A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here
A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human nature feels.
It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.
Then, as horizons step,
Or noons report away,
Without the formula of sound,
It passes, and we stay:
A quality of loss
Affecting our content,
As trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a sacrament.
Emily Dickinson
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
In praise of being
All life is searching
Outward
Outward
Finding people
Finding places
Findng things
The short lived joy
These discoveries may bring,
Do not provide the answer
To life's suffering.
Times passes
Once years
Now decades
Still searching,
Then resigning
To something missing
Undefined
Unknown
Wisdom slowly gained
Says, "Turn inward"
Be the seeker
Be the answer
Claim your destiny
From the dellusions
Of the material world
A lifetime wasted
No -
A life gained.
It takes the journey
To realize
All is at home
It takes the doing
To realize
Only being matters
Outward
Outward
Finding people
Finding places
Findng things
The short lived joy
These discoveries may bring,
Do not provide the answer
To life's suffering.
Times passes
Once years
Now decades
Still searching,
Then resigning
To something missing
Undefined
Unknown
Wisdom slowly gained
Says, "Turn inward"
Be the seeker
Be the answer
Claim your destiny
From the dellusions
Of the material world
A lifetime wasted
No -
A life gained.
It takes the journey
To realize
All is at home
It takes the doing
To realize
Only being matters
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thoughts on the passing of a wonderful person.
Today I learned that my High School music teacher had passed away last November. She had had MS for many years but ultimately died of cancer. This caused me to return to memories of my teenage years - a miserable time except for the ray of light provided by a certain music teacher.
I was 14 when she came to our school. I had already taught myself to play the guitar and was on my way to becoming the next Joan Baez!! It was the latter part of the 60s, we all sang protest songs, put flowers in our hair and dreamed of going to San Francisco. I was a sorry depressed teenager, failing in school, with a miserable home life and few friends. The messages I received from every angle were ones of not reaching my potential; I didn't even know what that was, and had very little reason as so why should I aim for it.
She overheard me playing one day at recess and told me that she wanted to start a folk choir but needed someone to teach guitar. I agreed, as any excuse to play the guitar on school time was cool with me, and it meant that I had a reason to stay after school and delay going home.
She made music so much fun. She seemed genuinely interested in me and that in turn made me want to achieve. I was like a sponge that could never soak up enough water. My every spare minute was spent hanging around the music room. By 16 I could think of nothing else that I would rather do with my life than to be a music teacher just liked her. By 18 I had mastered the basics of the piano, the clarinet and the recorder, the latter of which has brought a lifetime of friends and enjoyment.
I spent 4 years in college following the music teacher dream. I loved my college years, and I did teach for 2 years, but it was not for me. My life took another direction and I have very few regrets. What she had given me was belief in myself, and with that the whole world was at my command. To instill good self-esteem in a child is the greatest gift that you can give them. I owe my life to a talented teacher who happened to cross my path. I am grateful that I had the chance to tell her as much in some brief correspondence that we exchanged a year or so ago.
I thank you Lynda P. from the bottom of my heart. Rest in peace.
I was 14 when she came to our school. I had already taught myself to play the guitar and was on my way to becoming the next Joan Baez!! It was the latter part of the 60s, we all sang protest songs, put flowers in our hair and dreamed of going to San Francisco. I was a sorry depressed teenager, failing in school, with a miserable home life and few friends. The messages I received from every angle were ones of not reaching my potential; I didn't even know what that was, and had very little reason as so why should I aim for it.
She overheard me playing one day at recess and told me that she wanted to start a folk choir but needed someone to teach guitar. I agreed, as any excuse to play the guitar on school time was cool with me, and it meant that I had a reason to stay after school and delay going home.
She made music so much fun. She seemed genuinely interested in me and that in turn made me want to achieve. I was like a sponge that could never soak up enough water. My every spare minute was spent hanging around the music room. By 16 I could think of nothing else that I would rather do with my life than to be a music teacher just liked her. By 18 I had mastered the basics of the piano, the clarinet and the recorder, the latter of which has brought a lifetime of friends and enjoyment.
I spent 4 years in college following the music teacher dream. I loved my college years, and I did teach for 2 years, but it was not for me. My life took another direction and I have very few regrets. What she had given me was belief in myself, and with that the whole world was at my command. To instill good self-esteem in a child is the greatest gift that you can give them. I owe my life to a talented teacher who happened to cross my path. I am grateful that I had the chance to tell her as much in some brief correspondence that we exchanged a year or so ago.
I thank you Lynda P. from the bottom of my heart. Rest in peace.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thoughts for the changing of the year
"The qualities we possess should never be a matter for satisfaction, but the qualities we have discarded." (Wei Wu Wei)*
In recovery programs they talk about "defects of character"; with a New Year just turned, many think of resolutions often related to things about ourselves or our situation, that we do not like. I don't make resolutions because I believe that is a set up for failure and yet more dissatisfaction with one's lot in life.
A couple of years ago I made a resolution to do more for the planet - this is the only one I have ever kept. I figured deciding to "do" something, rather than to stop doing something, stood a better chance of success.
So this year my aim is to do more to improve my knowledge of Buddhist studies and gain some guidance in meditation. As I am building on something that I have already set in place I feel pretty good about this.
My partner and I continue with our seemingly endless desire to rid ourselves of "stuff". Have you noticed the regenerative ability of "stuff"?? We call our spare room "the black hole" because it seems to draw "stuff" into any vacant spot within! I consider the only failure is to give up - so we keep on emptying "stuff" out and giving "stuff" away!
Even with arthritis trying to take over my fingers, I am appreciative of the new lease on life that my surgery of last year, has given me. For almost a year up to that point, my life was on hold and my health slowly degenerating - now I am renewed! The reward? A trip to Oahu in February - a first for both of us.
So, the words from Wei Wu Wei (aka Terence James Stannus Gray 1895 - 1986) are wise indeed: do not concern yourself with what you have, look to what you need to give away. Other wise people have said that we can only keep what we have by giving it away. Such are my thoughts in these troubling times.
*('Fingers Pointing Towards the Moon' (Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1958)
In recovery programs they talk about "defects of character"; with a New Year just turned, many think of resolutions often related to things about ourselves or our situation, that we do not like. I don't make resolutions because I believe that is a set up for failure and yet more dissatisfaction with one's lot in life.
A couple of years ago I made a resolution to do more for the planet - this is the only one I have ever kept. I figured deciding to "do" something, rather than to stop doing something, stood a better chance of success.
So this year my aim is to do more to improve my knowledge of Buddhist studies and gain some guidance in meditation. As I am building on something that I have already set in place I feel pretty good about this.
My partner and I continue with our seemingly endless desire to rid ourselves of "stuff". Have you noticed the regenerative ability of "stuff"?? We call our spare room "the black hole" because it seems to draw "stuff" into any vacant spot within! I consider the only failure is to give up - so we keep on emptying "stuff" out and giving "stuff" away!
Even with arthritis trying to take over my fingers, I am appreciative of the new lease on life that my surgery of last year, has given me. For almost a year up to that point, my life was on hold and my health slowly degenerating - now I am renewed! The reward? A trip to Oahu in February - a first for both of us.
So, the words from Wei Wu Wei (aka Terence James Stannus Gray 1895 - 1986) are wise indeed: do not concern yourself with what you have, look to what you need to give away. Other wise people have said that we can only keep what we have by giving it away. Such are my thoughts in these troubling times.
*('Fingers Pointing Towards the Moon' (Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1958)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Today is Veterans Day. In England this is known as Poppy Day. Everybody buys and wears a poppy as a sign of support. The money goes to the various veterans charities. So many of the younger generation do not even know why Veterans Day is on November 11th or have heard of Flanders. If we do not study history we are doomed to repeat it - we must be very poor students.
President Washington said: "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world.... " We revere Washington but we don't listen either. WWI was supposed to be the war to end all wars.
"Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace. " ~Charles Sumner
As of yesterday there were a total of 4,193 recorded dead in Iraq and 626 in Afghanistan. It has cost close to $600 billion and yet we change the channel on our TV preferring to watch another brainless soap rather than watch the realities of our young men and women dying. Bush has kindly spared us pictures of coffins coming home, or countless damaged bodies in the VA hospitals, or grieving families at the graveside. We are fed a diet of implied terror and yet no reports of anyone caught or tried.
Now we will have a new President, and hope arises such as we have not seen in many years. Let us hope that this current war will also become a faded memory, but we must never forget to honor the memory no matter how faded.
In Flanders Fields
by: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
President Washington said: "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world.... " We revere Washington but we don't listen either. WWI was supposed to be the war to end all wars.
"Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace. " ~Charles Sumner
As of yesterday there were a total of 4,193 recorded dead in Iraq and 626 in Afghanistan. It has cost close to $600 billion and yet we change the channel on our TV preferring to watch another brainless soap rather than watch the realities of our young men and women dying. Bush has kindly spared us pictures of coffins coming home, or countless damaged bodies in the VA hospitals, or grieving families at the graveside. We are fed a diet of implied terror and yet no reports of anyone caught or tried.
Now we will have a new President, and hope arises such as we have not seen in many years. Let us hope that this current war will also become a faded memory, but we must never forget to honor the memory no matter how faded.
In Flanders Fields
by: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Times they are A-Changin'
The election has come and gone. A landslide. Could 30 years of Reaganomics finally be over? This country is on it's knees. Basic wages do not even cover the rent for a small apartment, while CEOs pay themselves millions in bonuses The banks have played upon the less aware and sold them interest delayed mortgages which, when the interest kicked in after a few years, they could no longer afford, left them homeless, and wrecked their credit. While hardworking people are destroyed, the banks get bailed out. What is wrong with this picture? Why do we stand by and let it happen? Why are we not rioting in the streets? Have we become so demoralized that we believe we no longer have a voice?
While relieved about the end of the Bush era, and hopeful of change, the cloud over it all for me was the passing of Prop. 8 in California - eliminating the right of gay people to marry. I had faith in the people of California, and I believe it was not misplaced; but when other States' entities interfere - Focus on the Family from Colorado, the Mormon Church from Utah - the balance was tipped. So, this evening I did something that I had not done since my student days of the 70s, I went out on the streets of my hometown and I protested. Hopefully the issue will return to the State Supreme Court to be settled on the side of equalty once again.
"Come gather 'round people wherever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown, and accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone if your time to you is worth savin', then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone for the times they are a-changin'." Bob Dylan Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music.
While relieved about the end of the Bush era, and hopeful of change, the cloud over it all for me was the passing of Prop. 8 in California - eliminating the right of gay people to marry. I had faith in the people of California, and I believe it was not misplaced; but when other States' entities interfere - Focus on the Family from Colorado, the Mormon Church from Utah - the balance was tipped. So, this evening I did something that I had not done since my student days of the 70s, I went out on the streets of my hometown and I protested. Hopefully the issue will return to the State Supreme Court to be settled on the side of equalty once again.
"Come gather 'round people wherever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown, and accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone if your time to you is worth savin', then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone for the times they are a-changin'." Bob Dylan Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
