The Parents’ Paper issue 30 Autumn 2019 Tidying the garden this autumn! Page 7 READ IT, LOVE IT, LIVE IT Continued on page 3 Continued on page 3 New Beginnings How can we help our world? Page 9

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2 • Reach • Autumn 2019 This autumn edition of ‘Reach’ is all about new beginnings, which are all around us whether we are aware of them or not. They can take so many different forms but whether it’s a new career, starting a new school, moving house or just a change of direction in one form or another, new beginnings usually signify a change for either better or worse. Either way, we have offered some tips in the form of quotes to help you cope with, or embrace, any notable changes you may be experiencing. So, what is your new beginning? On a related note, this edition also examines how we can help our world with some dialogue from Pope Francis on this matter, plus a table of practical ways in which we can begin to make that vital difference to our planet. There is also advice on how to get the best from your garden this autumn and a comprehensive section on baking goodies with your children. Why not get the kids involved! And on the subject of our offspring, ‘Reach’ explores what Catholic secondary schools can offer your children as they grow. And we also have further interesting articles and as always our ‘Little Peace’ children’s section – so there really is something for everyone! With every good wish and blessing for the autumn season, Blessings, Julia Editor LEGAL DISCLAIMER ----------------------- The information and/or links in this publication are provided for catholic education and information purposes only. The Editor and Publisher (hereinafter referred to as CathCom) will endeavour to ensure that all the content of CathCom Reach is in keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church. However CathCom is not responsible for the contents of any of the linked sites. Neither does CathCom necessarily endorse and/or support the views expressed by the information contained within those linked sites. A Dear Reader Reach is published in September, December, March, and June. By Phone: UK: 020 7112 6710 Ireland: 01 699 4407 Editorial Team Julia Beacroft editor@reachnewspaper.com Advertising ads@reachnewspaper.com Subscriptions subs@reachnewspaper.com Website: www.ReachNewspaper.com Contact us mention and/or listing of linked sites does not indicate CathCom’s endorsement of any organization`s and/or entity`s activities, reports, publications and/or programs. CathCom cannot be held responsible and/or liable for any damages, real, imagined, past, present or future from the information contained on any linked site and/or other sites that it links to hereafter. While we take reasonable steps to check our advertisers and linked sites are bona fide, readers should carry out their own checks before entering into any contract or arrangement. You may not modify, reuse, reproduce, or publish any content within this publication without the written permission of the Editor. ------------------------------------------ Please send articles for publication by email supplying photos separate to the text (i.e. in jpeg format).

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Autumn 2019 • Reach • 3 New Beginnings Continued from front page THERE IS A school of thought which claims that new beginings are, in reality, painful endings in disguise and it is possible that there is some truth in this. Because of course, after every ending there automatically follows a beginning. New beginnings come in all shapes and sizes and are personal to each one of us. Sometimes these are welcome, at other times not. As summer draws to a close, many of us are gearing up to return to our office, warehouse, and other place of work, school, college or university. Whether you are faced with a new office project, a new position or career, it’s good to be excited about the adventure that is about to begin, or indeed about any new initiative you may be involved in. To move forward in any new direction means you will be growing personally and professionally. Here are some quotes that will help you stay excited, motivated, and inspired for your new journey, whatever it may be and wherever it may take you: 1. "It is never too late to be what you might have been." — George Eliot 2. "It`s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you`re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now." — Hugh Laurie 3. "The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." — Tony Robbins 4. "I am learning to love the sound of my feet walking away from things not meant for me." — A.G. 5. "If you can`t fly, then run, if you can`t walk run, then walk, if you can`t walk, then crawl, but by all means keep moving." — Martin Luther King Jr. 6. "This was when I learned that you have to give up your life as you know it to get a new one: that sometimes you need to let go of everything you`re clinging to and start over, whether because you`ve outgrown it or because it`s not working anymore, or because it was wrong for you in the first place." — Kelly Cutrone 7. "A fresh start - a new day - a new month - a new year. Do you see each day as a fresh start or are you carrying yesterday into this brand new day. See the possibilities of beginning anew." — Theodore W. Higginsworth 8. "Change can be scary, but you know what`s scarier? Allowing fear to stop you from growing, evolving, and progressing." — Mandy Hale 9 . "Never allow waiting to become a habit. Live your dreams and take risks. Life is happening now." — Paulo Coelho 10. "There comes a day when you realize turning the page is the best feeling in the world, because you realize there`s so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on." — Zayn Malik 11. "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." — Ralph Waldo Emerson 12. "The beginning is always today." — Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 13. "The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you`re not going to stay where you are." — John Pierpont "J.P." Morgan 14. "We must be willing to get rid of the life we`ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come." — Joseph Campbell 15. "There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." — C.S. Lewis. New beginnings necessarily involve change and some of us find change challenging and unwelcome. As creatures of habit we dislike being taken from our comfort zone and thrust into the unknown. Yet unless we are prepared to do this our lives can remain static. To go further, our lives have, on occasion, to be shaken up and re-ordered to take us to a better and more fulfilling destination – often where we are meant to be. And so, in the words of the German theologian and philosopher Meister Eckhart we need to ‘be willing to be a beginner every single morning’.

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4 • Reach • Autumn 2019 Pope Francis on… New Beginnings This book by Pope Francis describes Christ`s resurrection as "the principle of new life for every man and every woman, adding "true renewal always begins from the heart, from the conscience." "Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! Do not let hope be stolen! The hope that Jesus gives us." The Pope notes conflict, tension and violence worldwide, saying Jesus does not abandon those who face hardship and sorrow. "May the Risen Christ, open our hearts to the needs of the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, the poor, the unemployed, the marginalized, and all those who knock at our door in search of bread, refuge, and the recognition of their dignity." Worldwide, he asks God to allow people to become "builders of bridges, not walls" and to end "the roar of arms." Pope Francis (@ Pontifex) Twitter ‘I am beginning a new journey…to walk with you along the path of mercy and the tenderness of God The Pope`s grace-filled perspective during the most hopeful season of the Church year will inspire and encourage you. But no matter what the season, New Beginning, New Hope will engage your spirit and help you live your Catholic faith, share the Good News, and make your own profound difference in the world.

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Autumn 2019 • Reach • 5 Spending time with… The Bible For some church leaders, their jobs entail reading and studying Scripture. For others in ministry and for most of the people in the pews, they have to find extra time during the day for the Bible. Even though we know the Bible is important, we can still struggle reading it on a consistent basis. So how can we help ourselves and others to spend time with Scripture? Here are six ways to help carve out daily time for the Bible: 1. PRAY TO STAY FOCUSED You may stay up all night completely engrossed in a book, but find your eyes closing minutes after opening the Bible. Maybe you can easily find time to watch TV or listen to the radio, but the moment you start to read Scripture, something pops up to distract you. So, before you read, pray that God will help you stay focused on Him and His Word. 2. ADD IT ON YOUR CALENDAR Practically speaking - put the Bible on your calendar. Literally. It helps you and the other people in your life. Set up a calendar event on your phone that sends you a reminder when it’s time to start reading. This can be a way to establish reading the Bible as a priority. If you have lots of out-of-the-office work responsibilities, having a time on the calendar lets others know not to disturb you during those moments 3. LISTEN TO IT Maybe you are ambushed with responsibilities as soon as you wake up until you lay down your head at night and having time to read at all seems impossible! So, have you tried listening to Scripture? If you have a morning commute, listen to audio versions of the Bible. Shorter books can be finished in one drive, while you might listen to longer books over the course of a week or more. Maybe you like to walk or run. Instead of always listening to your workout playlist, why not mix in some Bible? 4. POST IT AROUND YOU If we are finding ways to get as much Scripture into our lives as possible, why not take a page from Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and write God’s words “on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates”? This can be in the form of permanent decorations in your home that incorporate Scripture, but it could also be a sticky note on your computer at work, or short verse written on your bathroom mirror. 5. FIND A PARTNER Almost anything is easier with someone else to help you stay accountable. Try reading and discussing Scripture with someone else. Having a standing appointment with another person can motivate us to read over a passage. 6. WEAVE IT INTO YOUR FAMILY LIFE What regular patterns do you have in your home? How can you make Scripture a part of those times? Does everyone eat dinner together? Read a verse and discuss it as you eat. Are you constantly in the car with your children? Ask them to share their favourite verse or something they’ve been reading in the Bible. What other practical ways could you add Scripture to your daily life? Could this be the beginning of a new routine for you?

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6 • Reach • Autumn 2019 All Saints Day All Saints` Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It should not be confused with All Souls` Day, which is observed on November 2, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven. Although millions or even billions of people may already be saints, All Saints` Day observances tend to focus on known saints --that is, those recognized in the canon of the saints by the Catholic Church. All Saints` Day is also commemorated by members of the Eastern Orthodox Church as well as some protestant churches, such as Lutheran and Anglican churches. Generally, All Saints` Day is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, meaning all Catholics are required to attend Mass on that day, unless they have a good reason not to, such as illness. All Saints` Day was formally started by Pope Boniface IV, who consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs on May 13 in 609 AD. Boniface IV also established All Souls` Day, which follows All Saints Day. Holy day customs vary around the world. In the United States, the day before is Halloween and is usually celebrated by dressing in costumes with themes of death commonly associated. Children go door-to-door in costume, trick-or-treating; that is asking for sweets from their neighbours. Unfortunately, the holiday has lost much of its connection to its religious origins. Although nearly everyone celebrates Halloween for the fun of the secular holiday, the following religious solemnity is not widely practiced or acknowledged by most Americans unless they are Catholic. Across much of Europe, the day is commemorated with offerings of flowers left on the graves of the dead. In Eastern Europe, candles are lit on graves instead of offerings of flowers. In some places, such as the Philippines, graves can be painted and repaired by family members. Perhaps inevitably some of these practices blur the distinction between All Saints` Day and All Souls` Day. All Saints` Day is a public holiday in France with government offices, banks, shops and schools closed. Basic facts are as follows: Halloween is a secular holiday that comes the night before All Saints` Day. All Saints` Day is on November 1, and it is a Holy Day of Obligation. All Souls` Day in on November 2, and it is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. So enjoy your holy day!

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Autumn 2019 • Reach • 7 Take a leaf out of our book and get to grips with… Tidying the garden this autumn! As well as clearing fallen leaves, there are lots of other simple tasks that will make a big difference to the look of your garden. It’s worth putting in a little extra time and effort now, so your garden will look neat and well-tended through the winter months – it will also mean that you’ve got a head start next spring. Here are the areas to tackle: Tidy your borders Remove dying leaves and collapsed stems from herbaceous perennials, either pulling by hand or cutting at the base with secateurs. Leave any stems that have attractive seed heads for birds to enjoy. Remove weeds, then spread compost or well-rotted manure over the soil to insulate plant roots – the worms will work it in over winter. Collect autumn leaves A few piles of leaves in out-of-the-way places – under hedges, for example – can provide shelter for overwintering wildlife. But remove leaves from your lawn, paths (which can be slippery) and borders. Use them to make leaf mould, a great soil improver. Clear away old crops Clear spent plants on the veg plot before they start to rot and become host to pests and diseases. Compost everything unless it’s diseased. Chop beans and peas off at ground level, leaving their nitrogen-fixing roots in the soil to feed next year’s crops. You could also sow a green manure, also a soil improver. Leave your lawn looking trim Nothing sets off borders better than a neatly cut and edged lawn, so mow for the final time. Set your mower blades higher than usual to leave the grass slightly longer over winter, and then cut the edges with an edging tool or knife to redefine their pristine lines. Put away plant supports – In borders and in containers Cut down annual climbers in borders and containers and climbing beans in veg plots and remove the dead stems and foliage from their supports. With canes and other removable wooden supports, wash off any soil then treat them with preservative. Store them indoors over winter. Make repairs Repair damage to raised beds, sheds, compost bins, and wooden containers such as barrels or troughs and paint them with wood preservative. Replace any rotting fence posts, so they don’t get blown down in winter storms. Ensure shed roofs don’t leak, and replace any broken panes or faulty vents in greenhouses. Clean out nest boxes and feeders Take down bird boxes and empty them. Old nesting material, unfertilised eggs and other debris may carry diseases, so wash out the boxes with hot water before putting them back. Also remember to clean out feeders and bird baths, and regularly refill them Sort out your pond Scoop out leaves that have blown into your pond, before they sink down and start to rot. Also cut back the foliage of marginal plants that have died down. Remove pond pumps and fountains that are no longer in use. Wash them out thoroughly, then store over winter. Autumn/Winter care for pots and containers Frost protection l Protect pots with bubble plastic or bring them under temporary cover l In very wet periods move plants under temporary cover if the compost becomes sodden, until it has dried out a little. The ‘rain shadow’ of walls can be sufficient l In wet weather, raise pots up off the ground on ‘feet’ or similar to keep the bottom of the pot out of the water l Remove saucers in winter Watering l Watering may still be necessary for conifers and other evergreens, especially if you have moved them under cover, so that they receive no rain. Check evergreens and conifers at least weekly and water if needed l Watering is seldom necessary for deciduous or other dormant plants Feeding l Feeding is not necessary during the winter months Problems Overwatering is the most common cause of loss of container plants; watering should aim to keep the compost moist, never soggy and avoid alternating dryness and saturation. Plants grown in containers suffer from many of the same pests and diseases as when grown in beds and borders, such as aphids, algae, liverworts and moss and scale insects. Vine weevil and fungus gnats are particularly

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8 • Reach • Autumn 2019 Director of Education JP Morrison writes that sending your child to a Catholic secondary school will be `one of the best decisions you ever make`: As parents you are the first educators of your child and with that responsibility comes choice and decisions. In the coming weeks you will be making the very important decision as to what secondary school you will send your child to and what will help them succeed in the face of the challenges of modern life and a fast-changing world. Coupled to that decision is whether or not to send them to a Catholic secondary school. It may have been the right decision for you at primary level, but perhaps secondary offers a different set of circumstances and options. Be confident that sending your child to a Catholic secondary school will be one of the best decisions you will ever make. A Catholic secondary school is far more than its acclaimed and recognised achievement of academic standards and reputation for excellence. It is about formation. In the light of government changes to education in recent years, Catholic education has maintained its extraordinary success and offers not an alternative, but the standard to which many aspire. At the heart of Catholic education is the opportunity for any child, regardless of ability, to grow in their understanding of themselves, their relationship with others and their relationship with God. They will be in an environment where they are actively encouraged to shape a community of faith and live out their values and yours. We are preparing them not only to cope with life, but to shape their life and that of others. Community is central to Catholic education and the need to find meaning in the age of digital media and social networks that surround them is so important and prevalent. Your child will thrive in a community that finds that meaning through prayer, liturgy and celebration. They can bring to the modern world a value-based judgement that has at its heart Gospel values and the teaching and example of Christ. Catholic education is centred on Christ as its mentor and guide. All our schools celebrate their strengths through service to communities, inspiring achievement, being witnesses to faith and recognising the diversity and equality of each one of us. By choosing Catholic secondary education you are allowing the high academic standards and attainment you seek for your child to be intertwined with a faith-based judgment system that both brings them closer to God and makes them eager to improve the world around them. Many of our schools are at the cutting edge of academic excellence and progress. Your child will flourish in that environment and bring them closer to knowing Christ and knowing themselves. That is indeed the Good News, and why Catholic schools exist. Why Send Your Child to a Catholic Secondary School Our main Open Days are in October and March

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Autumn 2019 • Reach • 9 “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us” says Pope Francis in his encyclical letter Laudato Si - on the care for our common home (the world). He goes on to state that: ‘I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all’. He is then quick to describe the main problems which we are facing today: Pollution, waste and the throwaway culture Climate change Fresh drinking water as an issue of primary importance Earth’s resources being plundered. These in turn, culminate in decline in the quality of human life and the breakdown of society. So here are some thoughts about what we could do… l Anyone can change the world; all it takes is a little time, effort and dedication! l Changing the world will change you. l Understand the problem – what is your carbon footprint and what can you do to reduce it? Use the carbon footprint calculator on the World Wildlife Fund website to find out (type WWF Carbon Footprint Calculator into a search engine) l The Internet is a great place to find information about charities and causes to sponsor/support. l It doesn’t necessarily take lots of money to help make the world a better place. l Find exciting and fun ways to change the world. Volunteering is not only a great way to help those less fortunate; you might also make new friends! l Advertise your cause by using your talents. l Spread the word. Get your friends involved - the more the better! l You don`t have to change the world for everyone; you can change the world for a couple of people and still leave a positive impact. l Treat others like you would like to be treated! How can we help our world?

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10 • Reach • Autumn 2019 NEW BEGINNINGS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION is a non-profit making organisation set up by a group of volunteers in Northern Ireland. They work closely with an experienced and carefully selected team in Africa to help bring a better quality of life to some of Uganda’s most vulnerable young children. NBCF has purchased approximately 8 acres of land beside a small rural village in the Nakasangola District in Uganda adjacent to the local school. They also plan to purchase additional land for farming in the area. MISSION STATEMENT ‘NBCF seeks to provide the resources to allow the development and maintenance of secure housing, educational and medical facilities for underprivileged and orphaned children in Uganda. NBCF is a Christian based charity and welcomes children from all backgrounds in the hope that one day they will become responsible caring adults in their chosen communities and that all will come to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord’. WHO THEY HELP l Domestic Violence Victims. Some communities in Africa still use harsh disciplinary methods towards children and some need to be rescued. l Those orphaned due to war. Many children have lost both parents due to the war in Northern Uganda and need help and support. l Abandoned babies. Babies who have simply been abandoned and who are living on the streets. l AIDS Orphans from the Nakasongola district. l Those sleeping rough on the streets. l National Rehabilitation Centre; for captured street children, abandoned children and young offenders HOW THEY HELP? l House parents will be a mother/father figure to approx. 8 children accommodated in a traditional African style village. The development was started with the construction of 3 larger homes, cooking area and toilet facilities followed by a number of smaller traditional homes. l Counselling offered to each child. It is hoped that some of the children, with short term problems, will eventually be reunited with their families. l Children are encouraged in academic, vocational and basic life skills, to enable them to become productive and self-sustainable members of the community. l Each child’s medical needs to be monitored, and catered for. REHABILITATING CHILDREN FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS Each child that comes to New Beginnings may need to be rehabilitated as they are coming from a wide range of under-privileged backgrounds. These children are orphans and NBCF seeks to give them a secure family orientated upbringing, therefore every child will be living in a home with two house parents where they will be loved and cared for. When new street children are homed it is particularly difficult for them to settle in as they are not used to living in a home, using the toilet, going to school, obeying the rules or being cared for. Therefore when each child comes to New Beginnings they will be given counselling from trained staff at the village, the children that come from the streets especially need a lot of counselling and this will continue throughout their time at New Beginnings. Some of these children have had a horrific start to life so this counselling is vital to their development. Through their outreach programme they also assist by building new houses, giving livestock, school books, medicines, mattresses or mosquito nets. In short, the charity assists with: l Accommodation/housing l Community development l Counselling/support l Disability l Education/training l Grant making l Medical/health/sickness l Relief of poverty l Religious activities l Rural development l Sport/recreation l Volunteer development Thank you NBCF! The work of… New Beginnings Charitable Foundation

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Autumn 2019 • Reach • 11 To advertise in the Reach Newspaper call UK: 020 7112 6710 Ireland: 01 699 4407 ads@reachnewspaper.com Let’s get the kids involved… Make these autumn goodies together! Let’s use blackberries… Arm yourself and the children with baskets and containers and head into the wilderness (or the local country park) and pick yourself a fine blackberry feast When you get home try turning your findings into something spectacular with this child- friendly recipe - Blackberry & coconut squares are a brilliant bake for under-elevens. Blackberry and coconut squares Ingredients 250g self-raising flour 25g oats 280g soft brown sugar 200g butter cut into pieces 75g desiccated coconut 2 medium eggs beaten 350g blackberries Method 1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4. Tip the flour, oats and sugar into a large bowl. Rub the butter into the flour mixture using your fingertips, until only small pea- size pieces remain. Stir through the coconut, then fill a teacup with the mixture and set this aside. 2. Stir the eggs into the bowl of mixture, and then spread over the bottom of a lined baking tin (31 x 17cm), or a 21cm square tin. Smooth the surface with the back of a spoon, and then scatter over the blackberries. Scatter over the reserved teacup mixture and bake for 1 hr-1 hr 15 mins until golden and cooked through, (if you poke a skewer in, it should come out with moist crumbs but no wet mixture). Leave to cool, then remove from the tin and cut into squares. Serve with some extra berries, if you like. Great for teatime or to pop into a lunchbox Or apples… In October, the great British apple (and all its varieties) are usually celebrated up and down the country with a number of apple festivals hitting the streets, from apple bobbing to apple pressing, to live bands and cider - there are plenty of festiv als around that are fun for all the family, so it is well worth checking out local activity - and of course that give us license to tuck into a toffee apple or two as well! But the apple love doesn`t stop there, once you`re home get your children to don a mini pin ny and put them to work in the kitchen. These little toffee apple cakes have been specifically tailored for younger children to make with adult help. Little toffee apple cake Ingredients 3 tbsp sunflower oil plus more for the tin 1 large apple 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 110g self-raising flour 50g golden caster sugar 3 soft toffees Method 1. Children - Ask your grown-up helper to switch the oven on to 190C/170C fan/ gas mark 5. Brush a small (500g/ 1 lb) loaf tin with a little oil. 2. Peel the apple with a potato peeler, then cut it into quarters and cut out the cores. 3. Grate the apple and put it in a large bowl. 4. Break the egg into a small bowl. If any pieces of shell fall in, lift them out with a spoon. Add to the apple, and then add 3 tbsp oil and the vanilla. Mix well. 5. Add the flour and sugar and stir together. The mixture is quite stiff so keep going until all of the flour is mixed in. Scrape into a prepared tin. 6. Push 3 toffees into the mix in a row. Ask a grown-up to put the tin in the oven for 30-40 mins or until cooked through. Cool before tipping out and slicing Other seasonal cakes and bakes Picking seasonal fruit and vegetables to cook will help your children r ecognise the different seasons, especially if you browse a local market or farm shop together, then let your kids take the reins as they make their own lunchbox treats with sticky plum flapjack bars. Remember, getting your kids involved in cooking doesn`t have to be a big project, simply giving your children easy, regular job s like grating cheese or washing lettuce should give them confidence and most of all enthusiasm in the kitchen. Sticky plum flapjack bars Ingredients 450g fresh plums, halved, stoned and sliced ½ teasp mixed spice 300g light muscovado sugar 350g butter plus extra for greasing 300g rolled porridge oats 140g plain flour 50g chopped walnuts 3 tbsp golden syrup Method 1. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Tip the plums into a bowl. Toss with the spice, 50g of the sugar and a small pinch of salt, and then set aside to macerate. 2. Gently melt the butter in a saucepan. In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, walnut pieces and remaining sugar together, making sure there are no lumps of sugar, then stir in the butter and golden syrup until everything is combined into a loose flapjack mixture 3. Grease a square baking tin about 20 x 20cm. Press half the oaty mix over the base of the tin, then tip over the plums and spread to make an even layer. Press the remaining oats over the plums so they are completely covered right to the sides of the tin. Bake for 45-50 mins until dark golden and starting to crisp a little around the edges. Leave to cool completely, and then cut into 18 little bars. Will keep in an airtight container for 2 days or can be frozen for up to a month.

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12 • Reach • Autumn 2019 Across 1 One of the OT`s Wisdom Books (12) 8 Focused (7) 9 Weapon (5) 10 Ensnares (5) 11 Don`t get up early from bed (3,4) 12 Get wind of something; suspect (4,2,7) 15 Japanese form of acupuncture (7) 17 Legends of the Himalayas (5) 19 Cub; pup (5) 20 Sloth; passivity (7) 21 Dilemma in pontoon to hold what you have or gamble by taking another card (5,2,5) Down 1 Saying that everyone has a right to have different preferences (4,2,3,3) 2 Latin American dance with dancers in single file (5) 3 Unbroken landmass from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific (7) 4 Christmas song anglicized as Good Christian Men, Rejoice (2,5,6) 5 Alley cat, for example (5) 6 Title of respect from the Ottoman Empire (7) 7 Chesty cough medicine (12) 13 Most conceited (7) 14 Resort at the southernmost tip of Florida (3,4) 16 Subject matter (5) 18 In music, `to be performed by the entire ensemble` (5) SOLUTION Across: 1 Ecclesiastes, 8 Centred, 9 Rifle, 10 Traps, 11 Lay into, 12 Have an inkling, 15 Shiatsu, 17 Yetis, 19 Whelp, 20 Inertia, 21 Stick or twist. Down: 1 Each to his own, 2 Conga, 3 Eurasia, 4 In Dulci Jubilo, 5 Stray, 6 Effendi, 7 Decongestant, 13 Vainest, 14 Key West, 16 Topic, 18 Tutti. Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth`s rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest...blindfolded...and leaves him....alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night...and not take off the blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it. He is all by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night...he is an ADULT. He cannot tell the other children of this experience. Each child must experience it for themselves. The boy was terrified...could hear all kinds of noise...Beasts were all around him. Maybe even some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth... and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically...never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be an adult. Finally, after a horrific night...the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father...sitting on the stump next to him...at watch...the entire night. We are never truly alone. Even when we do not know it, our family and friends are watching out for us...sitting on a stump beside us. We are never alone

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