Devotion

A few thoughts on love and loyalty

Photos by Tobias Baumgaertner

People these days throw the word around. There are devoted pickleball players, devoted Taylor Swift fans, devoted Korean BBQ aficionados. But devotion goes above and beyond mere interest and involvement. To be devoted is to truly love someone or something, and to be unshakably loyal. It is not something you encounter every day

I have been blessed in this life to witness incredible devotion. The love and loyalty of my family during the worst days of my bipolar disorder is a prime example. Here’s another…

AN INSPIRATION: Grandma and Don

Grandma and her kids (my mom is seated between Grandma and Don)

Going back in time, I recall the phenomenal devotion of my Grandma Berrigan to her youngest son, my uncle Don. Donnie had Down syndrome, at a time when so many kids like him were institutionalized. But Grandma wouldn’t hear of that. She kept Don home, in the heart of his family, where he thrived. Grandma taught him to read and write and much more, and while I wish he’d lived nowadays, with so many other opportunities open, I am in awe of the beautiful life Grandma made for him. I grew up being told that Don was our special Angel. I believe both of them were.

COMING SOON TO A FILM FESTIVAL NEAR YOU:

Steve recently starred in a very touching short indie film, The First Spring. Steve plays a man whose wife has dementia. He tries every way possible to reach her, while devotedly caring for her. She loved her garden, so he sets about creating a flower garden in winter for her. The film is being submitted to festivals, and it deserves to be widely seen.

RECOMMENDED DEVOTION WRITERS:

People of faith call certain prayers and meditations “devotions”—they speak to, and inspire, love for God. Some of my favorite devotional writers include Episcopal priest Barbara Crafton and the late Catholic theologian Henri Nouwen. I highly recommend both of them—their words feed my soul.

NOW THEN, WHAT’S WITH THOSE PENGUIN PICTURES?

In case you were wondering…the penguins pictured above spend hours nightly together, looking out at the lights of Melbourne, Australia. Penguins mate for life, and here a widowed male instinctively and devotedly comforts a widowed female in her grief. A stunning sight, captured by a gifted photographer—and a reminder that feeling deeply is not unique to humans.

AND JUST FOR FUN: MORE PENGUINS!

Rose captured an adorable scene during her trip to Antarctica last winter—penguins sliding into the water!

DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH EARTH, WIND AND FIRE:

Remember this one?

BLOG PREVIEW: Moon River. Shine On, Harvest Moon. Fly Me to the Moon. That bright orbiting orb of ours has inspired no end of musical tributes. I am very aware of the full moons—that’s when the best sandbars occur in the bay (good) and my mood swings tend to be…swingier (not so good). Join me tomorrow on the blog, as Working Title lands on the moon (so to speak)!

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK (A POEM BY ROBERT FROST):

My dear friend Pattie speaks of giving her joys and sorrows to the ocean. This resonates with me, and as I leave my beloved beach, I am so grateful for the hours spent there. May you all find a special place to bring YOUR deepest feelings.

Have a lovely week, my friends!

Believe it or not, I took this photo myself!