Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Magic Rainbows
I was doing something on my laptop when I noticed the sunshine flowing through the blinds was creating beautiful rainbows on my wall.
Cap Sante Park Views
"Cap Sante Park (1000 W Avenue) is a 37 acre forested promontory at the eastern edge of Anacortes. It is primarily a viewpoint overlooking the marina, the City of Anacortes, March Point, Fidalgo Bay and the Cascades. "
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Stories
Someone apologized today for telling me a story today that wasn't necessary to the conversation. I replied without thinking, "But isn't the stories that make us human. . . " Part of the story included they were leaving early tomorrow morning to take their son for his visit to Disneyland. . . how could that not be exciting enough to flow out into conversation. . .
Then I came home, decided to read a favorite website, spiritualityandpractice.com.
And I see
"You get older and realize there are no answers, just stories. And how we love them."
— Garrison Keillor
And they list those wonderful books, reviews and sample stories at spiritualityandpractice.com
ending with this lovely quote:
Then I came home, decided to read a favorite website, spiritualityandpractice.com.
And I see
Tell Me a Story
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat— Garrison Keillor
excerpt from their site:
We've been lovers of brief but poignant spiritual stories for years. We
have now chosen 16 of our favorite collections of them to recommend to
you. With each review we've included a sample story.
And they list those wonderful books, reviews and sample stories at spiritualityandpractice.com
ending with this lovely quote:
"The stories people tell have a way
of taking care of them. If stories come to you,
care for them. And learn to give them away
where they are needed. Sometimes a person
needs a story more than food to stay alive."
— Badger in Crow and Weasal
by Barry Lopez
of taking care of them. If stories come to you,
care for them. And learn to give them away
where they are needed. Sometimes a person
needs a story more than food to stay alive."
— Badger in Crow and Weasal
by Barry Lopez
And here is just of their wonderful sample stories from one of they took the time and energy to share, bless them
An Excerpt from Keepers of The Story: Oral Traditions in Religion by Megan McKenna
In this paperback, Megan McKenna and Tony Cowan have gathered tales from many different traditions that take us to the deep places inside where the soul comes alive. Here is a teaching story by Tony Cowan about yearning.
"Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a young woman who longed to see God. He name was Stella. Stella was a simple girl who prayed and worked very hard, helping others all the time, but she reached the age of sixteen still not satisfied that she had seen God. So one day, she went to visit a wise old man who lived alone out in the prairie. She sat down in front of the wise old man and said, 'For as long as I can remember, I've had a burning desire to see God: not only to see God, but to look right into the pupil of his eye! If I could just do this, I would be so happy. Can you tell me what I need to do so that this can happen?'
"The wise old man looked at Stella intensely. After a long silence, he said: 'I will tell you the secret of seeing God — in fact, of looking right into the pupil of God's eye.'
" 'Oh yes! Please tell me!' the young woman cried. The old man continued: 'You must begin counting the stars at night. You must begin with the middle star in Orion's belt and start counting toward the east. You must take great care not to count any star twice, and you must not fail in your determination. When you have counted the ten thousandth star, you will be looking into the very light of God's eye.'
"And so, Stella went out. That night, there was a new moon and there were very few clouds, so she was able to count the stars easily. They looked to Stella like diamonds embedded in velvet. After several hours, she had counted hundreds of stars. But the next night, when she went out to continue her counting, there were some heavy clouds and the moon was brighter, which made it harder for her to see the stars clearly. Still she continued resolutely, night after night, week after week, month after month, always taking care to keep count and not get distracted. This took tremendous concentration, dedication and effort.
"What Stella didn't realize was that as she counted far into the eastern sky, the stars were revolving and turning through the heavens. And so, twelve months later, as she was approaching the ten thousandth star, she began to get the feeling that the pattern in the sky looked strangely familiar. She counted aloud to herself, 'Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.' And as she counted the ten thousandth star, she suddenly realized that the ten thousandth star was the middle star of Orion's belt, the very star that she had begun with twelve months before! He eyes were dazzled with starlight and her mind and heart were filled instantly with the greatest joy and astonishment. Time seemed to stand still as she stood rapt in wonder, gazing at the ten thousandth star, and the star seemed to be gazing back at Stella with equal intensity.
"Hours later, she ran through the night across the prairie to the house of the ancient wise man. She found him awake, praying for her, and when he invited her to come in, they sat facing each other over a low table covered with lighted candles.
" 'Judging from your radiant smile,' said the old man, 'you've counted the ten thousandth star tonight, and you have looked into the very eye of God. Yes?'
" 'Yes! Yes!' cried Stella, scarcely able to contain her happiness. 'But,' she continued, 'the strangest thing happened. It turned out that the ten thousandth star was somehow the very same star that I had begun with, the middle star of Orion's belt. What can this mean?'
"The old man smiled with delight. 'It's simple,' he murmured. 'You began by looking into the light of God's eyes, desperately desiring to see the light of God's eye. God was there all along. You just didn't realize it. The whole sky had to move through one complete revolution just so you could recognize what was right in front of you to start with! God moved heaven and earth to bring you to this moment. That's how much God loves you! And I'll tell you something else: from now on, whenever children such as you gaze at the night sky with burning desire born of great love and wonder and purity, God will wink at them and they will catch a glimpse of the twinkle in God's eyes.'
"The wise old man fell silent, and Stella looked closely at the lines of his face. As a sense of wonder and love welled up inside her once again, she noticed that even now there was a twinkle in the old man's eyes!
"Many many years later, another wise old man, Meister Eckhardt, would say: 'The eye with which you look at God is the very same eye with which God is looking at you.' Who knows? Perhaps he too had been counting stars."
In this paperback, Megan McKenna and Tony Cowan have gathered tales from many different traditions that take us to the deep places inside where the soul comes alive. Here is a teaching story by Tony Cowan about yearning.
"Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a young woman who longed to see God. He name was Stella. Stella was a simple girl who prayed and worked very hard, helping others all the time, but she reached the age of sixteen still not satisfied that she had seen God. So one day, she went to visit a wise old man who lived alone out in the prairie. She sat down in front of the wise old man and said, 'For as long as I can remember, I've had a burning desire to see God: not only to see God, but to look right into the pupil of his eye! If I could just do this, I would be so happy. Can you tell me what I need to do so that this can happen?'
"The wise old man looked at Stella intensely. After a long silence, he said: 'I will tell you the secret of seeing God — in fact, of looking right into the pupil of God's eye.'
" 'Oh yes! Please tell me!' the young woman cried. The old man continued: 'You must begin counting the stars at night. You must begin with the middle star in Orion's belt and start counting toward the east. You must take great care not to count any star twice, and you must not fail in your determination. When you have counted the ten thousandth star, you will be looking into the very light of God's eye.'
"And so, Stella went out. That night, there was a new moon and there were very few clouds, so she was able to count the stars easily. They looked to Stella like diamonds embedded in velvet. After several hours, she had counted hundreds of stars. But the next night, when she went out to continue her counting, there were some heavy clouds and the moon was brighter, which made it harder for her to see the stars clearly. Still she continued resolutely, night after night, week after week, month after month, always taking care to keep count and not get distracted. This took tremendous concentration, dedication and effort.
"What Stella didn't realize was that as she counted far into the eastern sky, the stars were revolving and turning through the heavens. And so, twelve months later, as she was approaching the ten thousandth star, she began to get the feeling that the pattern in the sky looked strangely familiar. She counted aloud to herself, 'Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.' And as she counted the ten thousandth star, she suddenly realized that the ten thousandth star was the middle star of Orion's belt, the very star that she had begun with twelve months before! He eyes were dazzled with starlight and her mind and heart were filled instantly with the greatest joy and astonishment. Time seemed to stand still as she stood rapt in wonder, gazing at the ten thousandth star, and the star seemed to be gazing back at Stella with equal intensity.
"Hours later, she ran through the night across the prairie to the house of the ancient wise man. She found him awake, praying for her, and when he invited her to come in, they sat facing each other over a low table covered with lighted candles.
" 'Judging from your radiant smile,' said the old man, 'you've counted the ten thousandth star tonight, and you have looked into the very eye of God. Yes?'
" 'Yes! Yes!' cried Stella, scarcely able to contain her happiness. 'But,' she continued, 'the strangest thing happened. It turned out that the ten thousandth star was somehow the very same star that I had begun with, the middle star of Orion's belt. What can this mean?'
"The old man smiled with delight. 'It's simple,' he murmured. 'You began by looking into the light of God's eyes, desperately desiring to see the light of God's eye. God was there all along. You just didn't realize it. The whole sky had to move through one complete revolution just so you could recognize what was right in front of you to start with! God moved heaven and earth to bring you to this moment. That's how much God loves you! And I'll tell you something else: from now on, whenever children such as you gaze at the night sky with burning desire born of great love and wonder and purity, God will wink at them and they will catch a glimpse of the twinkle in God's eyes.'
"The wise old man fell silent, and Stella looked closely at the lines of his face. As a sense of wonder and love welled up inside her once again, she noticed that even now there was a twinkle in the old man's eyes!
"Many many years later, another wise old man, Meister Eckhardt, would say: 'The eye with which you look at God is the very same eye with which God is looking at you.' Who knows? Perhaps he too had been counting stars."
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Just For Fun
found on litemind.com
"I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. " - Noel Coward
"I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. " - Noel Coward
A Year with Rilke - May 4
I know that your profession is difficult and contrary to your nature. I cannot remove your distress; I can only urge you to consider whether all occupations are not challenging and hostile in some measure to one's individuality, and saturated with the resentments of those who grimly and sullenly pursue them from duty only. The situation in which you must live now is not more burdened with conventions, prejudices and errors than any other—and even if some occupation appears to offer greater freedom, it is a rare person who is able to stay open to the great matters that shape authentic living. Only the person who accepts solitude can place himself under the deep laws of the universe. When he steps into the fresh morning or out into the event-filled evening, all that is not him falls away, as if he had died, although he stands in the teeming midst of life.
Drudgery
I know that your profession is difficult and contrary to your nature. I cannot remove your distress; I can only urge you to consider whether all occupations are not challenging and hostile in some measure to one's individuality, and saturated with the resentments of those who grimly and sullenly pursue them from duty only. The situation in which you must live now is not more burdened with conventions, prejudices and errors than any other—and even if some occupation appears to offer greater freedom, it is a rare person who is able to stay open to the great matters that shape authentic living. Only the person who accepts solitude can place himself under the deep laws of the universe. When he steps into the fresh morning or out into the event-filled evening, all that is not him falls away, as if he had died, although he stands in the teeming midst of life.
Rome, December 23, 1903
Letters to a Young Poet
Friday, May 4, 2012
My Other Mystic Lake - Mde Wakan
And so now the other unexpected Lake story.
Likely inspired by Kathleen diligently studying, and successfully finding out about her family history, I decided to try out Ancestry.com. Not quite the detective Kathleen is, I decided to venture into what looked like what I hoped would be an easy path to some ancestral history.
And, I was most curious about my dad's dad. I had been told all my life he was half Iroquois, and half French. No reason to doubt it. Well, definitely surprised. . . if I have Iroquois ancestors it is not obviously, and not looking likely for the closest family.
So my identity shifts. . . my paternal grandfathers mother, is listed on the Indian Census as mixed blood Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota). Thank you Wikipedia - They are one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti (Santee) Dakota (Sioux), Their historic home is Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota, which in the Dakota language was called mde wakan (mystic/spiritual lake). My father is indeed from Minnesota.
My grandfather, (Robert David) Bert and several generations are buried in Grey Cloud Island Cemetery, Grey Cloud Island, MN
Proving the possible flaws in census/record taking I saw a relative born in 1704 with date of death listed in 2004, some those military enlistment whose date of birth was later than the date of enlistment.
Uncles who are Mdewakanton Sioux on the Indian Census listed (my favorite) as Hindu/Indian on the Federal Census.
And, also, some paternal ancestors are listed on the census as Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
With little effort, and the help of all the people who have already worked on my family tree, it seems I can follow one the French Canadian sides back to 8th great grandparents, Hilaire & Mary Antoinette who were born in France and with the first regular French military regiments to Quebec in the 1600's.
Mdewakanton Sioux/Chippewa/French/Canadian/German/Lithuanian so far . . . Metis
Likely inspired by Kathleen diligently studying, and successfully finding out about her family history, I decided to try out Ancestry.com. Not quite the detective Kathleen is, I decided to venture into what looked like what I hoped would be an easy path to some ancestral history.
And, I was most curious about my dad's dad. I had been told all my life he was half Iroquois, and half French. No reason to doubt it. Well, definitely surprised. . . if I have Iroquois ancestors it is not obviously, and not looking likely for the closest family.
So my identity shifts. . . my paternal grandfathers mother, is listed on the Indian Census as mixed blood Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota). Thank you Wikipedia - They are one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti (Santee) Dakota (Sioux), Their historic home is Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota, which in the Dakota language was called mde wakan (mystic/spiritual lake). My father is indeed from Minnesota.
My grandfather, (Robert David) Bert and several generations are buried in Grey Cloud Island Cemetery, Grey Cloud Island, MN
Proving the possible flaws in census/record taking I saw a relative born in 1704 with date of death listed in 2004, some those military enlistment whose date of birth was later than the date of enlistment.
Uncles who are Mdewakanton Sioux on the Indian Census listed (my favorite) as Hindu/Indian on the Federal Census.
And, also, some paternal ancestors are listed on the census as Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
With little effort, and the help of all the people who have already worked on my family tree, it seems I can follow one the French Canadian sides back to 8th great grandparents, Hilaire & Mary Antoinette who were born in France and with the first regular French military regiments to Quebec in the 1600's.
Mdewakanton Sioux/Chippewa/French/Canadian/German/Lithuanian so far . . . Metis
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Day At The Lake
I promised myself some time away from media, TV, internet, books, and the inside of a building. Since the symbology of Lake is cropping up from yet another direction (for a later story), what better place to go.
So I ventured over towards Lake Washington, and quite easily found a lakeside park in Kenmore that I had never noticed before, just a short right hand turn from a road I have been many times, Log Boom Park.
I was all prepared for a comfortable adventure, (comfort - a theme you may have noticed, I just chuckled when I saw the adjective spontaneously chosen).
So I ventured over towards Lake Washington, and quite easily found a lakeside park in Kenmore that I had never noticed before, just a short right hand turn from a road I have been many times, Log Boom Park.
I was all prepared for a comfortable adventure, (comfort - a theme you may have noticed, I just chuckled when I saw the adjective spontaneously chosen).
Hot steamed veggies plus a very other nutritious items, and chai straight from the now very handy Wholefoods, and voila - dinner at the lake.
Luck or divine intervention had left the closest spot to the walk to the open for me. (Or it may truly have been the fact the playground was clear on the other side of the parking lot where most of the people were.)
As I parked, there was a large easily read sign heading Historical Path (which always is nicely into my next lake story).
I was pleased to see multiple benches, and tables on a clear path, on the edge of the lake, on the edge of a marina. Peaceful, walking along the path so close to a busy world, alone in my little space, concrete sidewalk sidling up to nature, comfortable, comfortable.
Then up popped some ducks. Well, actually they didn't pop up at all, just seemed that way as I noticed them in my little reverie. Have I told anyone in along time I love ducks, maybe because the passion has faded a way, I've forgotten myself, or am just too tucked away from the natural world.
There they were a beautiful duck couple out for their evening dinner at the lake.
They seemed not phased at all by me. Foraging along. . .
I enjoyed the view, and dinner. Shortly, a very professional looking photographer (translate this as a gentleman with a great big "real" camera with long telescopic lens) appeared, looked to be diligently following, photographing
a single male mallard duck.
and then
reminders of the parks logging history
wondering a the chain wrapped around the truck - captive tree
ever so peaceful
then I saw a group of teen boys headed my way, acting and sounding ever so rambunctious, prejudice
brings up thoughts of being bothered. . . thoughts of irritation. . . isn't so easy to be peacefully alone.
Well, I was ready to get up anyway, I decided to walk out a little way on the "pier", the young man decide on the same path. . . sigh. . . then one of them yells, "Look a turtle!!!"
and we watched the turtle
I wouldn't have seen the turtle . . .
then
one of the young men went over near the mallard couple who were now sitting on a railing. . .
he stood very quietly for a long time with his hand outstretched not moving . . .
then instead of walking off down the pier where his friends had gone, he walked back over to me saying almost softly, "I just wanted to pet them. . . " I remarked how I used to bring food to get them closer, and eating out of my hand (as a child of two we lived near a park with ducks that were indeed fascinating).
He went off to join his friends, I stayed watching them, the turtle, the sunset
then he wandered back to the spot where the ducks had moved to further down the rail, and resumed the same, beautiful waiting. . .
His friends came back, and they all filed past me, he looked me right in the eye, "Next time I am bringing food." I replied thanks to all for letting me know about the turtle. . .
Nooks, Crannies & A Plethora of Quotes
"And whether it is Thursday, or the day is stormy,
With thunder and rain, or the birds attack each other,
We have rolled into another dream." John Ashbery
from quotes.dictionary.com
I finally uploaded a number of pictures. Wow, the oldest were from November 2010, really been a long time. . . some undramatic, ordinary pictures from a very nice relaxed journey where Jan and I saw Flounder Bay, WA for the first time. Made me think of the nooks and crannies all over the world, just the beginning of the thought is too hard to capture comfortably.
Then I was curious about quotes on nooks and crannies. So googled it, the first thing that came up was a movie I really enjoyed, In Bruges. Just a pleasing irony, the word cranny some line of dialogue.
Then, I found these lovely ones at Quotes.net
"In life, everything awaits in the shadows for the suitable time to come out! All waits silently in the nooks! Observe the shadows and the nooks to guess what will happen!" - Mehmet Murat ildan
(maybe like these pictures I am posting today. . .)
"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"I am done with great things and big plans, great institutions and big success. I am for those tiny, invisible loving human forces that work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like the capil" - William James
and this one that started out with me nodding yes, and ended with saying, huh. . . I got try reading that again (found on quotesea.com):
"I am a dreamer of words, of written words. I think I am reading; a word stops me. I leave the page. The syllables of the word begin to move around. Stressed accents begin to invert. The word abandons its meaning like an overload which is too heavy and prevents dreaming. Then words take on other meanings as if they had the right to be young. And the words wander away, looking in the nooks and crannies of vocabulary for new company, bad company." - Gaston Bachelard
To the quote of the day from quote.sea that I enjoyed, not quite in literal agreement with:
"If you only do what you know you can do - you never do very much." Tom Krause
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