Know a Good Alchemist?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I saw a wounded soldier, his left leg amputated and a battle wound. He used to be a high school soccer star. Now he “marches” in peace demonstrations. He always carried the same sign: “Damn it, give peace a chance!”

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I sometimes imagine a lump of clay in the hands of someone living thousands of years ago. She played with it to form a ball, a snake, a bowl, a cup, a person. Just playing around, like you did with the stuff of the universe. Your play was more complex, but similarly playful, I think. Comets, giraffes, pandas, anteaters. Just playing around until what emerges is a work of art. Come, let’s play together.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“How can you tell that a blonde has been using the computer?”

[Even if He knew about white-out, He never told this joke.]

D. Blog: Golden Years?

I mostly get to enjoy some of my “golden” years. I have time for rest and reflection. I know minimal stress in my life. I no longer need to have full time paying work. I have plenty of friends and a good home in a pleasant neighborhood in a beautiful area.

Some friends of my age and older, however, know what seem more like “leaden” years. With post-graduate degrees and lengthy resumes and significant accomplishments, they are no longer wanted in the job market. Still living with substantial mortgage and other debt, still trying to get children to independent adulthood, watching their nest eggs disappear from their empty nests, they feel burdened and anxious.

Is there an alchemist who can turn their lead into gold?