Light and love and Dr. King

I know I'm about a month late to the party, but for some reason, this Christmas-y snippet came to me today:

"Let your heart be light" © Holly DeWolf http://bit.ly/10nUkSu

Really?? I asked the snippet. How can I? Knowing what I know and struggling as I struggle...and knowing how others struggle—much, much more than I do... How can I possibly let my heart be light?

Just "let it be"... the snippet seemed to say ...in spite of everything that weighs on you, "lay your burdens down" and "let your heart be light." (My subconscious sometimes speaks to me in medleys.)

...not only eased of those burdens—your own and others'—but "let your heart be light," as in "let your little light shine."

Oh, what a little light mine is, I mused.

Better lift it up, then, replied the snippet—like those gravity lamps on Science Friday with Ira Flatow (http://n.pr/VxhYIm). (Yep, that's what the snippet said.) 

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.~Matthew 5:14-16, King James Version

...or, "Here’s another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."~Matthew 5:14-16, The Message
  
Another famous figure said something significant about light—someone who knew much-too-much about suffering, struggling, who had many "sins and griefs to bear" for himself and the world, and yet—look here—even he let his heart be light:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness:

only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate:

only love can do that.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A-Typical sightings: A hot car, an exchange of flashes...hey, whatever it takes to see us through the dead of winter!

A Jaguar in Albion. Yep, really. Saw one yesterday, driven by an attractive young blonde woman. Cool, I thought. And then...

...she pulled into the McDonald's drive-thru! Such a disappointment.

*     *     *     *     *

Today at the drugstore, I saw a handsome, well-dressed, completely bald-headed man with beautiful teeth. Part Messr. Metro, part Mr. Clean. The reason I know he had beautiful teeth is that he flashed them at me in the checkout line. Granted, I flashed mine first. (My, this sounds racy...but it's not!)

"Did you win the lottery?" Metro Man asked me.

"Huh? Oh! No..." I replied, realizing he wanted me to explain my seemingly random grin.

"I was just shopping for deodorant for my husband," I said, still bemused. "I don't know if I've ever shopped for men's deodorant, so I didn't anticipate the machismo marketing...

"Did you know that could can buy a twin pack of Old Spice--'2 Manly Deodorants' together?! I wonder how many men have fallen for that ploy!!"

Quickly, I glanced down at the counter. Whew! Lucky for me, this guy wasn't one of 'em--at least, not today.

Unlike Jaguar Lady with her low-brow palate, I can go on imagining that this city slicker passer-through graces his 'pits with nothing less than Ralph Lauren.

It's a silliness to record these things, I suppose, but such diversions lend my spirit a lightness that winter's lack of light threatens to extinguish.

Stew, Stan, and "Mom, you're fired!"

Best Flat Stanley photo ever? Probably not yet! Auntie Steph outdoes herself as hostess...again.

This morning my 7-year-old daughter threatened to have me fired. I had booted her off the couch and TV. I had made her practice her piano lesson. And then--then!!--I insisted she find her own clothes and dress herself. "I'm going to have Papa fire you!" she declared. I found it intriguing that she wished to delegate even this task.

I haven't been blogging much (obviously). I haven't been writing much or reading much or running much, either...or doing any of the other sort of supplementary stuff that I enjoy. I'm just going about my business of job and family duties, nibbling on the leftovers of time and circumstances, under-nourished in the hobby department. (Inspired by a recent essay by Houghton College President Shirley Mullen, I even checked out of the local library the little book, Painting as a Pastime, by Winston Churchill...like a month ago! Then renewed it. Haven't read it yet.)

Fortunately, I have Flat Stanley. My third-grader son is participating in the worldwide literature-based geography project where children mail 8x10 cardstock figures to friends and family living throughout the country and the world. My best friend lives in London, so we sent Stanley there. When my oldest daughter was in third grade, my best friend was living in Iowa City, so we sent Stanley there. Amazingly, my best friend can make Iowa City and London equally interesting to an 8-year-old! Anyway, I felt jealous of Stanley's travels, and also of my friend's opportunity for this diversion from the doldrums of winter living, I made my own Stanley from a template I found online. Finding and photographing ways to "Stan" in our daily activities has provided a much-needed post-holiday source of amusement. So, there's that.

I'm running out of time to write (as usual), and the real reason I got online was to preserve this recipe that one of my co-workers shared with me a few weeks ago. She printed it up on a piece of paper, which spells almost certain doom for almost any piece of paper entering my home. So, I thought I'd share it with you, dear readers--mainly for the purpose of keeping track of it, with the additional benefit of giving ya'll a yummy supper sometime soon. Bon appetit!

White Bean Stew

1/4 c. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large red onion, chopped
4 large tomatoes, chopped
2 14-oz. cans white beans (such as cannellini, great norther or navy), drained and rinsed
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
2 T. chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the oil in a 2-qt. pot over med-high heat. Add garlic and onion and cook, stirring, until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 min. Add the tomato, beans, salt, pepper and rosemary. Cook until heated through, 5-10 min. Sprinkle with cheese. (Serves 4)