Leanne Shawler, Artist

On Tuesday, I shared why I thought Katniss was a hero. Remember, Katniss is not perfect because of her heroism. She has many faults and failings. But she sees worth in the human life around her. At the end of that post, I asked the question: how do we show that we too see worth in human life? By acknowledging the dignity of another human being. Smile at someone, or say a kind word (or both). And not just to someone who looks like you, or who reminds you of someone you care for, but someone who is a bit different from you, who might make you uncomfortable? It could be somebody homeless, for example, just a smile to say "I see you." Support a local orphanage or foster program by participating in fundraising or visiting them if they allow guests. Sponsor a child t hrough World Vision or some other program and do more than just send money. Write to them and let them know you care. Listen to somebody. It could be a friend, a co-worker, an acquaintance. So...

Ok, if you haven't seen The Hunger Games and haven't read the entire trilogy and don't want to be spoiled, you should stop reading now. The Hunger Games has just come out on DVD, so I thought I'd share some reflections that have been floating around in my brain since I saw the movie and read the books. When I first saw The Hunger Games , I hadn't read the books. I didn't want to see it really, I'm not fond of violent films, but it was getting really good reviews so we went. I found the movie disturbing. I realized that by watching the "games" part of the movie and rooting for Katniss, Peeta and Rue, I was participating (in a sense) in condoning the murders of the other child contestants, even the ones who were made almost inhuman by their training. It made me extraordinarily uncomfortable that watching this, even as pretend, was remotely okay with me or anyone else in that theatre. It isn't. But the books don't just stop at mak...

So the end result of my personal birthday spending resulted in a tithe of $42.29. Yeah, I can't believe I spent that much on myself either and I'm reassuring myself that it was over 25 days and big-ticket items were discussed... (Tithe is 10% for those who don't know.) $11 has already gone to Washington DC homeless. Which leaves $31.29. Which I have sent to the Central Asia Institute. What-the-what? You have heard of the book "Three Cups of Tea"? The institute is the non-profit that makes literacy and education, especially for girls, in the remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan possible. I'm reading Greg Mortenson's sequel: "Stones into Schools" and it is by turns funny, horrifying and inspiring. I find it amazing that one man can make such a change in such a remote part of the world. It becomes very clear in "Stones into Schools" that it isn't just one person. It's not just Greg Mortenson. It's dedicated men and women...

Today, April 25th, is Anzac Day in Australia. As we're on the other side of the dateline, it's now the 26th there. But it's still the 25th here. ANZAC stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corp and we remember the fallen on the day of the retreat from Gallipoli in Turkey during the First World War. Dawn services, beer for those who want it and veterans march down the main street. I was going to take a picture of my ANZAC biscuits (translation: cookies), but as usual, they did not turn out. This supposedly easy recipe continues to defeat me. I mean, they're basically oatmeal cookies. So, instead of a pretty photo, I have a poem. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We...