“If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.” -William Blake, poet, engraver, and painter (28 Nov 1757-1827)
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Thought For the Day: If the Doors of Perception Were Cleansed Everything Would Appear To Man As It Is, Infinite
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Appear, Cleanse, Doors, If, Infinite, Mankind, Perception, Poetry and Poems, William Blake
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A Single Word
A Single Word
by Michael Doyle
A single word divided night from day
This is the goodness found in God's way
Amidst life's tears and cheerful laughter
His goodness is worth running after
As long as it is that I am capable
I will remain resolute and faithful
In every moment continuing to surrender
His mercy is delivered mild and tender
In this season of thoughtful gratitude
We link arms in prayer, keeping right attitude
Encouraged as we are to stay this course
And giving as we are in our every resource
(c) November 27, 2022 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Posted in Poetry and Poems
Tagged Capable, Course, Divided, Encourage, Giving, Goodness, Laughter, Mercy, Night From Day, Poetry and Poems, Prayer, Resolute, Resource, Right Attitude, Season, Single Word, Surrender, Tears
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First Principles: If We Can Prevent the Government From Wasting the Labors of the People, Under the Pretense of Taking Care of Them, They Must Become Happy
“If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Cooper, 1802
Posted in First Principles
Tagged First Principles, Government, Happy, Labors, Must, Pretense, Prevent, Taking Care, The People, Thomas Jefferson, Waste
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Thought For the Day: A Body of Clay, A Mind Full of Play, A Moment’s Life – That’s Me
“A body of clay, a mind full of play, a moment’s life — that’s me.” -Harivansh Rai Bachchan, poet (27 Nov 1907-2003)
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Body, Clay, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Life, Me, Mind, Moment, Play, Thought For the Day
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Ode To Overindulgence
Ode To Overindulgence
by Michael Doyle
Despite the holiday season being reserved
For the best of things humanity has deserved
Something needs to be said with resplendence
About our communal habits of overindulgence
In the book of life's worst lessons unlearned
Is the soul of this matter fully discerned
Somewhere between multiple turkeys and pumpkin pies
The binge is on to pad the calories on our thighs
There we sit in our unloosened sweats and jeans
Believing we're eating happiness in our American dreams
No one dares to disturb this consumptive jubilation
After all 4000 calories leads the way to our celebration
Let it be remembered how this habit started
Though these bleakest of times have long since departed
But the feasts were once the days no one went to be hungry
And that my friends is a cause of joy and not to be angry
Eating has become a social matter of much given pleasure
Each morsel a memory that we will somehow always treasure
Let's kept it known that eating with others makes food better
There is an intrinsic value measurable in feasting together
A calculated bit of hedonism there in it's disinhibition
Of joy, pleasure and overindulgence in it exhibition
Don't ever let a stomachache dampen the festive spirit
But instead build the memories and then then never forget it
Studies worldwide have shown a few extra pounds per human being
Will not lower the happiness or wellness of our well-being
Living with balance and letting love lead us along the way
This is the path of getting through best on the holidays
Along with the feasting let's add the thanks to this day
Losing the feasting next and keeping gratitude in every way
Don't beat yourself up as you begin to build this foundation
But rather make a plate of happiness enjoyed without explanation
(c) November 26, 2022 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
First Principles: Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving , and His Courts With Praise. Give Thanks To Him and Praise His Name
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” – Psalm 100:4-5
Posted in First Principles
Tagged Continue, Courts, Enter, Faithfulness, First Principles, Forever, Gates, Generations, Good, His, His Love, His Name, Lord, Praise, Psalm 100:4-5, Thanks, Thanksgiving
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Thought For the Day: I Am In the Habit of Looking Not So Much To the Nature of A Gift As To the Spirit Which It Is Offered
“I am in the habit of looking not so much to the nature of a gift as to the spirit in which it is offered.” -Robert Louis Stevenson, novelist, essayist, and poet (13 Nov 1850-1894)
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Gift, Habit, Look, Nature, Offered, Robert Luis Stevenson, Spirit, Thought For the Day
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Thought For the Day: A Man’s Heart Is Determined By His Speech
“A man’s heart is determined by his speech.” – Matthew 12:34
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Determined, Heart, Matthew 12:34, Speech, Thought For the Day
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First Principles: Republics Are Created By the Virtue, Public Spirit, and Intelligence of the Citizens
“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” – Joseph Story (1833)
Posted in First Principles
Tagged Citzens, Created, First Principles, Intelligence, Joseph Story, Public Spirit, Republics, Virtue
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Blind Side
Blind Side
by Michael Doyle
Four seconds from the snap of the ball
A life can change in ways we'll later recall
In four seconds, a life can really change
As the players on the field rearrange
But such players come along for the ride
With nowhere else to go and with no pride
Passed along like some unwanted stray
The kid needed a break given him that day
When you've given up hope with nowhere to go
All that's left is a steady gaze and a ball to throw
White walls are often thrown into proverbial place
Holding back the dreams we're too afraid to chase
The tough breaks are the only ones that seem to come
When you're quiet, big, and thought of as dumb
Everyone has their way to come to learn
It's up to the rest of us to see this and discern
Looking deep into horizons with distant eyes
It isn't so hard if only we try to recognize
The truth barely viewable within the web of lies
Of twisted ways gotten between exasperated sights
Welcomed by strangers even into their home
The wounded warrior is no longer left alone
But begins with the hope that waits until morning
That we might yet come with the light without warning
It's there in the light that is the glimmer kept in sight
To the dreams that come to make everything all right
A Thanksgiving that is completed in a dessert of grace
When those who choose to love look into God's good face
(c) November 24, 2022 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Posted in Poetry and Poems
Tagged Blind Side, Break, Change, Chase, Life, Nowhere, Poetry and Poems, Pride, Rearrange, Recall, Ride, Snap, Steady Gaze, Stray, White Walls
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