Compassion is the only way forward if we are to be well. Compassion for those who do not know that they are beloved. Compassion for the children and creatures who are suffering today. Compassion even for the people and nations who wrong us. Revenge has no future, apart from bitterness and the multiplication of wrong. As Mahatma Gandhi taught his people in the midst of his nation’s struggle for justice and liberation, the philosophy of revenge, of an eye for an eye, will only make the whole world blind. If what we are committed to is transformation, then the only way forward is compassion, not revenge. A passion that is with and for the other as well as oneself, a passion that is with us and for the other as oneself.
John Philip Newell
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A new foundation
Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. If this is to be achieved, mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.We now teach that mankind has evolved physically and mentally. However, we have repeatedly proved we have not evolved as much in wisdom and maturity. For example, to solve human conflict with a method of love requires wisdom and maturity. And, without evolving in our wisdom and maturity we have shown conflict only adds to conflict. I do believe Dr. King is correct.
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… not always my best thinking
I have been glancing at Google news and NPR news for the past month thinking I would stay better informed. I made sure not click on any of the links or read articles, I only read the headlines. But that wisdom showed me that some of my best thinking is not always my best thinking. In no time at all I found myself both angry and weeping for the world. So today as I journaled on my porch I wondered when was the last time we saw headlines with news of hope, love, compassion, tolerance, peace, forgiveness, acceptance, and stories of people who are making a positive difference in the world? Maybe that voice must come from each of us. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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… dawn is a gift
“But dawn – dawn is a gift. Much is revealed about a person by his or her passion, or indifference, to this opening of the door of day. No one who loves dawn, and is abroad to see it, could be a stranger to me.”
Mary Oliver, Upstream: Selected Essays -
… the work of being human
“Really all we have to offer the world is the gift of our individuality. We can never be just like any other person. Our journey through life is an extremely personal contribution to the work of being human.”
Jane ReichholdIn my experience when anyone tries to force their opinions and their rules as the norm for everyone, they are no longer being a gift. We see this evidenced in our attempts to use war as a way to create unity rather than embracing individuality. There is enough historical evidence to prove war is not a gift and has never brought unity! So maybe our task in life is to encourage and nurture those around us who need to offer their personal contribution of being human. Who knows, maybe their contribution will enrich everyone’s lives. I find it sad that so many world leaders arrogantly deny others the opportunity to be the individual gift they are, this work of being human. And, it is a gift!
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Listening to understand
The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply.
Stephen R. CoveyOvercast skies allowed for some predawn color on my way to the coffee shop this morning. I stopped in the parking lot at the CSU Women’s Soccer field and took this image. This is a handheld shot at ISO 500 and I used Lightroom Classic denoise in post processing. I met my friend Duane for brunch today and enjoyed the food and conversation. And the conversation is always good because we are both learning to be better listeners.
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Dreamcatcher
“Cesar is not a philosophical man. His life has been one long flight from reflection. At least he is clever enough not to expose the poverty of his general ideas; he never permits the conversation to move toward philosophical principles. Men of his type so dread all deliberation that they glory in the practice of the instantaneous decision. They think they are saving themselves from irresolution; in reality they are sparing themselves the contemplation of all the consequences of their acts. Moreover, in this way they can rejoice in the illusion of never having made a mistake; for act follows so swiftly an act that it is impossible to reconstruct the past and say that an alternative decision would have been better. They can pretend that every act was forced on them under emergency and that every decision was mothered by necessity.”
Thornton Wilder, The Ides of MarchWe had rain and a dusting of snow overnight. The wind continues to blow, gusting at time up to 23 mph, and it is a cold 28 degrees. It is one of those days that staying inside is the wisest choice to make. So, I focused my camera on what is indoors, and found my dreamcatcher hanging on my bedroom wall. Hope you enjoy your Sunday. It is also Ides of March which is an ancient Roman calendar date marking the middle of the month and the first full moon, originally associated with festivals and the new year. Now you know!
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Clouds at Predawn
The cloud is free only to go with the wind.
Wendell Berry
The rain is free only in falling.Here is this morning’s predawn sky over campus on my bicycle ride to Mugs. Emily was my barista and an Old Town mocha was my drink of choice this morning. We had some dramatic winds along the Colorado Front Range and into Wyoming on Thursday. They closed I-25 and US 287 north from Fort Collins to Cheyenne and Laramie for the better part of the day. There were wind gusts recorded over 80 mph. So there has been some major wind damage. The campus had some big old pine trees toppled. They released students early on Thursday due to the winds and it was the last day of class before spring break. What was interesting to me about this wind was having it blow for almost 12 hours nonstop. As my friend, Joan, described it, it was “unsettling.” They are predicting more high winds again today and into tomorrow. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend!
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… stuff like this
When I head out the door I usually carry my camera along with my journal, fountain pens and kindle. Seems I have spent a fortune on camera bags looking for the perfect fit. I have lately been using a nice Lowepro Photosport backpack. It has easy access to the camera via a zippered door on the side. I can easily slide it off one shoulder and pull the camera out. It also has a top loading compartment much like a rucksack to put the journal, pens and kindle in. My only complaint is the heaviness of the backpack but it is designed to protect the camera. However, when I have the camera hanging around my neck and my journal, pens and kindle in a small Topo backpack, I almost always take more images. We see photo opportunities all the time but when the camera is in my bag I am less likely to bring home that image. So, I’m carrying my camera around my neck again, even when riding the bicycle, and you may see more images of stuff like this. We have high wind warnings out today with gusts up to 30 mph. Bad hair day!
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An Hour at the Library
I spent an hour at the Harmony Library this afternoon. It has been a cold day so the library sounded inviting. I was a librarian my senior year in high school to pickup a credit or two. As I reflected I realized that working in the library today is much different than in 1968. Back then nothing was digital. The old card file system worked just fine and an ink can with an ink soaked sponge and a rubber stamp. Interestingly I watched as librarians helped people with the many desktop computers that they have everywhere. So a librarian needs to be tech savvy now a days. They also have a media center where people can print papers, articles and assignments. My media center back then was a notebook and pencil. As I sat and journaled with my fountain pen, I noticed a crackling and rustling sound as a woman sitting near me turned the pages of a newspaper. Now that’s a sound I don’t hear much any more. I also watched several people carrying stacks of 3-6 books to check out, which means there are still people who read books rather than watch television.









