My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
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!
Joan Chittister suggests that “we must be a gift to the world some way, somehow, for someone.” I’m not sure how many people see themselves as a gift to the world. I’m not sure how many see themselves negatively and therefore not worthy to be a gift. I’m not sure how many see themselves narcistically as the gift to the world and therefore unable to see themselves as a gift they could be. As I pondered those questions this morning I wondered what our world would look like if we did accept ourselves as a gift to this world in some way, somehow, for someone. Would we know peace, serenity, love, compassion, tolerance, generosity, and see ourselves as equals, no one better than or less than. I would love to see the world know the gifts we are to the world and one another! Happy Sunday!!
Blendon Woods Metro Park, Westerville, Ohio – 2011
The Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere in 2025 occured today at approximately 10:03 a.m. EST, marking the shortest day and longest night as the Earth’s tilt is furthest from the Sun. So today we officially begin the winter season and signal the gradual return of longer days. And, we celebrate this day because it is also my youngest granddaughters birthday. Happy birthday Madie! And, we have had overcast skies with a mix of rain and snow making it look and feel like winter here in Colorado.
A light mist began to fall just after I arrived at the coffee shop. A half hour later the clouds moved east and the sun lit up the blue sky, it’s warmth wrapping me like a blanket. My ride home was mystical as sunlight would break through the trees along Spring Creek Trail. Later I met my friend Duane for an early lunch. I took a second bicycle ride this afternoon over to the farm. Had to fight a good stiff wind. I am now on my porch journaling, reading, and no wind. It has been a wonderful fall day!
I met with my youngest daughter and my two youngest grandchildren for a dinner last night. It was a time to be together as Madie is moving to England on the 27th and Devin is moving to Seattle on the 23rd. I realized how different our worlds are because their life energy was much higher than the life I live. I felt like I couldn’t keep up.
Life consists in learning to live on one’s own, spontaneous, freewheeling: to do this one must recognize what is one’s own – be familiar and at home with oneself. This means basically learning who one is, and learning what one has to offer to the contemporary world, and then learning how to make that offering valid.
Thomas Merton, Love and Living
I had a good night’s sleep but I still did not want to get up. I rode the red steed to Mugs and was wide awake by the time I arrived. Emily was my barista and she fixed me up with an Old Town mocha. The morning was off to a great start. Later I met my daughter and grandson for breakfast at the Silver Grill and of course ate too much. I have been eating out way too much. I notice it in both my pants and my wallet.
One of the Native American style flute makers almost always has a short video describing each flute. After describing it he usually says, “And, here’s its voice.” Then plays it for 45-60 seconds so you can hear it. Maybe we can say that learning who we are is really finding our voice and offering it to the world. And, at this present time we need a few good, sensible, nurturing voices who live on one’s own. I am not advocating those voices necessarily to be booming on any news media, social media, blog or Youtube but in those places where we spend most of our everyday lives: our homes, our work, the coffee shop, a restaurant, grocery store, etc. And in my mind that begs the question, are we willing to offer our voices? It is a lovely day in Colorado, sunshine and clear blue skies. Have a great day!
A free afternoon found me lying in the grass at the park. Above me a canopy of leaves offering the gift of cool shade.
I take deep breaths and stay present while leafhoppers jump around me. I inhale the scent of freshly cut grass and hear the unseen blue jay’s call.
Clouds drift above me in a sea of blue sky as I take in the awe and wonder of nature, a sanctuary without walls, doors or windows. I close my eyes in reverence, gratitude, prayer
Just as darkness brings rest and release, so the dawn brings awakening and renewal. In our mediocrity and distraction, we forget that we are privileged to live in a wondrous universe. Each day, the dawn unveils the mystery of this universe. Dawn is the ultimate surprise; it awakens us to the immense “thereness” of nature. The wonderful subtle color of the universe arises to clothe everything.
John O’Donohue, from Anam Cara
After prayer and meditation, I drove up to Pineridge Natural Area for sunrise. I found a new and more comfortable rock to sit on and set up my tripod. I loved the scent of the wet grass and sagebrush that surrounded me. I then enjoyed my second period of prayer and meditation this morning. Have a wonderful day!!
We no longer coordinate our human celebrations with the great liturgies of the heavens… We have silenced too many of those wonderful voices of the universe that spoke to us of the grand mysteries of existence.
Thomas Berry
We are now moving into longer nights and shorter days which means I will be getting out to celebrate the morning sunrise more often. In all honesty I have missed participating and photographing these morning liturgies, listening to voices of the universe and the grand mysteries of existence. So this is a warning that you may see more sunrise photos in the coming weeks.
I took this image on my ride through the CSU Oval for coffee this morning. I have noticed this scene before but this is the first time I stopped to accept the photo. I did enjoy the BBQ yesterday, ate too much, loved time with family and so very grateful for my grandson-in-law’s safe return from his deployment in the Middle East.
Find contentment within. Be aware of how you affect your surroundings. Allow freedom to flourish around you. Do not impose or dominate.
This is what it means to be sustainable.
Tao Te Ching
I am processing my feelings about this country’s actions taken yesterday. Finding many unanswerable questions running through my mind. How much escalation of hatred have we against Americans? How many more casualties of war have we just brought on? Anyway, there seems to be an extreme attachment to power, control, hatred, and inflated egos. We have proven for centuries that violence against someone (a country or nation) will not cause them to succumb to our will but only harden hearts. I’ve said enough. Still processing and thanks for listening to my ramblings! It has been another hot day here.
