Compassion

September 10

I am thankful for compassion. I saw it in the way people came from all over the country to help us after Hurricane Katrina; I see it daily in the unselfish actions of people supporting a cause for good; I see it in the churches as they support the disadvantaged and maligned; I see it all the time in friends and relatives who call to see how you're doing, or try to pick you up after a bad day. Compassion is a wonderful human characteristic. We should all to strive to have even more.

This photo was taken of a lifeguard station at Clearwater Beach, Florida. I thin that lifeguards, EMS personnel, and firefighters are the epitome of compassion. They give of their time, and sometimes their lives, to help save other people.

compassion

let there be compassion in my life

let me face up to those less fortunate

and do what is right

to understand that my blessings would not be

if not for “there but for fortune go me.”

© rt tulley

Hazards

September 9

I am thankful for hazards. I know you probably think that is strange that I would be thankful for difficult situations and trouble. If all was no-risk and easy we would have no challenges in life. Golfers love to play difficult golf courses and holes that offer a huge challenge containing hazards. (Well, a hazard free hole every now and then is welcomed and a relief.) So we accept the challenge of hazards because we enjoy overcoming them.

This is the fifth hole at Santa Maria Golf Course in Baton Rouge. The course was designed by the famous golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. It is one of my favorite Baton Rouge golf courses. The fifth is a par 3, ranging from 117 to 217 yards long. There are dual water hazards on the hole, the lake to the left and Ward's Creek to the right. Generally, if your tee shot is not straight you can easily end up in one of the water hazards. There is very little margin for error. This is probably one of the most difficult par threes I know of. I get very nervous when I tee it up on this hole. I've even tried hitting a pitching wedge to hit that area in front of the green but that is also difficult because of the outcropping of water on the left. Now, I just grin and bear it and accept the challenge and hit away. And then hope. And pray.

hazards

well, here i stand

perched upon the tee

i see nothing but hazards

as far as i can see

water to the left

and water to the right

heck, there’s water in front

only water in sight

but there's just a little piece

of land to hit upon

so i tee it up and rip it

and watch ball after ball be gone

next time i come here

i’m going to hit into a little boat

then row across the water

and chip on the green past the moat

saving myself from penalty

having a good chance at par

with a little ingenuity

hazards leave nary a scar!

© rt tulley

Armor

September 8

I am thankful for armor. Armor, literally or figuratively, allows us to protect ourselves. That armor may be in the form of actual physical protection of ourselves but more often represents the armor that we protect our fragile psyches with. Sometimes that is very useful and ebables us to function in spite of some flaws but there can come a time when it has outlived itself and causes more damage than benefit. At that time then, the liberation from our armor is needed.

This is a photo of seashells I took at my in-law's home in Florida. Seashells provide armor to the fragile sea creatures that inhabit them.

armor

the lowly snail

carries his armor on his back

when trouble comes around

and he is under fierce attack

he crawls inside

and there patiently bides his time

waiting out the assault

and outside his shell he can climb.

© rt tulley