The gift of a "commonplace book": A seed that can bloom well beyond a lifetime. A place to collect the wisdom and stories which others in ancient and modern times have to teach us. And then, even further possibilities: to make sense out of everyday nonsense; to enthuse the heart; to enliven a passion for life; to guide the spiritual journey; to laugh; to relax from the speed and demands of our too busy world; to gently remind us of our inclusion in the family of history and society; to enjoy and relish the utter beauty of language and story; to discover new writers and thinkers even as we revisit old favorites; to find inspiration for writing, speaking, motivating, creating, and even counseling; to guide our young with gentle reminders of the purposes of life; and, finally perhaps, to define our own voice in the living of life.