Marian Axford Shea is an 89-year-old woman in her own tidy, memento-rich room in the Health Care Center of Friendship Village Retirement Center of Tempe. Her mind is sharp but her body has not kept up as well, and she is bed-bound. Marian, a retired longtime college teacher, author and social justice activist, has been a friend of mine for about 15 years. She was once active at my church where she regularly spoke out forcefully for others.On Wednesday, I was on a panel at the Kiwanis Club of Friendship Villages special Thanksgiving-theme meeting, coming on the eve of the holiday. Our topic was how Kiwanis Clubs manifest their commitment to the first two of the six Objects of Kiwanis: To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life. To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.As the person who has been delivering the invocations to my Kiwanis club in Tempe since October 1991 and producing its weekly newsletter since January 1990, I noted how I try to celebrate the humanity of our members on a regular basis, make the club aware of members and their loved ones health and share achievements of the Kiwanis family. We periodically have a religious speaker and surely try to live out the Golden Rule.At the end of my remarks, I reminded the Friendship Village Kiwanians of Maria Shea, one of their health care center residents and a one-time Tempe candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives, albeit it unsuccessful bid in the general election in the mid-1990s. I told how her social witness was fierce an advocate for peace, children, widespread health care and legal justice for the poor. Then I read from one of my lesson plans from April 27, 1997, when I taught a contemporary issues class at my church. It was titled, Words to Live By Maxims Driving Us:When Marian Sheas friend, Vicki Austin, telephoned her on Aug. 14, 1996, to wish her a happy 79th birthday, Vickie gave her an assignment. For every year of her life, she would write one thing or one truth she has learned. This is what Marian wrote off the top of her head: On the front and back of my hand-out were 79 sayings, aphorisms and inspiring lines — most just a few words long. To that Kiwanis contingent Wednesday, I shared some of those pieces of wisdom that this one-time school teacher so easily volunteered. Among them:: Lifes greatest joys come in serving others. Use your talents lest they atrophy. Always begin the day on a positive note. See the beauty in each individual, Use the microwave to simplify your life. If youre angry, count to 10 before your speak. Beauty if only skin deep. Real beauty comes from character.Others include: Rejoice along with others in their accomplishments. Watch your weight. Learn when to compromise and when to stand firm on principle. Maintain a healthy sense of humor. Beware of flattery. Begin each day by acknowledging the goodness of God in granting another day of life. Learn from others rather than trying to learn the hard way. Seize the moment. Get your education. Revere your parents wisdom. Avoid even the appearance of evil. Have long-range goals, but be able to change them if necessary. And there is a lot more practical advice for life. Ten more birthdays have come along for Marian, and she could proffer at lest 10 more maxims, for sure. So I will just end on one more of her expressions. Take time to be overwhelmed by the beauties God has created.

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