Is fearr clú ná conach -- A good name is better than riches.

I was thrilled to find this proverb in Irish. In the front of my book, Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story, we have: "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)

Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown, better known as Three Finger Brown, had a good many names because he was well liked. He had some Welsh and Irish heritage as well, so this proverb fit him.

My son, who home schools over the Internet, had to come up with a verse in response to reading The Death of Salesman. I suggested this one. It seemed to fit. What people think of us and our character is worth more than worldly treasure.

Something to think about......

Closer to God

This is my great niece Kayleigh. She was born on Nov. 25 and she was less than 24 hours old when I held her in this picture. Although she was in her mother's womb for 9 months, I can't help feeling that she is, at this age, closer to God than the rest of us. Haven't you felt that when you've held a newborn in your arms?

The spiritual belief of the ancient Celts was that there is a thin ribbon separating this life from the next. Every once in awhile you get a glimpse into that other world. I did--when I held Kayleigh.

Congratulations, Michelle, Nate, and Felicity.

Ninth Wave of the Sea

Photo via creative commons by Eric Neitzel

There is an ancient belief that if you count the waves at sea, the ninth one will be the most powerful. If you can defeat it and survive, then you can survive anything.

I'm not a sailor, far from it. I'm not real comfortable in a boat. But I am curious. I first learned about this from Tim Serverin's The Brendan Voyage. Actually, Severin says it's the seventh wave, but the point is the same.

I'm working on my first draft of my novel, Brendan the Navigator. I'm at a point where the crew is about to endure a frightening storm at sea, not their first, but definitely their worst.

So, I've been thinking about this ninth wave. What kind of fear must sailors feel as they count them off: five, six, seven . . . they know it's coming, the worst one yet. When it does come, they think they are going to die. But they don't give up. It's not human nature to let go and die. They fight. And once the fight is over and they've won, they know they can endure anything, even though they'd rather not face a ninth wave again.

I don't think I've hit that wave in my own life. But I'm not counting: four, five, six . . . I have a lifesaver. This is a Psalm I'm including at the start of the chapter I mentioned: "You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them." Psalm 89:9

Ask for the Ancient Paths

photo via creative commons by alex.ch

An ancient prophet declared:

This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls."
(Jeremiah 6:16NIV)

The word "ask" really strikes me in this passage. Who do we ask? Those who went before us, I think.