The motto of this Web page :
Tears are God's way of melting a heart that was frozen in grief.
- Amanda Kingsley, played by Loretta Young in Christmas Eve, an NBC production.
The icon for this Web page is a picture which was taken in Fernhill Cemetery in Saint John, New Brunswick. When I took the picture, this was several years ago now, I wondered if my life was intertwined with that of its owner. That Christmas, I featured a picture of the angel on my Christmas card. Today, in February 2004, I confirmed that my life was intertwined with that of its owner."
I was "googling" for information about a cemetery on Partridge Island that I had visited on my 20th birthday when I stumbled across the Fernhill Cemetery Walking Tour. (I love old cemeteries.)
"Lot 3311 - Willow Avenue - McKELVEY Lot - This statue of an angel stands about 5"-6" tall. It is cut from white marble and sits on a western granite monument on which the family's inscriptions are written. Today, a grandson of the owner is a prominent member of the legal profession in Saint John."
The graveyard was the subject of a movie. "The most notable exception, and incidentally the film that Munro says he is most proud of, is the documentary Boo Hoo (1975), which follows an elderly undertaker on a semi-unauthorized tour through Fernhill Cemetery in St. John, New Brunswick. Our guide through the boneyard is a charming old codger with a genuine reverence and respect for the dead, but he also has his impish moments, reciting witty epitaphs from memory and generally looking on the bright side of… death. The film offers insightful revelations about human nature, grief and the inevitability of mortality, but does so with a heaping portion of mordant wit."
A great-grandson of the owner, a neurologist, a prominent member of the medical profession in New Brunswick. He was my doctor in 1996.
Today, another great-grandson of the owner is a prominent member of the engineering profession in Saint John. I had the pleasure of making his acquaintance on one of my jobs.
Perhaps, the story of this page's icon bears out the notion of Six degrees of separation "...—the notion that every person on the planet can reach every other through a chain of about six social ties...."
Inspiring Individuals
The following are the first two paragraphs of a speech that I gave to my Toastmasters Club:
"You probably didn't pay any attention to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, but you should have. It was the unoficial start of the 2008 Presidential campaign.
5 months earlier, I came home to my Brewer, Maine, motel room, flopped on the bed, turned on the T.V., and changed the channel to C-SPAN. I watched Sen. Bill Frist, M.D., speak at the 5th Annual Ronald Reagan Dinner. Shivers ran up and down my spine and tears ran down my face. I know who I'll be supporting in 2008. I'm happy to report that my man overwhelming won the straw poll at the Conference."
213 after his death, Benjamin Franklin continues to inspire. My son is one of his admirers. He was introduced to him through the PBS kids' cartoon, Liberty's Kids.
He wrote the following creed in 1790, the year of his death:
"...I believe in one God, the creator of the universe. That he governs by his providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think his system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequences, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and more observed; especially as I do not perceive that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in his government of the world with any peculiar marks of his displeasure."
At New Brunswick's 10th Annual Conference on Women's Health & Well-Being, a woman described the hour which she spends daily watching Oprah as being at "the Church of Oprah!" If, like her and I , you can't get enough of Oprah's unique inspiration, visit her on-line.
"A pediatric neurosurgeon of world-renown, and a mentor to countless individuals of all ages, Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., carries with him his message of hope for and faith in the human spirit and the remarkable ability of the human brain. To all who say that circumstances in their lives have made personal success impossible, Dr. Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, is living proof that perseverance, prayer, and self-respect, combined with a devotion to acquiring knowledge, can overcome any obstacles in one's way."
"...His latestest endeavor, the BEN Fund, helps patients without insurance." - Phaken, Kathleen. "Brain power," USA Weekend, June 20-22, 2003, p. 16.
"Jerry Chamales travels a hard road to the top.
Gerald "Jerry" Chamales didn't have the kind of resume that inspires confidence. At the age of 26 he was a street bum: addicted to drugs and alcohol, sleeping in homeless shelters or crashing on a friend's sofa. He spent six months in a psychiatric hospital.
Today, Chamales, 48, is president and CEO of a $35 million company and lives in a mansion just down the block from the site of O.J. Simpson's former Brentwood estate. Here's how the fairytale unfolds."
A beautiful tribute to the People's Princess by the Monarchy Web Site.
At one time, one could visit champion cyclist Lance Armstrong's website to read the entire first chapter of his new book "Every New Second Counts."
Earlier today, when Jeremy got off his bike to wait for a street light to change, he said, "It feels like the wind is giving me a hug." Perhaps that is how Lance feels.
Visit champion cyclist Lance Armstrong's foundation website. The motto of his foundation is: "Enhancing the Quality of Life for Those Living With, Through and Beyond Cancer."
"Who among us hasn't dreamed the delicious, impossible dream of leaving everything behind and heading off to travel the world? This is the story of a suburban Canadian family who did just that."
Easing the pain of HIV/AIDs in Africa.
"Established to provide for the educational and emotional needs of children whose parents have been harassed, injured, lost jobs, or died in the course of their progressive activities and who, therefore, are no longer able to fully provide for their children. Professionals and institutions will be awarded grants to provide the children with services at no or reduced cost."
"Make A Difference Day is a unique program that inspires and rewards volunteers. A national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone who helps others on October 25, 2003 and sends in an entry form is eligible for a national or local award and for a cash donation to a charitable cause."
"The Random Acts of Kindness™ Foundation inspires people to practice kindness and to “pass it on” to others. We provide free educational and community ideas, guidance, and other resources to kindness participants through our website at www.actsofkindness.org."
A new grassroots walking program.
According to a 2003-2004 edition of the Globe & Mail:
Inspirational Resources
"Spirituality.com is a Web community for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of spirituality and life in order to make a difference in the world. It is a resource for every individual's spiritual journey.
The book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy is the inspiration for this site...."
"...visit The People's Cyber Nation...often and learn how you can use its powerful information, tools and resources to take your life to a new level of success." While you're there, subscribe to Great Quote to start your day on a positive note!, e-mail you will look forward to getting.
"The Father Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reuniting fathers with their children and fostering a continued connection between fathers, mothers and children," as featured on Oprah.
"Now & Zen, Inc. is a manufacturing and publishing company making products that can best be described as "cultural artifacts of the Spiritual Renaissance." Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Now & Zen's mission is to create beautiful tools for your spiritual development. Every Now & Zen product acts as an interactive part of a lifestyle of spiritual practice."
Episode #202 of Touched by an Angel: "Interview With An Angel"
At right, the statue "Flying Free" is shown, at the base of the escalators in the Montreal Children's Hospital.
This episode of Touched by an Angel, with its message of forgiveness and redemption, has particular meaning for me (See: my favourite legal links.). After successfully completing a surgery that saved the life of the drunk driver who, years earlier, had killed his five children, Joe is shown the sculpture Lisa, his wife, has been crafting: it is a statue of their children sledding--the activity they were en route to when the accident occurred. During our Christmas 1996 trip to Montreal, my son and I became ill. We were isolated at the base of the escalator at the Montreal Children's Hospital. That entrance to the hospital was closed for the evening and we were all alone. I was terrified and I began to pray to God for strength. When I looked up, I saw a statue; it was the statue in this episode of Touched by an Angel! The statue now stands outside the entrance to the emergency room. According to the guard who was on duty the night that we stayed at the hospital, this episode of Touched by an angel was based upon a true story. The name of the statue is "Flying Free."
"Interview with an Angel" is included in "Touched by an angel :stories from the hit television series" by Martha Williamson with Robin Sheets
"FOLLOWYOURDREAMS.COM is [there] to provide Inspirational Roadside Assistance for your Journey to your Dreams." Subribe to their Daily Inspiration, a daily quote, affirmation, and image.
"If you want to know where your life is headed, you've got to read the signs. Discover three liberating trusths that will put you on the road to success."
Operation Christmas Child: A Project of Samaritan's Purse
"Your Encouraging, Online Community."
In a year-long plan, O, The Oprah Magazine, Oprah.com and a panel of experts from LLuminari team up to give you more spring in your step!
THE WEIGH DOWN WORKSHOP APPROACH: "...the cure is having the person (not the food or the pill) take the responsibility and learn to be content with the amount of food that God has allotted for each person for the day, ending this embarrassing lust for more. Faith in God needs to be rekindled."
"These award winning Public Service Announcements produced for television are being seen on average over 2 million times per day on seven networks and over 900 TV stations. They are also being shown in all United Artists, Regal and Edwards movie theaters totaling over 6,000 screens across the country."
You can even see these commercials at McDonald's in South Station in Boston.
The bargains at these Web sites are awe inspiring.
Recently, I bought my son's birthday gifts at this Web site. The shipment arrived promptly, about 2 weeks earlier than exprected.
"Thank you for visiting the Life Cycle Books web site, North America's foremeost publisher of pro-life and abstinence only educational materials!"
Shepherd's Path is a truly Ecumenical Religious Gift & Bookstore
Send Jeremy or Rexanna an e-mail!
Optimized for Netscape 2.0 or better. Last Updated September 9, 2008.
Graphics provided by Animation Factory.
Copyright Rexanna M. Keats 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. All Rights Reserved.