I learned a long time ago, Reuven, that a blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, he is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant. Do you understand what I am saying? A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life.
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
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The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
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I have learned over the course of my many years that it is a bad idea, usually, to investigate piteous weeping but always a fine thing to look into a giggle.
Hope Poem
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Thoughts Over Pioneer Day Weekend
Estimated Reading Time 1 MinutesThis post is overdue, but I want to express my feelings about pioneers as Utah wraps up celebrating their legacy this weekend. I have lived in Utah for most of my life, and have always heard about the pioneers who crossed the plains and founded this state. I have always looked up to them and respected them. They gave of their way of life, their homes, and families to have the freedom to live according to their beliefs, and there is something about Sacrifice like that which can soften the hardest heart. It makes me wonder how much I am willing to sacrifice and give up for others; For the people I love, but also people I don’t even know, or maybe even dislike. Pioneers are everywhere. That’s why I love this quote, “A Pioneer is simply someone who goes before showing others the way to follow.” We don’t just learn about pioneers from History, we can each strive to be pioneers ourselves. So here is the challenge: Sacrifice a little bit to make someone else’s life easier. Use your talents and let your “light shine” so others can follow that example. We all need each…
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
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Estimated Reading Time 2 MinutesPublisher: HarperCollins Narnia; Illustrated edition (October 26, 2004) Paperback : 784 pages ISBN: 978-0060598242 Thoughts: I fell in love with The Chronicles of Narnia in Fourth Grade and I don’t think there have been many years since that I haven’t come back and read these stories again. I love that there are layers and you will get something different of the book each time you read it. There are references to Christianity, but you can also just read the stories as a great adventure and be happy. First sentence: This is a story about something that happened long ago when your grandfather was a child. Favorite Quote From the Book: Up till then he had been looking at the Lion’s great front feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory’s own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier…
Emily’s Unite
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Estimated Reading Time 1 MinutesI love my name, and one of the first reasons that I first picked up an Emily Dickinson Book was simply because she shared my name. But over the years, I have truly developed a love of poetry and the way it captures feelings, and human nature in just a few lines. Emily Dickinson has remained one of my all-time favorites, and as I have learned more about her life, I have gained an even greater respect for her insight and passion that was bottled up during her lifetime. Here is one of my favorite poems from this more famous sharer of my name. I had no time to Hate- Because The Grave would hinder Me- Ample I Could finish-Enmity- Nor had I time to Love- But since Some Industry must be- The little Toil of Love- I thought Be Large Enough for Me- -Emily Dickinson- We only have so much time in this life. Too many of us choose to spend it on Hate. Let’s try our best to put our “Industry” to work by loving others. Individually we will be much happier and the world would be a better place. We have to make…