As I walked my two miles today tuned into a jazz radio station on my headset, I listened to a 1999 Kenny G digital duet rendition (on his album Classics in the Key of G) of Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World that was first recorded in 1967 and released as a single in 1968.
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
You need to but take a walk and gaze at the beauty all around to understand the emotion this song evoked as I strutted along. If the present economic "downturn", coupled with the political and social strife around the world, causes a somewhat fogged image of a "wonderful world", I suggest tuning in to the NBC Nightly News "Making a Difference" Segment with Brian Williams to be reminded of the good that has surfaced... random or regular acts of kindness... helping those who have less. For example, in Georgia a barber is offering free haircuts for those preparing to go for interviews. In Denver, a couple opened the "Same Cafe" so "all may eat". The menu has no prices. Patrons give what they can or, in lieu of payment, they do dishes, sweep the floor, etc. Those with jobs and money are coming for the made-from-scratch nutritious meals and many times pay double or triple what they would normally pay at typical restaurant. In Coon Rapids, Minnesota a woman retold her experience standing in a grocery store line as an envelope was passed from person to person. When the envelope reached her, she read the note scrawled on the outside of the envelope. "There is $50.00 in this envelope for groceries. Take it if you need it or pass it on." It passed on down the line as some even added additional money to it. A Clearwater, Florida business owner, rather than laying off workers or reducing their hours, sends them out to work at full pay in soup kitchens and homeless shelters "on his dime". In Michigan, an apartment complex owner allowed residents, who struggled to pay their rent, to pay half their monthly rent in exchange for volunteering at a nonprofit organization. The amazing stories go on and on... I guarantee that the nightly "Making a Difference" feature on the NBC Evening News will build hope and optimism and it may even spur you on to "pay it forward" in your corner of this "wonderful world" we live in.
Mar. 13, 2009
Today's mileage: 2 mile walk
Total monthly mileage for March: 33.25 miles
Bible reading? Yes.