Falling off the Charts

CHART

From 

age one to 

middle age 44,

homicide is among

the top five ways 

to die

in America.

Then after the mature age of 45,

killing is not even in the 

top 10.

I wonder -

did we learn to love

our neighbor

or

did we crush

all our enemies?

Number One with a Bullet

CHART

Accidents do happen.

Leading cause of death 

from ages one

to forty-four.

Then from forty-five

to sixty-four 

cancer leads the way.

Or as the researchers call it

Malignant Neoplasms. 

And then for the remaining years,

poor maintenance

and regrets

causes the heart to break.  

The Archangel Gabriel

Leo Tolstoy

Once upon a time, the archangel Gabriel heard the voice of God speaking from Paradise, blessing someone.
Gabriel said, "Surely this is some important servant of my Lord, God the Father. He must be a great saint, a hermit or wise man." 

The archangel went down to earth looking for the man, but he could not find him, neither on earth nor in heaven. Then he addressed God and said, "Oh Lord, my God, please show me how to find the object of your love."

God answered him, "Go this village. And there, in a little temple, you will see a fire."

The angel went down to the temple, and he found a man praying before an idol. Then Gabriel went back to God and said, "Lord, how can you look with love upon this idol worshipper?"


God said, "It is true that he does not understand me properly. Not one man living is capable of understanding me as I am. The wisest of the whole human race are just as far from really understanding me as this man is. I look not at his mind, but at his heart. The heart of this man searches for me, and therefore he is close to me.