BREVES COMENTARIOS A "LOS DOMINGOS": (I, LEUNIG)

Que Dios esté con la madre. 
Que, como ella llevó a su hijo, lleve también su alma. 
Que, como su hijo nació, dé vida y forme 
su propia verdad superior. Que, como ella alimentó y protegió a su hijo, alimente y proteja su vida interior y su independencia. 
Porque su alma será su parto más doloroso, 
su hijo más difícil y la hermana más querida de sus otros hijos. 

Amén.

El amor nace, 
con rostro oscuro y atribulado. 
Cuando la esperanza muere, 
y en el lugar más inesperado, 
nace el amor: 
el amor siempre nace. 

Amén.

 

Michael Leunig (1949-2024)

God give us rain when we expect sun.
Give us music when we expect trouble.
Give us tears when we expect breakfast.
Give us dreams when we expect a storm.
Give us a stray dog when we expect congratulations.
God play with us, turn us sideways and around.

Amen.

 

 

“I use the word 'God' conscious of the fact that there are many who may find it objectionable – and others who may find my casual use of the word too irreverent or shallow. For all sorts of reasons people can be very touchy about this word; in my view they seem either too earnest, too proprietorial, too fanatical, too averse, too phobic... There is however no ultimate authority or definition. The word is yours or mine to make of it and hold or discard it as we will…"God" as a sort of shorthand password, an inconclusive folk word, a signpost, a catalyst, a spark, a stepping stone, a simple makeshift handle ... A simple robust word used lightly and loosely or as devoutly and deeply as we might feel – a bridge, and a way to break free from this material world for a moment or two, a day or two... or for what's left of a lifetime.”

EN FUENCARRAL, CON LAS HORMIGAS Y UN DESCONOCIDO (ROBERTSON DAVIES)

 

(Contemplado hoy las “carreteras” de las hormigas.Algunos “ individuos” son hormigas pero "saben" lo que hacen)

 

Complicado y denso es el bordado de las circunstancias.
Costura de hormigas en la hierba.
Hierba cosida a la tierra.
Diseño de olas sobre el que se enhebra un tallo.
Por casualidad estoy aquí y miro.

(…)
Ante esta visión siempre me abandona la certeza
De que lo importante
Es más importante que lo insignificante

Wislava Szymborska

 

There is no nonsense so gross that society will not, at some time, make a doctrine of it and defend it with every weapon of communal stupidity 

 

The love of truth lies at the root of much humor

 

 

 

 A sense of wonder is in itself a religious feeling. But in so many people the sense of wonder gets lost. It gets scarred over. It's as though a tortoise shell has grown over it. People reach a stage where they're never surprised, never delighted. They're never suddenly aware of glorious freedom or splendour in their lives. This is very unhappy, very unfortunate. The attitude is often self-induced. It is fear. People are afraid to be happy

 

Robertson Davies 

 

 

There was not one hireling there. I have no doubt that it was a principle they fought for, as much as our ancestors, and not to avoid a three-penny tax on their tea; and the results of this battle will be as important and memorable to those whom it concerns as those of the battle of Bunker Hill, at least.”

(HDT, Walden Brute Neighbors)

MICHAEL LEUNIG

Our leaders have been for many years as oblivious to the realities and dangers of their time as were George III and Lord North. They believe that the difference between war and peace is still the overriding political difference—when, in fact, the difference has diminished to the point of insignificance. How would you describe the difference between modern war and modern industry—between, say, bombing and strip mining, or between chemical warfare and chemical manufacturing? The difference seems to be only that in war the victimization of humans is directly intentional and in industry it is “accepted” as a “trade-off.”

Wendell Berry

 (Word and Flesh. Whole Earth Review, Spring 1990)