My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
Waiting area outside the Lory Student Center Theater
“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 Reichhold
In 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!
“There are a hundred paths through the world that are easier than loving. But, who wants easier?”
Mary Oliver
I finally got in my much needed bicycle ride yesterday afternoon. I rode out to Spring Canyon Park and back, a 5.9 mile ride. The last time I rode was December 27th. It felt good physically and mentally to ride again. I followed that up with a round trip ride to Mugs and back this morning, about 5.4 miles. My Fitbit is telling me to take it easy and go slower and I am. It has been cloudy and overcast today with the wind gusting up to 16 mph but the temperature is 68 degrees. Winter is not showing up in Colorado. The above image was taken last week on a drive along Horsetooth Reservoir. Love the blue and the effort!
For many years I had no clue what love was. I guess you can say I took a lot of those paths Mary Oliver mentions in search of it , while not really knowing what I was looking for. It also took a while to realize how I had love, lust and desires all tangled up in my head. I am happy to say that the past 25-30 years have given me an appreciation of all the varieties of love we can experience in life and the wisdom that there is no need to define love, but only experience the gift of loving and being loved. It requires knowing ourselves, letting go of preconditioned notions of love, taking risks, being open to the other, and an openness to the unlimited possibilities. That’s true whether loving or being loved. As Mary suggests it is not easy but in my experience, well worth the effort! I would even suggest it’s much easier than being full of hate. I hope you are having a good day.
Mom and Dad sometime around 1948All smiles on his 80th birthday
I watched a spectacular sunset show last night from about 4:45-5:05 pm through my bedroom window. The show was an unusually long and wonderful experience. For some reason I felt no need to grab my camera but just wanted to experience the beauty of its gift. About fifteen minutes later, while I was journaling about the sunset, I received a message from my sister that dad had died peacefully about 5 pm. I cried, have continued to cry and expect to cry more! It’s all part of the grieving process. An hour or so later I awakened to the realization that the sunset we were experiencing was happening about the same time as dad was saying goodbye to Colorado or Colorado was saying goodbye to dad. And then this morning’s sunrise was just as spectacular, which I received as a message that they are both still present in our lives. Today I have been going through old photos to put in a small book to give to all the grandkids, which we did when mom died. So, I have been deep in memories today as I go through photos. I found it healing for me.
The gift of life, the secret of life, is that it must be developed from the inside out, from what we bring to it from within ourselves, not from what we collect or consume as we go through it, not even from what we experience in the course of it.
To encounter the sacred is to be alive at the deepest center of human existence. Sacred places are the truest definitions of the earth; they stand for the earth immediately and forever; they are its flags and shields. If you would know the earth for what it really is, learn it through its sacred places. At Devil’s Tower or Canyon de Chelly or the Cahokia Mounds, you touch the pulse of the living planet; you feel its breath upon you. You become one with a spirit that pervades geologic time and space.
These are two images taken at Arapaho Bend Natural Area, just one of the natural areas that I consider a sacred place. The natural areas are where I enjoy attending sunrise and sunset services or an afternoon’s walk. These sacred places I enjoy do not have stained glass windows, pews, organs, a pulpit, or membership requirements. I stand or sit on the ground or a rock and experience the presence of the Spirit through the wind, a red winged blackbirds song or the warmth of the setting sun. But more often than not, just the silence. If I am fully present, I am never the same after spending sacred time in nature. Sacred places like this are where I go and sit to be one with the Spirit and feel alive. Both images were taken in 2013. May you have a wonderful day!
Sometimes we are at one with our fellows in brotherly love and peace. Sometimes in the unity of traffic, profanity and ire.
Brenda P
I was down to one Dove’s chocolate yesterday morning so I made a run to the grocery store. I drove east on Prospect where construction had traffic down to one lane in two locations in that one mile stretch. Crazy drivers were speeding and trying to cut in front of other people. Angrily I began to call them names, which did not make me feel any better nor could they hear me. Once I got to the grocery store, I could not make the self checkout thingy work for me. The anger I was still holding on to when I walked into the store now included frustration. After finally getting checked out I took Drake westbound home to avoid the construction on Prospect. But…. they had construction on Drake down to one lane near Shields. Now I’m angry, frustrated and spewing profanity all over the dashboard of my car and totally away of my behavior. I turned north on Shields only to discover they had traffic down to one lane near Prospect due to construction. So in that four mile square trip to the grocery store I had one lane traffic in four places due to construction. And the construction was really nothing more than a cable company burying cable. Oh, the measures we go to for chocolate! Gladly, no one got hurt and I got my chocolate fix.
I put myself in timeout when I got home (20 minutes of meditation time) and calmed down. I reflected on my childish reactions to my first world problems and how insignificant they are compared to other world problems. I laughed at my silliness and went to a place of gratitude for the life I live, began to be excessively gentle with myself and aware of the growth that I still need in moving away from my self-centeredness. Thanks for listening. I hope you’re having a wonderful day!
Oh, and the quote is from a text message with my friend Brenda after she heard about my experience and rather childish behavior. I think it fits perfectly with my story.
Wonder – that edge state on the rim of understanding, where the mind touches mystery – is our best means of loving the world more deeply.
Maria Popova
This is sunrise 3 days ago. This morning we had 61 degrees, 99% humidity and overcast skies so it looks much different today. It made for an invigorating bicycle ride to the coffee shop, but well worth it. Those clouds have burned of slightly, a bit of sunshine is out but rain is expected later today. Yes, the wonder it all!
The sage would remind us of the following: None should rule who hold themselves above the people. Only by living, working, suffering alongside them can one truly be a leader.
Tao Te Ching (78) By Lao Tzu by: Julian von Bargen, John Braun, Jr., David Warkentin
One of the blessings of growing older for me has been the discovery that mornings are a gift. Since I’m not the party animal of yesteryears, going to bed early and getting up early are the norm. There is something that comes alive in me when I experience the quiet and stillness of this time of the day. I feel more alive than I did when chasing things that I expected to help me be alive. I am aware of the need to participate within the world, to experience it, and receive it as a gift.
It’s interesting to note how clouds are always shifting, changing shapes and colors. It is almost unperceivable to the human eye. Yet, a 28 second exposure lets us know of their gradual changing. Observing that is a gift to me. I am heading out to meet friends who are in town and catch up. Have a wonderful weekend!
If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.
Rachel Carson
I hope you are having an enjoyable Saturday morning. After my quiet time, I enjoyed a bowl of yogurt and granola then met Eric for coffee and conversation. It is a great way to start any day. This dahlia is from my return excursion yesterday evening at the CSU Flower Trial Gardens. Nature is such a creative artist. There is so much mystery, awe, and wonder to experience when we look closely as the child we are.
Whoever wants music instead of noise, joy instead of pleasure, soul instead of gold, creative work instead of business, passion instead of foolery, finds no home in this trivial world of ours.
Hermann Hesse
It is a quiet Sunday afternoon with clear blue skies and sunshine. We are in the low 90’s. It looks like much of the nation is toasty. I consider myself lucky to have visited many sacred places, had the experience of standing there taking it all in and even bringing home an image I liked. I’m aware some will consider scenes like this as dull, desolate and boring. I, on the other hand, consider it a beautiful, intimate and sacred home to be cherished and respected. I am also interested in the landscapes of beauty within a short distance of home. This scene meets both of those criteria for me. Yes, there is an effort required to visit these sacred places. However, in my experience, when we make the effort it will change us. As I looked back in my archives of this area I began thinking I need to make another hour-long drive out there! This sacred landscape is our home and I want to be touched by it!
