MARIE'S MUSES

"The measure of man’s humanity is the extent and intensity of his love for mankind.” ~Ashley Montagu

“and Jesus said unto him. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”” ~Matthew 22: 37-39

I have always been lucky in that I am a person who has always been able to accept people for who they are. Each one is an individual and I am able to look at them and approach them with dignity. I realize that they have lives as complicated and mysterious as my own, and I accept in my heart that, “There, but for the grace of God go I.” I try not to have any preconceptions about people and I try not to judge them accordingly. I am not perfect, but I do try hard just to be the best person that I know how to be, and to love others for who and what they are. Even I will admit, that this is not always easy, but, it must be done . . . it’s a commandment after all.

I know that I am who I am because of the things I have experienced in my life, the environment I have been brought up in, the privileges I have been exposed to, the teachings of my parents and grandparents and other loved ones, etc. and I have been blessed that, for the most part, it’s all been good. My life has been blessed. There are so many people in this world that have not been blessed in the same way, or learned the same lessons. They cannot help who they are, any more than I can help who I am. Plain and simple . . . when people know better, they do better. I really believe this is so.

My faith also helps me in that because it has taught me that we are all, each one of us, children of God, a unique and wonderful creation of a Heavenly Father, and each one of us deserves all the dignity and respect and attention that “that” knowledge engenders. I know that when God looks down at us, He sees us all as His children and He loves us all the same. Just as we look at our children and see them as individuals with all their own unique qualities, strengths and weaknesses, so He must look at us. Just as we love our children equally and with all the strength of our hearts, so must He feel the same, and maybe even more so as it is a perfect love, which we cannot even begin to imagine or be able to fathom.

I think that this one thing, being able to love others no matter what . . . this one thing has the power to change the way we see our world. It has the power to change the world. Oh, that everyone could only see this and act upon it. What a wonderful place this would be. J

Serves 4

This soup is quick, easy and, oh so very tasty!! Serve hot with some crisp crackers or crusty bread for a real rib sticking pleaser.

1 TBS olive oil

1 medium onion, peeled and chopped

1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

4 cups chicken stock

1 cup frozen sweet corn kernels, thawed

310g tin of creamed corn

1 medium potato, peeled and chopped

¼ cup cream (optional)

Sea salt and ground white pepper to taste

50g plain salted corn chips, crumbled

2 TBS fresh chives, chopped

Put the oil in a large saucepan and heat until over medium heat until it is hot. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft.

Add the stock , creamed corn and potato. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potato is soft.

Using your stick blender (Or food processor or regular blender and with care!) blend the soup until it is smooth. Return to the pan and stir in the thawed corn kernels and cream (if using). Season to taste with salt and white pepper. Stir and cook over low heat until the corn is tender.

Serve hot in heated bowls with a garnish of crumbled corn chips and some chopped chives scattered on the top of each serving.