Shadow Puppets Express a Wonderful World

Just when you think the world is getting bleaker and bleaker, something like this arrives in your email inbox: Raymond Crowe doing shadow puppetry at the 2007 Helpmann Awards

Get Ready for the Weekend with this Relaxing Work of Art

Check out this beautiful animated ecard by Jacquie Lawson. It'll help you get in the right frame of mind for the weekend.

Your Sunday Inspiration

Here's your inspirational video for the week:

Prayer for a Busy Life by St. Teresa of Avila

How is it God, that you have given me this hectic busy life when I have so little time to enjoy your presence? Throughout the day people are waiting to speak with me, and even at meals I have to continue talking to people about their needs and problems. During sleep itself I am still thinking and dreaming about the multitude of concerns that surround me. I do all this not for my own sake, but for yours. To me my present pattern of life is a torment; I only hope that for you it is truly a sacrifice of love. I know that you are constantly beside me, yet I am usually so busy that I ignore you. If you want me to remain so busy, please force me to think about and love you even in the midst of such hectic activity. If you do not want me so busy, please release me from it, showing others how they can take over my responsibilities.

Emily Dickinson for First Line Friday

I couldn't help but think of this quote by Emily Dickinson as I was writing about Geoff Hunt and Patrick O'Brian, and since April is National Poetry Month I wanted to share it with you: There is no Frigate like a Book To take us Lands away...

9 Short Books That Will Change Your Life Forever

A book doesn't have to be long to have long-reaching effects. Here are 9 books that can profoundly change you, in order from shortest to longest: The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence (96 pp.): Brother Lawrence was a humble monk who cooked for the monastery, but found God in the daily chores of his life. This book contains the lessons he learned about experiencing God's presence throughout his entire day. The Rule of St. Benedict (112 pp.): St. Benedict wrote this to regulate the lives of the men with whom he lived in community, but it has since become one of the most practical guides to spirituality in the history of Christendom. The Prologue alone is life-changing. Abandonent to Divine Providence - Jean-Pierre de Caussade (119 pp.): Surrendering to God does not mean losing ourselves in the process. de Caussade's beautiful book should be read slowly and savored deeply. To Know as We are Known - Parker J. Palmer (125 pp.): Palmer's book explores how our motives for learning shape what we learn. If our reason for learning is to gain power or control, then what we learn will only lead to destruction and misery. Should be read by every student and every teacher. Prayer for Beginners - Peter Kreeft (125 pp.): Kreeft's simple primer on prayer can work wonders on a person who is beginning to pray, but can also help give focus to those whose prayer life has become stagnant. Like all Kreeft's works, clear and practical. What Does God Want: A Practicial Guide to Making Decisions - Michael Scanlon (127 pp.): An excellent guide to knowing the right thing to do, no matter how small the decision. Simple to read, profound in its effects. Life and Holiness - Thomas Merton (128 pp.): Merton writes about how our daily work and activities can lead us to holiness. The Journey: A Spiritual Roadmap for Modern Pilgrims - Peter Kreeft (128 pp.): Using a journey as a metaphor, Kreeft introduces us to the main schools of modern thought and explores each of them. The readers meets the Skeptic, the Cynic, the Nihilist, the Materialist, the Relativist, and others. Lying Awake - Mark Salzman (181 pp.): The only novel on the list is a beautiful story of a nun who is a poet and a visionary living outside Los Angeles in the modern day. A realistic yet respectful portrayal of convent life and the struggles and joys of living a life of religious vocation.

Emily Douglas Makes a Difference

Here's a great story from the folks over at Karmatube: Emily Douglas, as a high school senior, had delivered over 70,000 books and tons of clothing and toys to the children of Appalachia in Ohio. Emily's "Grandma's Gifts" program is proof, she says, that "anybody can make a difference who wants to."