A LONG, VIGOROUS AND ADVENTURE-FILLED LIFE...
Doris McCarthy, revered landscape painter, died November 25, four months after celebrating her 100th birthday --- born in Calgary on July 7, 1910.
"I have painted in every province in Canada, on purpose, because when I was 16, Arthur Lismer inspired me with the ambition to be a great painter of Canada, and I have been working at that goal ever since," she told The Globe in 2002.
Doris McCarthy had her own style. Deeply spiritual, she saw God everywhere, and her joyous expression of the forms that inspired her is what invites viewers into her world. She is also known for her liturgical art which includes the magnificent nativity creche she carved for St. Aiden's in the Beach, the Anglican church in which she was a lifelong member.
Art critic Sarah Milroy observed Doris as a woman utterly at ease with who she is, and with the life she has led (2004 profile). Doris McCarthy became one of the oldest graduates of the University of Toronto's Scarborough Campus when she received her honours degree at age 79. She received the Order of Ontario and Order of Canada.
HER MANTRA WAS THE WORD "YES"...as she herself wrote: "I love the world. I love nature. I love creation. I love life."
by Paula Citron, THE GLOBE AND MAIL, Saturday, November 27, 2010
Email blwoodard@shaw.ca -- Doris McCarthy, what an inspiration!! Do you have a story to share??
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
IS IT JUST ME, OR...
DO YOU remember when...you finally start to 'BE' yourself again after a knock-out punch from the flu or an injury. Do you silently, almost unknowingly say, THANK YOU! because you are so relieved you've turned-the-corner...it's almost OVER!
THEN, AS YOU HEAL, do you sense a feeling of humble-ness take hold? Do you seem to be moving at a slower pace? Do you start listening to your body...to others...intently? Do you feel a deeper sensitivity for life around you?
COULD IT BE we are, at this moment-in-time, feeling VULNERABLE to life itself? Could it be we've been touched by our divine-ness...that our HOLY SPIRIT is urging us to BE, just BE? To be quiet, to listen, to reflect; to be open to love of self and of other; to be, simply, BE-NESS.
Oh, to remain HUMBLE and VULNERABLE and just BE.
Sincerely,
Bonnie
Email blwoodard@shaw.ca -- I'd love to hear from you!
DO YOU remember when...you finally start to 'BE' yourself again after a knock-out punch from the flu or an injury. Do you silently, almost unknowingly say, THANK YOU! because you are so relieved you've turned-the-corner...it's almost OVER!
THEN, AS YOU HEAL, do you sense a feeling of humble-ness take hold? Do you seem to be moving at a slower pace? Do you start listening to your body...to others...intently? Do you feel a deeper sensitivity for life around you?
COULD IT BE we are, at this moment-in-time, feeling VULNERABLE to life itself? Could it be we've been touched by our divine-ness...that our HOLY SPIRIT is urging us to BE, just BE? To be quiet, to listen, to reflect; to be open to love of self and of other; to be, simply, BE-NESS.
Oh, to remain HUMBLE and VULNERABLE and just BE.
Sincerely,
Bonnie
"...the divine self perceived by Self" The Secret Doctrine, Vol.I by H.P. Blavatsky
Email blwoodard@shaw.ca -- I'd love to hear from you!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
LEST WE FORGET...In 2008 and 2009 I purchased Poppies from the same gentle-man, a Veteran, all decorated with medals. He pinned on my Poppy as tears, mixed with pride and sorrow, welled up in my eyes.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
by John McCrae
THE FIRST WORLD WAR was to be the war that ended all wars. European hostilities officially paused at 11a.m. on the 11th of November 1918. Starting in 1919, countries around the world have paused for a minute of silence to remember those who have sacrificed themselves for our freedom. The 11th of November was originally called ARMISTICE DAY but was changed to REMEMBRANCE DAY after the Second World War. (excerpt from THE COLUMBIA VALLEY PIONEER, by Howard Williams, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #71)
"LEAVE THE STREETS BEHIND" Toronto Homeless Veterans Project (24/09/2010)...Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Ontario Region (Toronto Sunnybrook Office), in partnership with The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL), Ontario Command, and the GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRIES, have initiated a HOMELESS VETERANS PROJECT in Toronto. www.vac-acc.gc.ca
PATRICK STOGRAN, Veterans Ombudsman prods Canadians over Afghanistan...
"...With combat operations slated to wind down next July, Thursday could be the last war-time REMEMBRANCE DAY for years to come. Nov. 11, the date the Armistice took effect in 1918 to end the slaughter of the First World War, was originally meant as a day of reflection. That kind of soul-searching should not be passed off lightly this year as the country makes the transition from war to self-imposed peace, Mr. Stogran said. He said ordinary citizens and political leaders should think seriously about how and when they commit soldiers to war and ask themselves why Canada was in Afghanistan in the first place..." by Murray Brewster OTTAWA The Canadian Press
THE STORY OF THE OLD VETERAN ON THE $10 BILL...he was born in England. He was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force and served in Dunkirk, North Africa and Italy. It was in Italy that he met his future wife at a Canadian hospital. After the war they settled in Chatham Ontario, retired to Ottawa. At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences. One day he received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. His daughter said that he had no idea he would be on the $10 bill. Robert Metcalfe is his name. He died this year at the age of 90. (Wally, thank you for this story!)
blwoodard@shaw.ca -- shared stories make our lives more meaningful !!
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
by John McCrae
THE FIRST WORLD WAR was to be the war that ended all wars. European hostilities officially paused at 11a.m. on the 11th of November 1918. Starting in 1919, countries around the world have paused for a minute of silence to remember those who have sacrificed themselves for our freedom. The 11th of November was originally called ARMISTICE DAY but was changed to REMEMBRANCE DAY after the Second World War. (excerpt from THE COLUMBIA VALLEY PIONEER, by Howard Williams, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #71)
"LEAVE THE STREETS BEHIND" Toronto Homeless Veterans Project (24/09/2010)...Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Ontario Region (Toronto Sunnybrook Office), in partnership with The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL), Ontario Command, and the GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRIES, have initiated a HOMELESS VETERANS PROJECT in Toronto. www.vac-acc.gc.ca
PATRICK STOGRAN, Veterans Ombudsman prods Canadians over Afghanistan...
"...With combat operations slated to wind down next July, Thursday could be the last war-time REMEMBRANCE DAY for years to come. Nov. 11, the date the Armistice took effect in 1918 to end the slaughter of the First World War, was originally meant as a day of reflection. That kind of soul-searching should not be passed off lightly this year as the country makes the transition from war to self-imposed peace, Mr. Stogran said. He said ordinary citizens and political leaders should think seriously about how and when they commit soldiers to war and ask themselves why Canada was in Afghanistan in the first place..." by Murray Brewster OTTAWA The Canadian Press
THE STORY OF THE OLD VETERAN ON THE $10 BILL...he was born in England. He was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force and served in Dunkirk, North Africa and Italy. It was in Italy that he met his future wife at a Canadian hospital. After the war they settled in Chatham Ontario, retired to Ottawa. At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences. One day he received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. His daughter said that he had no idea he would be on the $10 bill. Robert Metcalfe is his name. He died this year at the age of 90. (Wally, thank you for this story!)
blwoodard@shaw.ca -- shared stories make our lives more meaningful !!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF with UNDERSTANDING & LOVE, and make sure that you NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
Brahma Kumaris WORLD SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATION www.bkwsu.org
Programs 209-2988 (403) calgary@ca.bkwsu.org
blwoodard@shaw.ca -- email and share your story.
Brahma Kumaris WORLD SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATION www.bkwsu.org
Programs 209-2988 (403) calgary@ca.bkwsu.org
blwoodard@shaw.ca -- email and share your story.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
WHATEVER YOU DO....
YOU ARE CREATING YOUR OWN FUTURE.
Brahma Kumaris WORLD SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATION
Programs 209-2988 (403)
calgary@ca.bkwsu.org http://www.bkwsu.org/
blwoodard@shaw.ca -- email and share your spiritual journey
YOU ARE CREATING YOUR OWN FUTURE.
Brahma Kumaris WORLD SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATION
Programs 209-2988 (403)
calgary@ca.bkwsu.org http://www.bkwsu.org/
blwoodard@shaw.ca -- email and share your spiritual journey
Monday, November 1, 2010
REPEATED PATTERNS SHOW US OUR NEEDS...
FOR EVERY HABIT WE HAVE, for every experience we go through over and over, for every pattern we repeat, there is a NEED WITHIN US for it. The need corresponds to some BELIEF we have. If there were not a need, we wouldn't HAVE IT, DO IT, OR BE IT.
THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN US THAT NEEDS the fat, the poor relationships, the failures, the anger, the poverty, the abuse, or whatever there is that's a problem for us...
WORK ON THE WILLINGNESS TO RELEASE THE NEED. When the need is gone, you will have NO DESIRE for the illness, or the overeating or the negative pattern.
TO BATTLE ONLY THE OUTER EFFECT or symptom is WASTED ENERGY and often increases the problem.
excerpt from You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay
"The willingness to release the NEED..." rang true for me as I read this section over and over. Release the need...I asked myself WHY?? do I STILL carry my NEGATIVE PATTERNS, my BELIEFS after ALL these years. I can CHANGE MY PERSPECTIVE, MY BELIEFS...I AM FINALLY WILLING TO LET THEM GO...I DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE!!
blwoodard@shaw.ca -- share your story so others may benefit !!
FOR EVERY HABIT WE HAVE, for every experience we go through over and over, for every pattern we repeat, there is a NEED WITHIN US for it. The need corresponds to some BELIEF we have. If there were not a need, we wouldn't HAVE IT, DO IT, OR BE IT.
THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN US THAT NEEDS the fat, the poor relationships, the failures, the anger, the poverty, the abuse, or whatever there is that's a problem for us...
WORK ON THE WILLINGNESS TO RELEASE THE NEED. When the need is gone, you will have NO DESIRE for the illness, or the overeating or the negative pattern.
TO BATTLE ONLY THE OUTER EFFECT or symptom is WASTED ENERGY and often increases the problem.
excerpt from You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay
"The willingness to release the NEED..." rang true for me as I read this section over and over. Release the need...I asked myself WHY?? do I STILL carry my NEGATIVE PATTERNS, my BELIEFS after ALL these years. I can CHANGE MY PERSPECTIVE, MY BELIEFS...I AM FINALLY WILLING TO LET THEM GO...I DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE!!
blwoodard@shaw.ca -- share your story so others may benefit !!
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