• musings,  quotes,  shadows

    Early Morning Shadows

    A shadow is never created in darkness.
    It is born of light.
    We can be blind to it and blinded by it.
    Our shadow asks us to look at what we don’t want to see.”

    Terry Tempest Williams

    As a photographer I have been fascinated with shadows for a long time. Similarly I have become fascinated in seeing the shadow side of myself. There are aspects of each of us we do not want to look at nor do we want the world to see and have found ways to hide or disguise that in our shadow. In my youth I was blind to my shadow. Now as I’m older I’m finding it to be an adventure looking at my shadow side, exposing it to the light of awareness and growth, and bringing out the details so that I can uncover who I truly am and allow others to see my authentic and full self. Who knows what gem may be discovered in those shadows for both me and the world. I hope you have had a wonderful day.

  • landscape,  poems,  river,  Yellowstone National Park

    A Simple Prayer

    I would love to live
    Like a river flows,
    Carried by the surprise
    Of its own unfolding.

    John O’Donohue

    This is a sunrise image taken on the Madison River from a road trip in August of 2022. It was my last day of the trip and I was heading home when I saw this scene. I had to stop. It really didn’t matter if I took a photo or not I just needed to experience the moment. This part of the river is calm while both up river and down river there are rapids and surprises. As a metaphor of life there are days when the flow of life is as calm as this river while there are times when it ain’t and we face surprises. I’m learning to be a part of its unfolding. So, this poem is my prayer for today!

  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  poetry

    The gift of the poet…

    a poet drinks from the
    well of the people, and
    then gives it back to
    them in a way that may
    help them understand
    themselves and the
    world even better

    Garcia Lorca

    Reading 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! 

  • books,  poetry,  quotes

    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.

  • a gift of life,  journaling,  lifestyles,  nature,  rants,  spirituality

    … not always my best thinking

    Starburst from my porch this morning

    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!

  • haiku,  quotes

    … the work of being human

    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!

  • coffee life,  musings

    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.