Set Your Priorities

"To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is itself to succumb to the violence of our times". ~Thomas Merton

A Work of Art

What would it be like if you lived each day, each breath, as a work of art in progress? Imagine that you are a Masterpiece unfolding, every second of every day, a work of art taking form with every breath. ~Thomas Crum

This is my most favorite place on earth to visit.  Now, I say that with certain qualifications as I've not traveled out of our country.  Well, I've been to Canada so that registers as "out of our country"but I've not been to Europe, Asia, or the like.  But for now, until a trip such as one of those occurs, this will have to suffice.  In case you're not recognizing the scene, it's the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.  And, maybe I may again have to qualify my statement.  IF I were to venture to New Zealand, or the Serengeti, or the Matterhorn, the Grand Tetons may very well still be my most favorite place.  One can just look at the majestic beauty of those snow capped peaks, or the jagged foundation of them, the hues that crisscross the skies, and see what I see here.  I think it's the face of God and the inherent peace that abounds.  It's the resilient aura of life that magnifies my belief in not just love of nature, but my never dying respect for the creation that has hold on us all. 

"People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering". ~St. Augustine

I like this quote by Augustine, who in his day was one of the most prolific philosophers and teachers of his time.  And if we look inherently at what he is saying, aren't we all somewhat guilty of failing to recognize and acknowledge the beauty we all possess?  Who isn't awestruck by the the aforementioned natural creations?  Most of us have stood at the beach, danced away from the crashing of a wave as it rushed at our feet.  Or, have been fortunate to cross a mountain pass in a car, or better yet, walked up a pass and witnessed the beauty of it.  But, how often do we fail to look within to know the wonder of our very being?  It is truly a God given quality that escapes us.  Look within, see your beauty.

Your Heart

        Sorrow is how we learn to love. Your heart isn't breaking. It hurts because it's getting larger. The larger it gets, the more love it holds.

Rita Mae Brown

The End of the Tunnel

The Light isn't at the end of the tunnel, it's wherever you are!

                  

In Memoriam

He was getting
old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Visualizations

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour".   

William Blake  

  

The Realist

Again,the times has slipped by and my thoughts and putting them down on paper have once again eluded me.  I've gotten inspiration from a most unusual and unexpected source.  I'm going to try this again, start slow, and allow the creative juices to flow.  My camera certainly hasn't waned in this respite as I've been to several "old" haunts within the last several months.  

I'm offering a quote here:

"THE PESSIMIST COMPLAINS ABOUT THE WIND, THE OPTIMIST EXPECTS IT TO CHANGE, AND THE REALIST ADJUSTS THE SAILS".  

In scheme of life where do you see yourself?

365

On Feb. 12, of this year I made a similar post to this one.  It was about time, death, and exposure to certain unexplained phenomena that we experience in our lives.  Today I'm experiencing some of those ethereal moments that really have no explanation or rhyme.  I lost my little girl-Piper a year ago today.  Just like in Feb. of this year when I acknowledged Dancer's one year passing as well, I expressed my sadness, my sorrow, my void in my life.  This "anniversary" was not any easier than the one in Feb.  In retrospect, death has not become any less significant nor has its impact been less unavailing.  Two very close friends of mine passed several months ago and their deaths have not been ineffectual.  I know that we don't live forever and unfortunately, our pets don't either.  Way too often, they leave ahead of us.  Like the mother or father who loses their child, the grief is almost unbearable.  Yet, bringing a pet into our home, we know all to well that this is going to be the likely outcome.  How do we overcome our sadness and what procedure, what strategy do we use to impede that irrefutable sorrow that often controls us?  We pray, sometimes we drink or take legal or illegal controlled substances, we speak to our minister or pastor, we read words of consolation from a philosopher or other spiritual mentor. Some of these actually help.  But, if there is such a thing as a universe that is truly connected on some unrevealed cosmic entity, then there is another person in this universe that we're unquestionably aligned with.  It may not be in a physical sense but more so as a spiritual or mystical, even transcendent.  When I needed that boost today to ignite might mood, my unparalleled person came forth with those very words that I would have searched endlessly to ease my sorrow.  All from a lady I had not seen, nor spoke to in 17 years.  I cannot give you an explanation as to why this chance encounter took place several months ago.  Was that meeting a consequence of serendipity that brought her words to ease my grief?  I am awestruck by this unparalleled universe that intersects what the philosophers describe as fortuity.  Until some simple explanation can be discerned, all I can say for now is, there are no words in the English language to describe what your words of consolation have done for me.  I know Piper would say the same, "thanks K for taking care of my Dad".

Spring Morning

Wow, I look back at my last post and again wonder where the time as gone.  There has been somewhat of a "mental diffusion" of what I've done with this blog.  And, the only thing that I can attribute to is a lethargy of mind and spirit.....and of course-body.  For to separate my ass from the couch sometimes takes a back hoe.  It's not that the mind has gone stagnant for there have been many times when the thoughts were "flowing" like the proverbial river, but my gluteus maximus was hermetically sealed to Old Mother Hubbard.  But, I was watching a silly movie the other evening-"Kindergarten Cop", (I confess...I like it) with the Honorable-the former governor of California, or maybe he doesn't deserve the title, "Honorable" since he fathered a child while still the governor even while Maria was pregnant with their child.....oh well, such is the life of a politician.  But pardon me, I digressed for the moment.  As I was watching this movie, there was a scene where he was reading one of A.A. Milne's stories...."Spring Morning".  In case you're not familiar with A.A. Milne, he's the author of the Winnie the Pooh stories.  I love these.....there the epitome of what I believe most people should adhere their lives too.....the simple, unfettered, and relaxed state of mind that would add years to our already complicated lives.  So, here's to Pooh, Piglet, Winnie, and Co.

"Spring Morning"

Where am I going? I don't quite know.
Down to the stream where the king-cups grow --
Up on the hill where the pine-trees blow --
Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know.
Where am I going? The clouds sail by,
Little ones, baby ones, over the sky.
Where am I going? The shadows pass,
Little ones, baby ones, over the grass.
If you were a cloud, and sailed up there,
You'd sail on water as blue as air,
And you'd see me here in the fields and say:
"Doesn't the sky look green today?"
Where am I going? The high rooks call:
"It's awful fun to be born at all."
Where am I going? The ring-doves coo:
"We do have beautiful things to do."
If you were a bird, and lived on high,
You'd lean on the wind when the wind came by,
You'd say to the wind when it took you away:
"That's where I wanted to go today!"
Where am I going? I don't quite know.
What does it matter where people go?
Down to the wood where the blue-bells grow --
Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know.