Today is June 15, 2018…

My random thoughts this morning:

Someone shared this on Facebook yesterday. I have two Portuguese Water Dogs, Maggy and Atticus. I would never abandon them. Love is a funny thing. We find out a lot about people by watching how they treat animals and other people. Our president has given orders to rip immigrant children from their parents and then put the children in warehouses inside of dog kennels. He calls immigrants animals. He uses the word as an if it is an insult. I love animals. This president has also lifted protections on wildlife. Hunters are free to kill hibernating animals and their babes. Just think of all the people and animals he is leaving behind. If life is a test, he has already failed. Our leader is confused about what America really stands for…”Give me your tired and your poor.” Remember to always walk around life with your heart open…gates too.

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble… At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, ‘Excuse me, where are we?’

This is Heaven, sir,’ the man answered.. ‘Wow! Would you happen to have some water?’ the man asked.

Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up. ‘The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

‘Can my friend,’ gesturing toward his dog, ‘come in, too?’ the traveler asked.

‘I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.’

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

Excuse me!’ he called to the man. ‘Do you have any water?’

‘Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in.’

‘How about my friend here?’ the traveler gestured to the dog.

‘There should be a bowl by the pump.’

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree..

‘What do you call this place?’ the traveler asked.

‘This is Heaven,’ he answered.

‘Well, that’s confusing,’ the traveler said. ‘The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.’

‘Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?

Nope. That’s hell.’Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?’

‘No, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind. — Unknown

Have you read the book “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?” It is a haunting story based in Nazi Germany. I want to share the ending of the movie based on the book. It reminds us how sinister humans can be. Humanity is all of us. All hearts can be broken. Just when people think they are exempt, life can crush them. Always live your life outside the pearly gates. Watch:

Perhaps school should be about more than “reading and writing” Maybe history would cease to repeat itself in the grimmest of ways if we also taught kindness and happiness. If we could accept the importance of a kind heart and a happy soul, we would open windows instead of locking gates.

Ignorance will not save us. We must open our mind to learning. We must open our heart as well. Education can not only gives us facts, but gives us a vantage point to the unknown. It is the unknown that captures our hearts.

On this Thursday, go out and open doors, look out windows, and be aware of how you see things. Perhaps a new vantage point will give a new perspective. Have a remarkable day!