not but

it's not what men eat,
but what they digest
that makes them strong;

not what we gain,
but what we save
that makes us rich;

not what we read,
but what we remember
that makes us learned;

not what we preach or pray,
but what we practice and believe
that makes us christians.

francis bacon

known

it is a sad fate
for a man to die
too well known
to everybody else
and (yet) still
unknown
to himself.

francis bacon

the higher road

south african archbishop
desmond tutu walked by
a construction site
on a temporary sidewalk
the width of one person.
a white man appeared
at the other end,
recognized tutu, and said,
"i don't make way for gorillas."
at which tutu stepped aside,
made a deep sweeping gesture,
and said, "ah, yes, but i do."

walter wink

>>>

i am not responsible
for what the other person
may or may not do.
i am only responsible
for me.

may i always take
the higher road.