• clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    True Wisdom

    April 17, 2024

    Of course, a great deal of our onslaught on Mother Nature is not really lack of intelligence but a lack of compassion for future generations and the health of the planet: sheer selfish greed for short-term benefits to increase the wealth and power of individuals, corporations and governments. The rest is due to thoughtlessness, lack of education, and poverty. In other words, there seems to be a disconnect between our clever brain and our compassionate heart. True wisdom requires both thinking with our head and understanding with our heart.

    Jane Goodall, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

    A drive to Pineridge Natural Area this morning and a few minutes of computer crunching produced this panorama of 8 images (handheld I must add) over Dixon Reservoir. I missed a sky full of pink because I was late. But being late made no difference because being there for any part of sunrise with Mother Nature is the experience. Not only did I enjoy this view but the meadowlarks were in full concert in the open meadow. It was a wonderful way to start my day. I will meet my friend Mark for breakfast in about an hour. I resonate with Jane Goodall’s last line in this quote, “True wisdom requires both thinking with our head and understanding with our heart.” My comments on that statement could take another post or maybe a conversation with friends at the coffee shop. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  trees

    The Gift of Words

    April 4, 2024
    One of my favoritest cottonwood trees

    I just finished reading a second book by George N. Wallace. I mentioned his other book here, which was a collection of poems and essays. This book I just finished is all poetry, Enjoying the Work. I have found his writing humorous, while at times causing tears to well up in my eyes, and he does not use metaphors that cause me to wander off in stray thoughts as I try to figure out what he is saying. In his introduction he writes how poetry is therapeutic, helping him to see the beauty of an approaching thunderhead, it also mercifully dilutes the bile arising as one witnesses injustices, or ecological wounding, and hopefully permitting wisdom, love and clear-eyed resistance to prevail. I found it an easy read for me. He inspires me to write. I am thankful for his gift in words. I’ll buy his next book when it comes out.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes

    Wimped Out

    February 11, 2024

    All nature is waiting for us to become conscious because there’s a particular quality of consciousness that only humans can provide. Nature needs that consciousness; cries out for it. And the process of deciphering Nature’s need, then discovering how to respond to it, is what’s called learning to become human.

    Peter Kingsley

    It’s Sunday morning with clear skies, sunshine and cold. I had no desire to stand in the cold for the sunrise so I made my way to the coffee shop. I chose an Old Town Mocha made by Emma and a cozy chair over cold hands and feet. Even forced myself to eat a glazed donut later. 😁 This image was taken two days ago before yesterday’s snowfall. This same scene would be much whiter this morning but I wimped out. Well maybe I’m getting wiser, more selective or learning to become human. Yea, that’s it, I’m getting wiser! Enjoy your Sunday!

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  • cattails,  Plants,  quotes

    Learning to let go

    February 7, 2024

    We let go of what we have been told to believe about ourselves. We listen to a different voice, one that comes to us from deep within our own soul. That is the voice of love. It is the spirit telling us we are worthy and that we can overcome our problems, even if those problems seem as overwhelming as darkness.

    Steven Charleston

    I believe Charleston is correct because over time I am learning to let go of what I was told about myself, what I told myself about myself and listen to a different voice. Some of those voices, including my own, were telling me things through a lack of understanding and knowledge while some were lies to control and manipulate. I have found it easier to tell someone “I believe in you” rather than say that to myself and believe it. However, I’m learning to listen and trust this voice of love that resides deep within me. I believe in this voice of wisdom. And, because I’m listening and trusting this voice, I’m beginning to experience life and all of creation in new and enriching ways. I see with a new set of eyes and see more each day. Life is much more beautiful when I began to understand how connected we all are in the many threads and fabrics of life we are. I wonder if love could be the thread that binds us? I kinda like this voice of love!!!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    The bumps are less dramatic…

    January 21, 2024

    If we lived close to nature in an agricultural society, the seasons as metaphor and fact would continually frame our lives. But the master metaphor of our era does not come from agriculture – it comes from manufacturing. We do not believe that we ‘grow’ our lives – we believe that we ‘make’ them. Just listen to how we use the word in everyday speech: we make time, make friends, make meaning, make money, make a living, make love.

    Parker J. Palmer

    On my way to the coffee shop I just had to stop at campus and accept this image of the morning’s sunrise. It was a deep red minutes prior to taking this image. It is a much warmer day for us here in Colorado. The kind of day to be expected because it is the season of winter.

    I’ve read this quote before and agree that many in our culture no longer see themselves as growing into our lives but think we make our lives. I’m one of those. I tried to make my life happy but discovered the daily struggle to control my life and those around me wasn’t working. I’m finding it much more enjoyable to face life for what it is, gradually gaining in wisdom what I can change and what I can’t. My prayer is to continually grow in the discovery of who I am becoming. Part of growing in life is growing older, which includes all the positive stuff and the negative stuff. And, it seems when I stop trying to make my life into my wishes, I have more choices in growing into my life. The bumps are less dramatic and chaotic. Stay warm and dry!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    A Snapshot

    December 9, 2023

    Wisdom suggests new perspectives on ultimate questions: one does not “possess” wisdom but rather is possessed by it.

    Experiencing Spirituality

    On my way to Windsor to meet Eric this morning for coffee I stopped to accept the gift of this sunrise. A snapshot basically: the bright sun blowing out the highlights and showing the dust on my lens. I must admit I enjoy my drives through the country to meet Eric. Helps start the Saturdays. Hope you had a good Saturday!

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    to begin the day…

    December 6, 2023

    “The beginning of awe is wonder, and the beginning of wisdom is awe.”

    Abraham J. Heschel

    There is nothing quite like beginning the day at Pineridge Natural Area and receive the gift it offers. It does not seem to matter if my time there is for a few minutes or an hour, or whether it’s summer or winter, because something happens inside me every time. It’s not that the day goes my way better but my attitude and perspective in facing the day come from a better place. So a wonderful way to begin the day is to stand in awe and wonder of its beginning… then live the day!

    I have never read any of Abraham Heschel’s books but I find him quoted quite often by many of the authors I read so I may have to change that. Have a wonderful day!

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