new growth

(black bamboo shoot)

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

~ Maya Angelou ~
from her inaugural poem, "On the Pulse of Morning" (January 20, 1993)

The black bamboo took off this weekend--two new shoots. Both of them are big and quite a way from the center of the plant. That is all good news in bamboo land.

Now, may we develop some offshoots, far from the original "plant" to keep us from re-living history. May we develop big, strong shoots to take us in new directions. We can have new growth, rooted in learning from past pain.

now what kind of choice is that

Delaying medical care is a characteristic of poverty. For people living close to the edge, taking off a day to visit a doctor or staying home sick is literally taking food out of their mouths.

~ Paul J. Gertler ~

a professor of economics at the School of Public Health at the University of California at Berkeley

I'm the first to admit that I don't have the answers when it comes to health care. I just know that what we have now is broken--terribly broken.

Everyone should have the right to basic health care. Everyone should be able to get medication, because--HELLO!--everyone gets sick sometimes.

If it were up to me to start fixing the problem, I'd have two main targets:

1) The insurance companies

and

2) the drug companies (and their axillary, the FDA).

Where would you begin the clean up?

old faithful

(old faithful)

When in doubt, go with Old Faitful.

Who or what is old faithful in your life right now?

loving through the differences

Charity is commendable; everyone should be charitable. But justice aims to create a social order in which, if individuals choose not to be charitable, people still don’t go hungry, unschooled, or sick without care.

~ Bill Moyers ~
television journalist and social commentator

I am always shocked when people I love have remarkably different political views than I do. All evening, I contemplated the issue. How can we, when we are diametrically opposed in our opinions, maintain a connection?

What I view as stewardship of the planet, they view as taking away our freedom. What I view as taking away our civil rights, they see as protection from terrorism. How can we work this out?

All I know is that this is a challenge for me. I must learn to love in spite of our differences of opinion. I must learn to stay connected without giving myself away or letting go of my opinions.

Any suggestions for how to do that?

go green--pray, sing, love, dance

(wine glasses at navarre, restaurant of the year for 2009)

Prayer does not use up artificial energy, doesn't burn up any fossil fuel, doesn't pollute. Neither does song, neither does love, neither does the dance.

~ Margaret Mead ~
in Jane Howard's book, Margaret Mead (1984)

I've reached the stage in life where I am no longer "accumulating" stuff, but am "paring down." Oh, sure I still like things and even hope to acquire a few more--selectively...like an espresso machine (but I digress).

On the other hand, give me one of these green gifts any day...

Pray for me...

Sing to me...

Love me...

Dance with me...

(and in keeping with the picture above)

...break bread and have a glass of wine with me.

love thursday 06.25.09 ~ women

For millenia women have dedicated themselves almost exclusively to the task of nurturing, protecting, and caring for the young and the old, striving for the conditions of peace that favor life as a whole. ... The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just, and peaceful life for all.

~ Aung San Suu Kyi ~

Burma's pro-democracy leader and political prisoner,
who awaits the verdict on her most recent arrest

We who nurture--may we live up to this vision. And may we walk hand-in-hand and arm-in-arm with our brothers who hold the vision.

Love.

isms

(catalpa blossoms on the deck in the rain)

Never stop making the connections between sexism, racism, militarism, nationalism and all forms of violence.

~ Marge Tuite ~
Dominican Sister

We watched Australia tonight. Set during WWII, the story was about the "lost generations"--the half aboriginal, half white children who didn't fit in either world. The wisdom of the day required that these children be taken from their mothers (the mother was always the aboriginal) and placed in a missionary school where they could be trained to become servants in white households.

We wouldn't think of doing such a thing today, but this program didn't end until 1973. Heck...I was barely out of high school then. It's not so long ago when you are talking about human rights.

How many isms aren't listed above? How many are we not even yet aware of? How many of them am I--I who am subjected to the downwind end of several of these--not aware of? I wonder...will we learn?

why?

Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are anger and courage. Anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are.

~ St. Augustine ~

Today I'm asking...why do I blog? Once upon a time, I thought I would use it to grow my business. Now I blog for discipline and practice. And I love the contact I have with you all.

What about you--why do you?

inspiration

(my daily inspiration)

Would it seem impudent if I turned your question around and asked What Would Wanda Do about feeling a lack of inspiration? Because I go through these periods myself, I'm quite genuine in wanting to know.

graceonline

Impudent? Not at all. Actually, you are brilliant to do so.

One of the things I do is what I did--ask for inspiration. Whether I ask the divine or my friends--real time or cyber--asking for help...well...helps.

Then I practice what I call "sitting with grace and acceptance." I say practice, because sometimes this is easier than others and I fall in and out of both grace and acceptance. The point of the practice is being in the moment. It (whatever "it" one is sitting with) is what it is...for now. Whatever "it" is passes eventually and becomes something else. (This I have learned from having been on the planet for more than a half century.) I don't always like where I am in those times; however, going with the flow relieves me of struggle. I call it "surfing."

I put one foot in front of the other. I do my routine. I get up in the morning, open the blinds to let the sun in, make the coffee, and feed the squirrels. The routine helps--and so does the morning light, coffee's rich color, aroma, and flavor, and the joy of communing with sweet little rodents.

I look for opportunities to break out of the routine. If I feel like doing something I have been putting off (like going through a pile of junk mail or entering information in my accounting program) I do it. These tasks are necessary even if they don't seem creative and clearing the path opens space for other flow.

In the same vein, I take advantage of breaks in routine. Yesterday, I drove a friend to an appointment. While waiting, I worked on an art project that has been gestating in my mind for months. Then in the evening, SO attended a meeting so I had the house to myself. I cranked up the stereo and used the momentum to keep going. Without gestation, nothing is born. Viewing the "uninspired" times as periods of gestational development helps immensely.

That's what I do.

Let me know if this helps. And if you all have something to add, please do.

so tell me...

(catalpa blossom)

You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those
who can do nothing for them or to them.

~ Malcolm Forbes ~
(1919-1990)
American Publisher

...do I want to sign up for Facebook? So far I have managed not to enroll in MySpace, Facebook, Twitter...anything but a blog. I kill plenty of time there. However I continue to get invitations to become "friends" with people.

Is it worth it? Can it be done without becoming an addict? Do you use any of these? Fill me in. I'd love some perspective and advice.

Oh, and by the way...
Happy Summer!
and
Happy Fathers' Day!

no trace

(canterbury bells)

When you do something, you should burn yourself completely,
like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

~ Shunryu Suzuki ~

he loves me...he loves me not

(the first blurry daisy)

If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies.

~Moshe Dayan ~

Israeli military commander and politician turned peacemaker

love thursday ~ 06.18.09: haiku

(someone asked if the clematis smells as sweet as it looks...nope. no smell.)

One umbrella--
the person more in love
gets wet.

~ from Haiku Humor ~

Share your own haiku (or a ditty or an observation or a rumination--or whatever you like) about love. Oh, heck...about anything you choose.

Why? Because I love you.

Check out more Love Thursday at Chookooloonks.

enemies or friends?

It is the acid test of nonviolence that ... there is no rancor left behind, and in the end, the enemies are converted into friends.

~ Mohandas Gandhi ~

This seemed to follow well behind the Mandela quote. Hmm...turning enemies into friends. I guess that applies to more than people.

I am going to have to think about this one myself. Anyone or anything you are turning from enemy to friend?

re-runs

(marty)

To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one's partner.

~ Nelson Mandela ~

I am uninspired. I haven't been taking any photos and am starting to draw things out of my archives that I have already posted. Bear with me. The tide will turn.

Marty has been gone for a while, but I have been missing him, so I decided to post this one of him lounging on the deck. We didn't have many squirrels hanging out when Marty was here.

What are you working with to turn from enemy to partner? Inspire me.

mary in hawaii

(at the painted church near captain cook, hawaii)

We cannot prove our love of God except by loving our fellow humans. Jesus Christ loved God precisely by loving his fellow men and women.

~ Anthony Wilhelm, ~
Christ Among Us (1967)

And I am sure his mama had a lot to do with that--as did his Father...both of them.

today i...

...ate strawberries from our garden

...ate lettuce from our garden

...did whatever i wanted to do when i wanted to do it

...played a game of transformation

...organized pictures on my computer

...uploaded pictures to Flickr

...drank coffee

...found a new bamboo shoot

It was a good day. How about you? What'd you do?

tell me what this means to you...

(sunset through the trees by my house)

When two elephants struggle, it is the grass that suffers.

~ East African Proverb ~

look for something new

(clematis)

To find new things, take the path you took yesterday.

~ John Burroughs ~

love thursday ~ 06.11.09: forgiveness

(kinda looks like a heart, doesn't it? i mean a real heart.)

Genuine forgiveness is not an easily cultivated art. Especially when we have been gravely wounded by another person, our basic human dignity affronted, it is no simple task to forgive. Nor should it be done lightly. For we need also to recognize and affirm the anger, the pain, the betrayal, or the sense of injustice that we feel when genuinely hurt.

~ Wendy M. Wright ~
The Rising

Forgiveness is a wonderfully selfish act done on one's own behalf. I believe that in forgiving we must look at what needs to be forgiven and what it cost us.

We can then, fully and consciously examine the transaction, knowing what we paid and decide that we can let go of that incidence (or series of them). We can also decide to avoid being in such a position again. When we are informed and have completed our understanding of the event and behaviors involved, the process is complete.

No shortcuts: Face it. Feel it. Examine, learn, understand. Establish new boundaries. Then we can move on.

Hallelujah.

simple things that make me happy

(#26)

1. a fresh notebook and a new pen (especially a fountain pen)
2. the smell of brand new text books
3. up close contact with animals...okay, mostly mammals (although that face to face with the sea turtle was awesome)
   
4. watching tv series on dvd...marathon style
5. the tropics
6. kindness
7. massage
8. 50s, 60s, 70s music
9. technology that works like it is supposed to
10. rum and coke
11. ...or a mai tai at the kona inn
12. ...with spearfish for lunch
13. mom coming to visit (don't worry, mom--these are in no particular order)
14. close, crisp photos with bokeh (especially ones i took)
15. clean sheets on my bed
16. a full tank of gas
17. sun
18. making others happy
19. being pain free
20. riding the motorcycle
21. having a memory
22. getting comments on my blog
23. accomplishing tasks and crossing them off my list
24. a balanced checkbook with a positive balance
25. squirrels eating from my hand
26. bamboo shoots
27. the ocean
28. Hafiz poetry
29. email
30. freshly ironed clothes
31. fizzy water
32. a clean house
33. being on time
34. the smell of freshly mown grass
35. reading a book that makes me not want to stop at the end of the chapter
36. sleeping uninterrupted and waking up rested
37. cash in my pocket
38. no line at the checkout
39. making people laugh
40. driving topless
41. a good haircut
42. soaking in hot mineral pools
43. bras that fit
44. cowboy boots
45. drivers who follow the rules of the road and obey traffic laws
46. a knife that is sharp enough to slice a tomato
47. toothpicks
48. organics
49. time off from work
50. road trips
    

Christina at Soul Aperture invited us to join her in this adventure. Go see her for more....

community

(random choice of photos from my archive)

We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.

~ Dorothy Day ~

The Long Loneliness

I miss my espresso machine. Perhaps someone in my community has one to share?

Kidding. I'm using a French press now. It does the job, but there are times that an espresso is all that will do. Know what I mean?

What's your favorite form of java? Or tea...or whatever.

domination or dominion?

(most of the strawberries are red now)

The choice we face is broader than politics, deeper than charity. It is whether we see the world chiefly as property to be controlled, defined by walls and fences that must be built ever higher, ever thicker, ever tougher; or made up chiefly of an open weave of compassion and connection.

~ Rabbi Arthur Waskow ~

Director of the Shalom Center,

from his essay "The Sukkah of Shalom"

Control or connection. Should be an easy one. The difference between domination and dominion. Stewardship.

Domination controls.

Dominion "husbands."

Husbandry is about stewardship and making choices for the good of the crop, the flock, the community, the whole.

We had volunteer strawberries in the gardens and beds. SO moved the plants around and now they line our entire yard. We get to eat some of them if we don't wait too long. The birds and slugs love them.

Our 3rd party CSA is already producing more food than we can eat. We get to share with our neighbors, friends, and family.

Stewardship manages resources and shares with the whole.

After all, we have more than enough--more than enough goes around.

"what about 12.21.12?" a reader asks

Time is what prevents everything from happening at once.
~ John Wheeler ~

What does Wanda think, and what would she do, about the impending 12-21-12?

CWL


December 21st of 2012 is the end of the Mayan Calendar. This ancient Mesoamerican calendar has come under scrutiny in the last several years by many scholars and scientists because it ends on the winter solstice in 2012. I am intrigued by the concept and have read a number of books and articles discussing the upcoming date and what it might mean.

No one knows exactly. Some prophesy the end of the world. Some say nothing noticeable will happen. Some say that what happens is still being decided by what we do now. Many scholars and scientists have written volumes and I encourage you to take a look at some of their writings to get the big picture and the reasoning behind their thoughts.

One of my favorites is Gregg Braden. I am currently reading Fractal Time. Here, in essence, Gregg discusses our holographic universe and says that by looking at patterns that have occurred throughout history, we can look at what conditions will be in place for events in the future. He has discovered a formula that allows him to look at specific dates and the patterns informing the conditions based on previous cycles. In this book, Gregg looks specifically at 2012 and the conditions he expects to be in place based on his formula.

I haven't finished reading the book yet, so I can't tell you everything that he has found. However, reading his books and other articles I come across informs my opinion of what we might experience in 2012.

First of all, that date will not be an event. I don't expect an apocalypse or the Rapture or any huge catastrophic world phenomenon. Whatever the pattern is that culminates on that date is already in process, therefore is unfolding as we speak. So I subscribe to the theory that says: No one knows what will happen and it is happening and unfolding now as we make decisions on personal, national, and global stages. What we do today matters, so we need to make the choice now to develop the world into what we want it to be.

Second, around 12.21.12 the solar system will be approaching the "equator" of the galaxy. I am not an astrologer. I can't begin to share the ramifications of such a configuration. However, I can tell you that something as regular and mundane as Mercury going retrograde can really screw with the flow of my life, so I am guessing that approaching a galactic configuration of some sort would be much more potent. I just hope it is good.

Third, whenever I hear about "the end of the calendar" I am reminded of the Bible saying that "time will be no more." What is the calendar, but a measure of time? And what is time, but a construct that prevents everything from happening at once? What will that look like when time is no more? Is 12.21.12 the date when that occurs? Could be...or not. And what happens when time is no more? Do we move into the next dimension? Will it be like X Files or Twilight Zone or...?

I fully expect to wake up on 12.22.12 and find that it feels very much like the day before, but that doesn't mean that nothing happened--nothing is changing. We may be moving into a new age--one that we are all deciding today. We may be moving into the next dimension--or maybe the Mothership will come for us all. I don't know and neither does anyone else. What I can tell you is this--change is coming...big or small...incremental or sudden.

Whatever it is...I am holding out for something good.

What do you think?

things i don't understand

(a red butt bee in the sage)

how bumble bees--that aren't even aerodynamically supposed to be able to fly--can move so fast that autofocus doesn't have time to work

what guys like about wearing their pants below their asses (that can't be comfortable, can it?)

why products that i love always come out with a "new and improved" version that i hate and i have to go off in search of a replacement...and can never find anything as good as the original [sigh]

why mercury has to go retrograde four times this year, when the usual three is more than enough

what happens to the time between getting out of bed and needing to get ready to leave the house on time

what it's all about

how i can be full of ideas while i am driving and unable to write them down--as soon as i am sitting in front of the computer or a piece of paper? gone.

....

what don't you understand?

your photo tips giveaway...better late than never

(foxglove and rhodie)

Just in case you haven't heard...

Damien over at Your Photo Tips is having a giveaway!

What's the prize, you ask? A Canon PowerShot SD770IS 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom. Go here for all the details and entry rules. Tell him I sent you, if you'd like.

Hurry on over there, now. The contest is over at the end of the month.

Damien also has great photo tips to share, so if you are wanting to connect with other digital photographers and learn their tricks, this is a great place to go.

love thursday 06.04.09 ~ strawberry

(yes, these are in my front yard)

We have only this short life in which to prove our love.

~ Edel Quin ~
Missionary of the Legion of Mary (1907-1944)

I ate one of these. Not one pictured here, but one from another plant in the yard. (They're everywhere. Remember this and this? In fact, I may have eaten the one from this very blossom.) You'd be surprised at how sweet it was, in spite of the green-ness of it. Getting to them before the slugs and birds requires eating them while still a little bit green.

Just give them a couple more weeks of sun.

Anyone interested in a strawberry daquiri party? Strawberry shortcake? Strawberries and cream...Devonshire?

actions speak louder than words

(foxglove in the front yard)

What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

lifeline?

[Jesus] left that place and entered their synagogue; a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

~ Matthew 12:9-14 ~

When is it ever wrong to do good?

richness

(rhodies)

But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

~ 1 Timothy 6:9-11 ~

I just finished saying to SO, "I want to be rich. Well, I am rich--but I want to have a lot of money. Money buys freedom and makes a lot of things easier," (and that is true) and I walked into the house and opened my computer to this--the verse of the day email from Sojourners.

Yes, it is true that I wish I had a lot of money. I'd share. And when I read this verse, I was so clear that I want God more...faith, love, endurance, righteousness, godliness, gentleness. Yes, all these things.

Okay. So having lots of money is next on my list.