My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
Setting sun and storm clouds over the Colorado Front Range – June 2012
There is nothing more beautiful than living a simple life in this complex universe!
Mehmet Murat ildan
I awoke to a dusting of snow and cold this morning. After my quiet time I checked the election results. I am unable to express the feelings I experienced at such a deep level within me. So, my task today, and maybe for some time, has been to journal in hopes of uncovering my feelings, thoughts, and the words to express them. At this moment I find it amazing to accept that in this divided nation I find myself a minority in my beliefs and values. I will do my best to continue to live a simple life, yet also be true to myself, my beliefs and my values. May all who can allow the love and light within them shine in our world, no matter the storm clouds on the horizon. And, may we all find inner peace.
And, outside my window a cold wind blows indicative of our nations emotions.
“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
For three days now we have had unusual colors in the sky because the smoke and ash from forest fires in Wyoming and Montana are drifting our way. The colors are eerie. I got up early this morning and headed to Pineridge Natural Area. I was hoping that after the sun had risen I could expect some reflection of the sun in Dixon Reservoir. Geese and ducks fed along the waters edges. In between the cross talking magpies, I could hear the robins and meadowlarks singing. And, I was not the only one out with their cameras for this colorful display by nature. The tables outside the coffee shop had a light dusting of ash on them. Air quality warnings are out for today. And, I pray for world peace!
“One thing I have felt confident about for a good portion of my life is that it is mainly on the surface that we are different. We are not nearly as separate as we sometimes feel ourselves to be. Underneath our supposed differences we experience many similar emotions, longings, hopes, and dreams. The cosmic dance goes on in each and every one. It is the externals of appearance in behavior that divert our attention from the inner radiance and dynamic goodness within every being.”
Joyce Rupp
I feel sadness, anger, even rage, due to the insanity of political powers who are steeped in their own fears, hatred and insecurities, while continuing to believe the lie that violence will bring peace. Insanity. Man has proved for thousands of years that violence does not bring peace, whether that’s a fist fight on the school playground or dropping bombs on innocent people. It only increases our suffering. Insanity. I believe Joyce Rupp is spot on when she writes, “Underneath our supposed differences we experience many similar emotions, longings, hopes, and dreams.” We are more alike than different.
Our world seems quite insane at the moment. According to this report, in the past seven months an estimated 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza. They are also estimating about 52% of those killed have been women and children. Insanity. And, that my friends, is a lot of emotions, longings, hopes, and dreams that will never be fulfilled. How can we possibly believe there will be peace when that kind of thinking only brings more resentment, hatred and violence? Insanity. Meanwhile over in Ukraine, the death toll of Russian soldiers is estimated higher than 50,000. And, Ukraine said in February that it had lost 31,000 soldiers. Insanity. According to the Geneva Academy more than 45 armed conflicts are currently taking place throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Africa has more than 35 armed conflicts taking place. Asia has 19 armed conflicts. Europe has seven armed conflicts at this time. And, six armed conflicts are taking place in Latin America. All of this is Insanity at its highest level. When will it end? And, this insanity is alive and well within our country.
Well, what if we shower them (and all of creation) with kindness, hope and love instead of hatred, fear and bombs. And, what if we embraced a spirit of forgiveness. What if we embrace our innate courage to look at “the inner radiance and dynamic goodness within every being”, including ourselves, rather than outward appearances. What if we enter into an open dialogue with a focus on understanding one another? Are we willing to believe there can be change or are we to continue living with this insanity? I’m willing to believe we can make that change!
Third day in a row of almost cloudless skies. Rather unusual for Colorado. I watched as the orange globe rose above the horizon, casting its sunbeams on everyone. Nature repeats this each morning yet it is never the same. This morning it’ a’s an offering of hope, the promise of new beginnings, and a prayer for world peace. Enjoy your Sunday!!
The great enemy of freedom is the alignment of political power with wealth. This alignment destroys the commonwealth – that is, the natural wealth of localities and the local economies of household, neighborhood, and community – and so destroys democracy, of which the commonwealth is the foundation and practical means.
Wendell Berry
There’s a tendency to miss the predawn colors when you arrive a bit late to Pineridge Natural Area. However, if you hang around a while you may see the sun rising over a bank of clouds along the eastern horizon. Snow was still on the ground when I took this image last week and the waters of Dixon Reservoir were free of ice. Both are signs we will see more waterfowl and the songbirds will be returning. Yet, winter is not done as snow is expected to start tonight and into tomorrow. With snow coming I thought it would be wise to put on a crockpot of chili soup. Surely, that’ll make things better.
I find it sad that we have a country that aligns political power with wealth, where wealth is almost always defined and associated with money. But wealth has other meanings such as having enough to share essentials with others, work to support a family, medical assistance for everyone, inclusivity and equality and a home to protect us from the elements. Berry uses a good word, “commonwealth.” Personally wealth includes being healthy in body, mind and spirit, laughter with family and friends, moments of serenity and peace, prayer and meditation time, grieving the loss of a loved one, listening to a meadowlarks song and the opportunity to watch a morning sunrise. However, I will include that crockpot of chili soup that’s cooking.
It’s good for us when, in spite of all of the sober, pragmatic, and even correct arguments that war is sometimes necessary, someone says: war is large-scale murder, us at our worst, the stupidest guy doing the cruelest thing to the weakest being.
George Saunders
I found the quiet and solitude at Pineridge Natural Area this afternoon to be just the medicine my troubled spirit needed. I say troubled because sometimes I feel like I can do nothing to eliminate the mindset that war is a solution. Yet, just writing my beliefs here may be more than enough. Therefore, I will say it again, violence has never brought peace and never will. It is us at our worst.
When we live as if everything is sacred, which it is if you really think about it, we relate to the things in our environment in a much more responsible way.
Jane Reichhold
Not sure I can adequately list all that I wish for you but here is a short one… Wishing you oodles of joy, happiness, peace, good health, Dove’s chocolates, the miraculous gifts of each new day (sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, butterflies), a heart bursting with love and hope, a heart of gratitude, family times, new adventures, DQ Blizzards (at least the small size), the gift of the songbirds morning canticle, innumerable hugs, moments of silence and stillness, listening to your inner voice or the sound of the wind or the quiet voice of silence, more time with nature, a book or poem that nurtures your heart and soul, the lyrics of a new or an old song that touches you at some new and deep level, new friends, times of quiet prayer and meditation, and to live as if everything is sacred!!! ❤️
