Ol' Suit.
A random, non-religious, eclectic list. Not necessarily in the order of their importance. Written to my own specificiations. The presence of these things in the world is not conclusive proof of the existence of God. But, in my life, each of these points toward Something greater, larger, more wonderful than mere animal existence or bare materialism. (If you object, don’t approve, think these unspiritual, you are free to construct your own list.)
THE LIST
1. Holding my six babies, fresh-born from their mother-home.
Sweet Passionate Love.
2. Love. Especially the sweet, passionate love of the one you cherish above all earthly others.
3. Mama.
Wyoming: Sunset in the Rockies
4. A Wyoming sunset as seen from high on some windswept perch in the Rockies.
Beautiful Eyes
5. The beauty of eyes.
6. The voice of Celine Dion. (…and Michael Buble, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, James Cleveland, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Harry Connick, Jr. and a slew of others.)
Baby Kisses
7. A baby’s kiss.
8. Friendship. Especially that one special friend who knows without being told and loves without filter or faking.
South Carolina Waterfall
9. Sitting by a South Carolina waterfall.
10. Nazario’s Mexican food.
Stack of Books.
11. Books. (‘Thought they’d come higher up on the list, didn’t you?) 
12. People.
Empty Cicada Shell.
13. The sound of cicadas on a late summer’s afternoon.
14. The smell of fresh-cut hay. (…and fresh-baked bread, a baby’s skin, a woman’s hair, and ripe bananas.)
15. Joy.
Starry Night.
16. A glittering night sky seen from the deep woods of the northwest.
17. Beethoven and Bach. (And you can toss in anything by Libera.)
Cup of hot, strong, black coffee.
18. A well-brewed cup of coffee. Black. Fresh. Not bitter. But strong and hot.
"The Four Loves" - Storge, Eros, Philia, Agape.
19. Any of the four manifestations of love.
Gentle Rain.
20. A gentle rain after a long, hot spell.
A Loving Note. . .
21. A loving note from someone who cares.
22. Seeing someone trying to sneak a good deed to another.
23. Feeling God’s enlivening presence when there’s nothing “religious” about.
Laughter!
24. Laughter.
25. Memories.
Late Afternoon Golden Haze.
26. The golden sunlit haze of a hot August afternoon when diaphanous insects dance in the air like so many tiny angels.
Chasing Fireflies
27. Chasing fireflies at dusk.
28. Touch.
29. Kind words.
Ladies & Gentlemen? TAJ MAHAL!
30. Taj Mahal. (The Zydeco Blues singer, not the palace.)
31. Ubuntu.
32. The capacity for wonder and awe.
Discovery
33. Discovery.
34. Everyday heroes. Moms, mail carriers, police, soldiers, organ/blood donors, volunteers.
A Beautiful Smile.
35. Smiles.
36. A Sunday afternoon nap in the arms of the one you love, sheer curtains billowing out from open windows lifted by a warm breeze, a bright shaft of sunlight to spotlight the dog on the floor.
A Pious Monkey
37. Monkeys.
38. You. ( No. . .really! )
- Ol’ Suit.
Ubuntu? The Philosophy or the OS?
By: Matthew Tietje on September 6, 2008
at 9:47 pm
Just clicked the link…..the OS.
Ol Suit sez…
I like certain non-religious aspects of the philosophy fairly well, too. The sense of community and shared life is good, for instance. Not, of course, the ancestor worship and animist facets of the religious philosophy.
By: Matthew Tietje on September 6, 2008
at 9:48 pm
To the wierdest gnome…
See, I didn’t loose my Ryan’s napkin! I really think I resemble #37 (picture–that is).
Ol’ Suit sez. . .
Now there you go. . .bragging again!
By: Joanne S. on September 25, 2008
at 1:15 pm