My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and asking deep questions.
I do not think the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings of concrete are, but rather how well its people have learned to relate to their environment and fellow man.
Sun Bear, Chippewa
I feel there is a lot of truth in the above quote. It seems our society still has not learned how to relate to the environment or our fellow man. May you have a wonderful week!
If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,
Wu-Men, translated from Chinese by Stephen Mitchell
this is the best season of your life.
The list of unnecessary things my mind can grab onto seems almost infinite. My imagination, dreams, and creativity are gifts when I work to make them reality. However, learning to let go of those that are unnecessary allows me to more fully enjoy this season of my life.
I sit quietly on a rock looking out over the meadow and Dixon Reservoir.
mws
I feel gratitude for this morning sanctuary, this sacred and holy place.
With my journal and pen in hand, I try to express what I am seeing and experiencing.
My sense of hearing is alert to the chatter of the magpies and the songs of robins and meadowlarks.
I feel the gentle but cool breeze that reminds me it’s still early spring.
I’m noticing the color green beginning to dominate in the trees and grasses of the meadow.
I watch the ever changing and beautiful clouds along the eastern horizon
as they add a feeling of mystery to this moment.
Within me is a knowing that what I’m experiencing is an expression of the Divine
and the miracle is that we are here at all.1This was inspired by the quote “The miracle is that we are here at all” by Richard Wagamese, Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations
I spent part of late yesterday afternoon at the CSU Flower Trial Gardens. With my camera and tripod I meandered around for awhile. It is still early in the season so they do not have much planted. And, even though it was a beautiful day there were not many people there. But, I left with the hope of what is to come and the desire to spend more time there this summer. It is not that far of a bicycle ride and there will always be little gems to find. And for me there is also a gift that flowers offer with their beauty, peace and silence. And in today’s competitive world more time among Creation’s gifts is needed for the spirit.
“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”
Koshin Ogui
But there is greater comfort in the substance of silence than in the answer to a question.
Thomas Merton
When I was younger my friends and I would ride our bicycles to Lake Loveland and fish. Our quest was for crappie and perch that gathered along the trunks of the trees in the water. If memory serves me we would use simple little jigs and it was pretty easy pickings. I have very good memories of those days. And amazingly we did not have smartphones to document it. Nor did mom send us a text message telling us dinner was ready. There seemed to be more silence back then. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
God is our code word for everything that is wondrous and mysterious and hidden at the heart of our deepest heartache, and most childlike delight.
Mirabai Starr
If I really want to stretch Mirabai’s definition I could replace “God” with “Old Town Mocha” or “coffee life” or “latte art.” I hope that assumption comes across as childlike and not childish! Either way Adriana did a great job on this rosetta.
today is the day for us all
Steven Charleston
to celebrate that divine moment again,
to believe together that we are loved, all blessed,
all given grace to breathe the fresh air of a new beginning
I’ve come here to drink milk and kick ass… I’ve finished my milk.
A quote I read on the license plate frame of a car this morning.
I woke to a dusting of snow and a cold 28 degrees. After quiet time and a smoothie I drove to Windsor to meet Eric for coffee and conversation. Sunrise was rather nice, so I stopped for a photo and took in the gift being offered. And, on my way home I had to laugh and share with you the above quote I read on the license plate frame of a car in front of me. Hope you have a kickass weekend!