John Patrick Grace
Howie McCormickClick here to stay informed and subscribe to Herald-Dispatch.
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Time stops for no man, so here we are on Election Day 2024, torn in two as a body public over what course will be best for our American republic.
My fond hope is that the quotes, scriptures and snippets of songs that follow will give you thoughts to ponder both today and the days ahead as we adjust to the reality our ballots will have created for us.
Let us begin with a few truly sobering lines:
ƵThe American people deserve to know that on that day (Jan. 6, 2021, the Capitol riots) I chose the Constitution, and I always will.Ƶ Ƶ Mike Pence, who certified the statesƵ vote totals
ƵWe here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth.Ƶ ƵAbraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
ƵDemocracy is the worst form of government Ƶ after all the rest.Ƶ Ƶ Winston Churchill
ƵWe do not heal the past by dwelling there. We heal the past by living in the present.Ƶ Ƶ Marianne Williamson
ƵI canƵt vote for anybody anymore without violating my conscience.Ƶ Ƶ M.E. Lesniak
ƵIf we donƵt adore God, we will adore something else. Power and money can become idols that take the place of God.Ƶ Ƶ Pope Francis
ƵOne does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.Ƶ Ƶ Andre Gide
Here are my favorite lines from our national patriotic song, ƵAmerica the BeautifulƵ: ƵConfirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law.Ƶ
And my favorite quote from Martin Luther King: ƵThe arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.Ƶ
And now for some reality checks: ƵFool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.Ƶ Ƶ Anonymous
ƵWhich is the true nightmare, the horrific dream you have in your sleep, or the dissatisfied reality that awaits you when you awake?Ƶ Ƶ Justin Acola
ƵIf fear is cultivated, it will become stronger. If faith is cultivated it will achieve mastery.Ƶ Ƶ John Paul Jones
ƵThe first rule of ecology is that everything is connected to everything.Ƶ Ƶ Barry Commoner
LetƵs close with noble sentiments that, I hope, will make the heart soar toward the heavens:
ƵThe heart that is generous and kind most resembles God.Ƶ Ƶ Robert Burns
ƵWe are such stuff as dreams are made on.Ƶ Ƶ Shakespeare, ƵThe Tempest,Ƶ Act 4
ƵWhat matters most is faith that works through love.Ƶ Ƶ Gal. 5:6
ƵDo as much good as you can, for as many people as you can, for however long as you can.Ƶ Ƶ John Wesley
Amen and amen!
John Patrick Grace, when he is not collecting aphorisms, works as a book editor and teaches the Life Writing Class. He writes from his home in eastern Cabell County.
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