Involved In Mankind

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee."


This is an excerpt from John Donne (1572-1631), Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII: Nunc Lento Sonitu Dicunt, Morieris.


Oh, to be so involved in Life and in living, that we are deeply occupied with mankind. Each one a unique creation, each one loved by his Creator. To look into the eyes of a stranger and see God's hand. To draw true Life out of and into the soul of a young person. To look beyond the walls, constructed so carefully and fearfully. To love our neighbor as ourself. 


Oh Lord, give us the enabling Grace to embrace to lives of others, for your sake.


Amen

We Have Not Because We Ask Not

Have you ever thought that this may be true in our conversations with others? Our words are a valuable asset for us. They can, of course, be a liability, too. But, when we put our words together, with purpose, in conversational form with another person, great things can happen. All too often, though, nothing amazing happens, other than just another flat, uninteresting conversation.

Maybe our verbal interactions with others are flat because we don't ask questions. Questions are the fuel of an exchange between people. Without questions, the talk begins to unwind quickly.

As believers, we have a lot to say, don't you agree? Wouldn't you like your conversations to be memorable for all involved? With questions, we can keep it interesting. Its kind of like keeping a balloon in the air. It doesn't take much effort, but you have to stay with it.

It is the little questions, like:

"Wouldn't you agree?'
"What are your thoughts?"
"Do you find this interesting?"
"What is your take on this issue?"

Just some examples. There are as many queries as there are opportunities. We have been given the most important information on this earth, and we are responsible to impart it. An engaging dialogue with a person can be so much more effective than a mini-sermon, or even a threat of eternity in hell.

Don't you agree?

Just asking....

On The Twelfth Day Of Budapest

It is our 12th day of living in Budapest! In this short time we have moved in to our nice little apartment, become somewhat used to public transportation, and have become competent with the mental math of thinking forints and not dollars. 

And today we have internet! We are no longer cut off from the outside world! 

So we restart our blog, keeping the Verticalink title. It is a good title, so I see no need to change it.

Much has changed for us. The air is cold, but very much like New England, and therefore nostalgically comfortable. Walking is now a way of life, and no more something that we should, and will some day, do more of. And stairs! So many stairs. Everywhere. Especially at the school, however. Our precious school building is set up vertically rather than horizontally. Four floors. No elevator. High ceilings. Long stair cases. I teach on the fourth floor. I think you get it.

Loving it here, in spite of the assorted adjustments.