Once again, Cam, you AMAZE me with your insight and gift of phrasing. I love this blog\'s content, from the portion about Civil Rights, to the nod at Kahlil Gibran. Both of these talking points were introduced to me, by your Grandfather. He LOVED Gibran, and quoted from him routinely in sermons and speeches. As a matter of fact, Pop gave me my original copy of \"The Prophet\", when I went to my first year of high school. Since then, I\'ve acquired several copies of his works- none more precious than one of Pop\'s personal volumes.
I am particularly struck by what you say in your quote: \" For all your weaknesses, there are strengths. For all of your \"this\'\" there are \"thats\'\". Human capability is not an \"either-or\" matter; it is a spectrum, a range of possibility and opportunity. You will fail spectacularly many times in your life. You will succeed marvelously more. You are not just the F on a paper; you are also the A in your class.\" As you tie this to Gibran\'s quote, (“You have been told that, even like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link. This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link. To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of ocean by the frailty of its foam.”), the connection of family traits and values caused my heart to leap.
Your Grandparents would be SO impressed with the way you turn a phrase, and your comprehension of life\'s panoramic landscape. The serendipitous meeting with the older DC brother and his discussion of a Civil Rights issue, highlights the \"circle of life\" that is your heritage. As people of love, faith and humanity, our family has always stretched it\'s neck out for personal and civic endeavors of equality, because that\'s always been the ONLY option, in our minds eye.
It means the world to know you are putting all of this in your big bag of experience, and that unlike the sorcerer\'s apprentice, you are able to sift through the cacophony and keep it\'s contents in order.
With this original thought, I can\'t help but think that someday, people will be quoting you: \"And why should it ever be that we are only as strong as our lowest weakness? Is a sports team really only as good as its weakest player; is it not also as strong as its premier athlete? Is a family only as good as its most embarrassing member; or is it as good as the most upstanding? Is a fraternity no better than its drunkest deadbeat; is it not also as strong as its hardest working leader?\"
Well said, darlin\'.
Continued safe travels and adventures!
Love ya, Mom
Charlene Foggie Barnett
non-member comment
Once again, Cam, you AMAZE me with your insight and gift of phrasing. I love this blog\'s content, from the portion about Civil Rights, to the nod at Kahlil Gibran. Both of these talking points were introduced to me, by your Grandfather. He LOVED Gibran, and quoted from him routinely in sermons and speeches. As a matter of fact, Pop gave me my original copy of \"The Prophet\", when I went to my first year of high school. Since then, I\'ve acquired several copies of his works- none more precious than one of Pop\'s personal volumes. I am particularly struck by what you say in your quote: \" For all your weaknesses, there are strengths. For all of your \"this\'\" there are \"thats\'\". Human capability is not an \"either-or\" matter; it is a spectrum, a range of possibility and opportunity. You will fail spectacularly many times in your life. You will succeed marvelously more. You are not just the F on a paper; you are also the A in your class.\" As you tie this to Gibran\'s quote, (“You have been told that, even like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link. This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link. To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of ocean by the frailty of its foam.”), the connection of family traits and values caused my heart to leap. Your Grandparents would be SO impressed with the way you turn a phrase, and your comprehension of life\'s panoramic landscape. The serendipitous meeting with the older DC brother and his discussion of a Civil Rights issue, highlights the \"circle of life\" that is your heritage. As people of love, faith and humanity, our family has always stretched it\'s neck out for personal and civic endeavors of equality, because that\'s always been the ONLY option, in our minds eye. It means the world to know you are putting all of this in your big bag of experience, and that unlike the sorcerer\'s apprentice, you are able to sift through the cacophony and keep it\'s contents in order. With this original thought, I can\'t help but think that someday, people will be quoting you: \"And why should it ever be that we are only as strong as our lowest weakness? Is a sports team really only as good as its weakest player; is it not also as strong as its premier athlete? Is a family only as good as its most embarrassing member; or is it as good as the most upstanding? Is a fraternity no better than its drunkest deadbeat; is it not also as strong as its hardest working leader?\" Well said, darlin\'. Continued safe travels and adventures! Love ya, Mom