Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.
Natalie Goldberg
It’s called practice…
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The gift of the poet…
a poet drinks from the
Garcia Lorca
well of the people, and
then gives it back to
them in a way that may
help them understand
themselves and the
world even betterReading poetry is something new for me, coming in the latter stages of my life, and I must say enjoyable. I have found poetry that helps me understand myself and the world around me. I am drawn to poets who are connected to nature, creation and speak to me about their spiritual life. But there are poets I just do not understand. Yet, I know there are people who connect to them while not with the poets I connect with. I have come to agree with Lorca that in the short period of time I have been reading poetry I have come to believe that poets help us understand ourselves and the world better. I also believe that people can and need to drink from the well of the poet. I therefore see poets as a gift!
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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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An Hour at the Library
Cortado at Mugs this morning 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.
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Wisdom and Love
We are here to grow in wisdom and to learn to love better.
Rachel Naomi RemenIt was 11 degrees this morning so no sunrise photo although there was a lovely pink sunrise in the eastern sky. I enjoyed my mocha and conversation with Jeff and John this morning at Mugs. Alissia was our barista. Not a bad way to start a cold Sunday morning. I would like to say and live Remen’s quote as a prayer throughout this day for the world. And a keyword in her quote that stands out for me is “we.” Seems we need a good dose of wisdom, love, and prayer right now. I hope you have a good Sunday. Stay warm and dry for those of you on the eastern coast.
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Welcoming words
Brown Marbled Pelikan M200 with Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz ink. when words are welcomed
as ink flows on blank pages
journals take on life
mws -
The refreshing gift of nature…
It’s been a while since I ventured up to Pineridge Natural Area for predawn skies and sunrises. A couple reasons for that. It requires me to get up early and I find it more difficult to get out of a warm bed. I changed that this morning. I awoke early so… The temperature was 25 degrees and a light breeze from the north. It looked like clear skies as I could see stars but I made the decision to go anyway. As I left my condo I could see a few clouds huddled along the eastern horizon which spurred me on. It was not the best day to be standing in the cold, as February is known for cold, frosty mornings. But as old Father McGuire would say, “It’s just the way God wanted it.” I’m glad I did go and not just to accept an image but to be in the presence of nature. I did not stay long as it does not take long to feel the refreshing gift of nature (and the cold). Not many people out except for one hardy jogger. The sun now shines but the weather app says rain is possible in the early afternoon. I hope you have a wonderful day!
POD (Pen of the day): Petrol Marbled Pelikan M205 with Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite ink.
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Life’s Own Dream
“There is a great difference between defending life and befriending it. Defending life is often about holding on to whatever you have at all cost. Befriending life may be about strengthening and supporting life’s movement toward its own wholeness. It may require us to take great risks to let go, over and over again, until we finally surrender to life’s own dream of itself.”
Rachel Naomi Remen -
Wisdom
“Wisdom is not gained by knowing what is right.
Barbara Brown Taylor
Wisdom is gained by practicing what is right,
and noticing what happens when that practice succeeds
and when it fails.”We had an absolutely beautiful day here in Colorado, reaching a nice 72 degrees and sunshine. I sat outside and journaled in the sun. It seemed like the wise thing to do!
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Spending the year at my place…
This wood carved Santa has a story. My dad started carving this santa a few years ago but became discouraged with it and set it to the side. One year when Sheree and I were down in Gold Canyon he brought it out and we all started working on him, carving and painting, including mom. Once we were satisfied with how he turned out we decided to start a tradition where he gets passed along with one of us for the year. So each Thanksgiving one of us takes him for the coming year. So, Santa is spending the coming year at my place until next Thanksgiving.
