day of the 35th week, the 26th day of the 8th month, the 238th day of 2026 [ with only 120 shopping days until Christmas ], and: International Dog Day - promoting dog adoption and animal welfare since 2004 Make Your Own Luck Day Musical Yoga Day National Cherry Popsicle Day National Got Checked Day National McChicken Day National Toilet Paper Day - the date when the first roll was sold back in 1871 by Scott National WebMistress Day Willing-To-Lend-A-Hand Wednesday Women's Equality Day - the 19th Amendment was ratified by the 36th state [Tennessee two days ago] and on this day in 1920, the Secretary of State officially signed the proclamation that made it part of the Constitution.   World Painted Dog Day - AKA the African wild dog   the Blood Moon is at waxing gibbous and 98% full - and there is a partial lunar eclipse tomorrow Quote of the day: " Christmas is the day that holds all time together ." ~ Alexander Smith - Scottish poet and essayist from ...

  The Gunpowder from the NCR trail posted by Michael Swygert

 

  "Today's weather" posted by Steve Carter the NW Scottish Highlands

  From the Manhattan Project National Historical Park: On August 6, 1945 at 8:16 am in Hiroshima (7:16 pm August 5th on the US East Coast), after falling for 43 seconds from the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, the Little Boy atomic bomb detonated 1,968 feet (600 meters) above the city, 550 feet (168 meters) from the Aioi Bridge. One second later the fireball reached maximum size, 900 feet in diameter (274 meters). The mushroom cloud began to form. As temperatures on the ground reached 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit (3871 Celsius), buildings melted and fused together, human and animal tissue vaporized. The blast wave traveled at 984 miles per hour in all directions, demolishing over two-thirds of Hiroshima’s buildings in a massive, expanding firestorm. Eighty thousand people were instantly killed or grievously wounded. Over 100,000 more would die from the bomb’s effects in the coming months. Image Credit: US National Archives & Records Administration The United States of America is the ...

Lake Ontario,  Sodus NY

  East Point Audubon Sanctuary .

 Today is the 6th day of the 30th week, the 24th day of the 7th month, the 205th day of 2026, and: Amelia Earhart Day Cousins Day International Self Care Day LumberJack Day National Drive Thru Day National Frozen Margarita Day National Tell an Old Joke Day National Tequila Day National Talk in an Elevator Day National Thermal Engineer Day - traditionally considered to be the hottest day of the year Pioneer Day - commemorates the Mormons' arrival to Salt Lake Valley in 1847  Samaritans Awareness Day   the moon is in the waning gibbous stage, 70% of full Quote of the day: " If in the twilight of memory we should meet once more, we shall speak again together and you shall sing to me a deeper song ." ~ Khalil Gibran - from the final chapter of The Prophet The world is going to hell in a handbasket.  I am 76 years old and still working full-time because I cannot afford to retire - and currently struggling to fill two positions as my cohort is on vacation.  I'm still ...

  July's Picture of the Month https://esawebb.org/images/potm2606a/

 

  Zooming in on Queen Anne's Lace https://new-savanna.blogspot.com/2026/06/zooming-in-on-queen-annes-lace.html

  "Dreaming Under The Stars" photographed by Hugo Valle.

  Big Clouds posted by @Michigander@toad.social  on Mastadon 06.15.2026