By S M Chen “Life is like a canvas. One should throw as much color on it as possible.” –Danny Kaye (1911-1987) – American actor, singer, comedian It’s wonderful to see how colorful life is for my 6-year-old grandson. For a time, he took martial arts and gym class. I bought him a tennis racquet […]

By S M Chen, posted June 19, 2017  “Love your enemy. It will not only puzzle him, but finally illumine him.” — Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007), Indian spiritual leader “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate […]

By S M Chen, posted June 14, 2017 She holds the cone ever gently, cradling the gift. Exquisite thing, delicate hands. With wonderment she considers its strange beauty. *** Maybe lethal, but not to touch. If this be thing most deadly she encounters she will have been blest with good fortune. *** As what she […]

This was written after a bike ride to work, watching an unusually brilliant and colorful sunrise stretching across the entire sky. The metaphor of a choral piece seemed appropriate. —Jim McMillan,  Darkness. Then, From behind the mountain curtain A single voice, With simple melody glows dimly. Others join, Singing, a swelling chant. All voices in […]

By S M Chen, posted June 5, 2017    “One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” Helen Keller (1880-1968); 1st deaf-blind person to earn a B.A. degree (Radcliffe, 1904) [Photo from pixabay.com] The eagle is purportedly the only bird that responds to rain in a unique way: when it rains, […]

By S M Chen, May 23, 2017     “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.” Anonymous A mountain of a man, I’d say, Like the mountain on which he stood. For forty days, two times a day He dared to fight us if we would. *** A freak of nature, […]

By S M Chen, posted May 15, 2017     “A bird is three things: feathers, flight and song. And feathers are the least of these.” – Marjorie Allen Seiffert (1885-1970), American poet Swarming (defined as “moving somewhere in large numbers”) in the animal kingdom occurs with regularity. As with mating, birds do it. Bees do it. […]

By S M Chen, posted 5/9/17     “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” –Agatha Christie, British writer (1890-1976) Mother’s Day approaches. I was blest to have a mother who, […]

Poem by S M Chen, posted May 1, 2017   The good health that was visited on you When you were young, and maybe from your birth, Has made your life the richer, and your worth Is measured by the things you love to do.   It seems that few of any age can keep […]

By S M Chen, posted April 24, 2017 “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32. “In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.” – The Dalai Lama A recent edition of the Los Angeles Times contained this column: “There’s no such thing as a […]

Photo by S M Chen, posted Apr 17, 2017 “…and the sun stood still in the midst of  heaven…” Joshua 10:13 “The heavens declare the glory of God…” Psalm 19:1

By S M Chen, posted April 10, 2017    “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” –Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), longest serving FLOTUS [Photo by D Kovacs] Start with one comely young man of great promise: Rescues lamb from jaws of bear. Rescues sheep from clutches of lion. […]