a prophetic voice-

I have often wondered how anyone could think that creation was a one-time activity...that the creative Creator God brought it to a halt on the sixth day, according to the Genesis stories in the Hebrew bible. I find that amazingly incongruous, since I see the evidence of the on-going activity of creation around me all the time. This rose to the surface again and again for me a week ago, as- in the space of eight days- I saw five films, visited three art museums, saw the amazing "Van Gogh Alive" at Discovery Place in Charlotte, and was enraptured by the Appalachian musical, "Brother Wolf" at the Hanesbrand Theater in Winston-Salem. No, I feel compelled to inform you, this was not a usual week for me, but my dear friend, Mae, was visiting from Florida and when she comes, I try my best to fill our time- between conversations and meals- with activities we both enjoy...activities which are celebrations of the creative energy which abounds in this area and...

Movie buffs, I have spent the past two Saturday afternoons viewing two absolutely delightful films. The first was "Quartet", Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut. I must agree with the author of a recent article in the AARP magazine: Dustin, why did you wait so long? Not only did this film present excellent acting and a wonderful story, but it was visually breathtaking and the soundtrack was amazing, filled as it was with classical music and operatic arias. The indomitable Maggie Smith was front-and-center, seeming to revel in the wisdom and beauty of her seventy-nine years, not trying to look like anything other than what she is- a lovely aging woman who wears her years- and wrinkles- with grace and aplomb. And Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay and Pauline Collins rounded out a stellar cast which included numerous real-life musicians over the age of 70. Oh, yes, the film is about aging musicians living in an old-age home created especially for them in the English countryside. ...