Friday Five

A long while back, I used to be a faithful player to the "Friday Five."  That's five questions posted on Fridays for RevGal bloggers, and we respond and post our thoughts.  Feeling the urge to play today, so here are their questions and my answers!

1. A color that you enjoy (and where you find it) - maybe it's because I was recently on vacation, but I enjoy the color blue...specifically Caribbean blue found rippling around the U.S. Virgin Islands.

2. A food or drink you have discovered recently that is just da bomb!  Last October, I discovered (through the generosity of a friend) the Spiced Caramel Apple Cider at Starbuck's....taste of world peace, people!

3. A simile for tiredness - Tiredness is like a slow leak in your tire.

4. A random picture from your phone, camera or computer - hard to choose, but I love this pic of a little boy in our church and me.  Somehow, we both ended up looking at the camera and smiling at the same time...a rare occurrence indeed.

5. Your least favorite bill: car mechanic, dentist or plumber?  Car mechanic!

BONUS: If you are going to have a Lenten practice or discipline, what is it? If you have a book or on-line resource, be sure to share it!

This one is a little scary because if I write it, I will have to do it.  I've got a few things happening at church, but for me personally, I will be participating in a book study on-line (I hope with the facebook group called New Benedictine Community).  We are looking at a book called "Awareness" by Anthony deMello.  But, the practice that will likely be hardest is keeping my mouth shut.  I very much want to cease and desist saying negative things about individuals.  

So, that is my Friday Five!

I can only do so much

Sometimes, I look at the CNN news web-site, and the stories of cruelty that I find there are overwhelming.  It can be human to human cruelty, and this week, it was human to animal cruelty.  I realize that there are many differing opinions on what defines cruelty, but between the stories of the stray dogs in Sochi being rounded up and killed and the giraffe in the Copenhagen Zoo being shot and fed to lions due to overpopulation...well, those stories literally turned my stomach.

We live in a disposable society where it is deemed appropriate to kill something to get it out of the way.  Not only is it deemed appropriate, sometimes spectators show up for the show.

This morning, one of my Sunday group participants lamented that the news often made her feel helpless because there was only so much that she could do.

And, I guess these stories make me feel the same way.  There is only so much I can do.  Now, the question is....does that cause me to give up?  Or, does it cause me to do what I can with a renewed spirit?

Time will tell.