Sparks: Ideas to Ponder

By Ed Nygard

The second decade of the twenty-first century has been a particularly trying one for many of us. SPARKS is a collection of ideas which offer a way of thinking about the way forward. In the form of mini-essays, poetry, book suggestions, and quotes from a wide variety of thoughtful folk, it encourages contemplation of the sources of, and possible paths away from, our discontent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ed Nygard
• Release date: Oct 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005069575

Ed Nygard

Born in New York City, Ed moved with his parents to rural Massachusetts at the age of five, where he developed a love for the natural world and all its diversity. He even wonders if the most important part of his early education wasn’t really summer camp, and its introduction to the flora and fauna of New England. Though education and training as a physician required spending time in various urban environments, for his practice as a radiologist he settled with his wife, son, and daughter in a small mostly farming community in western Washington. Grateful for the opportunity to travel, he has had a chance to ponder the personal and cultural traits which create the character of various nations, and since retirement has taken more time to assess what we can do to optimize the society we pass on to future generations. At times discouraged by our willing blindness to flaws in our current and past history, he yet is enthusiastic about the potential, and buoyed up by the many examples of human intelligence and goodness we see every day.

Book preview

The years surrounding 2020-2021 will be remembered for the heightened existential crisis facing the American Experiment and the clear exposure of the character and goals of the American conservative movement, its elitism, duplicity, prevarication, domineering, and its attacks on fundamental rights, freedoms, and equality, though for those of us who lived through this time, a dominant memory will undoubtedly be the Covid-19 pandemic and the ways in which it impacted our lifestyles, restricting our normal activities, travels, and interactions. But there was still Facebook! … and Facebook Memories. What better way to regain a sense of perspective than to daily review the highlights of years past? Many of those items shared among friends renewed a needed sense of humor, triggered new insights, inspired a spirit of caring, reestablished a commitment to kindness, or restored old bonds and established new friendships.

For me at least, the experience has been valuable enough that it seems worth sharing on a broader scale. I’ve collected some of the material which has had a positive effect on my outlook during this time in the hope that others might benefit as well. None of it is offered to be accepted as is, but rather as a stimulus to thoughtful consideration, conversation, and further investigation and analysis as warranted. Some indeed may even ignite new insights, interests or passions. If so, these sparks will have served their purpose. May your contemplations be rich and rewarding as we continue to build a society which we will be proud to pass on to future generations.

A word on the content: All the items included are drawn from my Facebook postings, and include original material, content found elsewhere online, or shares of postings by friends. There is no attempt to order the material by subject or chronology. Although there is overlap between multiple items, each is offered for evaluation on its own merits. There are several categories: Quotations from individuals ancient and modern, famous (or infamous) and unknown; Thoughts initially presented online in the form of artwork, often without attribution, here shared as text to avoid the large file size of images; Mini Essays of known authorship; Book recommendations; Poetry from various sources; and Links to larger articles and videos. Most of the links are active and will open with a single click. Some may need to be copied/pasted into a browser for access. At the time of publication, all were available for viewing, though that could change for any of them with time.

It may be that having this material in book form, rather than just as Facebook posts, will have the benefit of being less likely to call forth a quick reaction or comment, or a reaction to the poster rather than the content, and thus be conducive to a more deliberate contemplation. Although, in a concentrated form like this, it is easier to flit from item to item without adequate consideration, having a permanent resource may relieve the urge to rush, and, as well, allow returning to topics deserving further thought. Some traditions make available daily devotional books designed to set a tone for the day or create a mindset; this volume might be used in a similar way, as a ‘contemplational’, to launch a thoughtful assessment of ideas and life choices.

Savor Truth and Beauty. Practice genuine Kindness. Enjoy!

PERSONAL PONDERINGS

THE AMERICAN DREAM

Ever think about 'the American Dream', why it should be uniquely possible to rise up from some lowly position here in this land of opportunity; and what it is one might rise to? Terms that often come to mind in this context are fame and fortune, power, wealth, and prestige. Many claim to have pulled themselves up by dint of strenuous effort, forgetting the countless individuals, many unknown to them, who have provided the stepping stones and built the ladders by which they have climbed.

The pinnacle of success in America is not individual acclaim, adulation, relative superiority, or wealth, but an enhanced capacity to help the next person to become all they can be. One might be amazed at both the quality and the quantity of growth one experiences when boosting or lifting another compared to climbing over them. Two character traits which make this growth possible are gratitude and humility. Neither interferes with endeavor, and both are essential components of real greatness.

What a privilege to live in a land where so many work hard, not just for themselves, but for each other. This great American Dream remains a possibility as long as we don't lose sight of its underpinnings; as long as we are not seduced by those who make promises based on a definition of success which ignores caring about each other, which promotes competition and exploitation and greed and exclusion over cooperation and caring. Let’s be part of making it available to all. Let’s recognize those who value service over business gains, whose spirit feeds the souls of all they touch. Let’s show that the real American successes and heroes are the nurturers, teachers, mentors, and supportive friends who care about lifting others up through any available means, including public policymaking when appropriate. Long live the American Dream!

If real success is being all we can be, how did it come to be redefined as having all we can get?

WITNESSING

It strikes me that one of the best ways to understand what we really mean by witnessing is to ask what the measure of success is – adding names to a membership roster, making clones of ourselves, getting people to declare that they ‘believe’ what we believe, or helping people to be fulfilled, thoughtful, creative, successful – to be all they can be – whether they share our particular myth system or not. And only as we model the love and caring we claim to see in Jesus does our witness become attractive enough to transform lives. The theory is irrelevant without the application. Is it possible that the cross has been presented for so long as the legal purchase of our freedom that it has lost any meaning as a demonstration of love? Have terms like sin and salvation distorted reality long enough to be overdue for replacement?

Time to attend to enhancing the lives we have rather than pining for some imagined eternal life; to emulating the caring Jesus is said to have illustrated rather than preaching about his supposed magical powers; to celebrating our common oneness rather than flaunting our unique specialness; to recognizing the diversity of ways by which individual lives are fulfilled rather than pushing a brand or a program.

Can we really give witness to anything other than the effect of that which has made us what we are? What direction do we grow once we have arrived and have the Truth? Is there a difference between illustrating and witnessing? Came across this article which discusses something we’ve all probably experienced to some degree, and it made me wonder if we’re as interested in sharing this kind of insight as we are told to be in sharing The Message.

https://aeon.co/essays/why-forests-and-rivers-are-the-most-potent-health-tonic-around?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3546152792-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_06_29_04_36&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_411a82e59d-3546152792-68663733

TRAVELERS

It is well said that we each see things, not as they are, but as we are, through the filter of our own personality and past experience. This becomes readily apparent when we join a group of fellow travelers exploring lands and cultures new to us. Observing individual ways of relating and reacting suggests three broad categories; or, more accurately, predominant ways of seeing and responding. For lack of a more nuanced vocabulary, I'll use the terms cognitive, aesthetic, and philosophical, ignoring the plethora of other personality traits which affect the process.

Some travelers are concerned with facts: locations, dates, times, names, schedules, etc. Excellent folk to answer the inevitable questions that arise on any trip; careful note-takers and meticulous pre-trip planners. Their photo-taking tends toward the documentary.

Others seek to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds, smells and tastes, culture and activities, absorbing the beauty and engaging in the spirit and feel of the local venue. Their photography tends toward the artistic.

A third group dances with ideas, questioning why things are the way they are, what physical and social forces caused certain results, what drove groups to develop their cultures and beliefs and art and contributions, and wondering what we might learn from that history regarding prospects for the future. Among other things, they tend to photograph informational signs.

Naturally, there are elements of each type in every traveler, usually with one characteristic standing out, and it's these which will most strongly affect what and how we see in our travels. Of course, congenial groups can be interactive, with the different ways of seeing mingling to enrich everyone's experience.

Then there's the trip leader or tour guide, who can maximize our vision by choosing the times and places and types of encounters for optimal insight (and photographic opportunity), by freeing us from the burden of making necessary arrangements, and by sharing a deep understanding of culture, past and present.

Perhaps most significant is that not only do our filters shape what and how we see, but what we truly see modifies our filters. The result of a meaningful travel experience is that we never see life, or the world, in just the same way again.

THE RIVERS IN OUR HEADS

In the last 12 hours our river, the Newaukum, has risen over 7.5 feet, and is not predicted to peak for another 6 hours. Didn’t seem like all that much rain; guess we’ve grown accustomed to it. There’s going to be some inconvenience and mess as the river overflows its banks in places, hopefully not too much damage. It’s not all fresh, clear rainwater that the river carries; lots of mud and other debris find their way in as well, and can cause blockages and other localized difficulties.

Ever feel like the mind is sometimes rushing out of control; too much input all at once, even though we’ve grown accustomed to the relentless sources surrounding us? How about the debris that finds its way in? Does it ever clog up the works? Are the outlets unobstructed? Do the input filters need adjusting?

New Year’s resolutions have gotten a bum rap, possibly because we feel like failures when we inevitably slip up. Perhaps if viewed as goals toward which we continue working at whatever rate is possible at the moment, we’d be less discouraged and more willing to continue after a slowdown. How about as one of our goals for this year - River Control?

Sometimes our road is blocked off at both ends by the floodwaters, and we’re prisoners in our home for a time. Have we made our homes comfortable, even delightful, places to spend an extended stay? How about our minds?

LIFE & DEATH

A recent post from a friend included a picture of a relative with a rifle, posed beside the lifeless carcass of an elk. The caption included the date of his birth – in 1820 (evidently a typo) and the date he shot the animal – in 2015. My comment was something like Pretty spry for 195 years of age. and included an expression of concern for the poor elk as well as pity for one who, having lived so many years, had not learned the precious nature of all life.

I was chided by another friend with the comment Judge often? The following thoughts come after a good night’s rest.

Hi __ - Thanks for your gentle reminder that my comment could be construed as unkind. Perhaps, in a spirit of openness, we could review some of the myriad justifications for the taking of life. After all, weren't we given dominion over all those lesser life forms, and even given rituals of ceremonial killing so as not to be too squeamish when we require genocide to reap all those blessings we so richly deserve, be they milk and honey, oil, diamonds, elbow room, and so on?

And from observation, it's us humans who were created with brains big enough to imagine and create weapons of ever-greater killing potential. What a waste to not use them. That the creator chose not to balance that part of the brain with a compassion section, so hard to develop on our own, must be justification in itself.

A man's got to eat, hasn't he? What if all the supermarkets shut down, or our family refuses to see to our needs, or the ground becomes so toxic that the plants won't grow or even become inedible, or we become enlightened and shut down all those feedlots? Better keep up the killing skills, just in case.

Maybe once we unbalance natural systems by killing off the predators, which we must do because they threaten our herds of easier to kill animals, we can justify thinning the burgeoning populations of grazers which also threaten our flocks and herds. Anyway, it just feels so good to demonstrate our dominant role in the scheme of things. Perhaps one day we'll get it right.

Wow! How the mind wanders. I'd almost forgotten the original post and its celebration of one man's amazing ability to still kill at some advanced age. Are congratulations in order? My sorrow goes far beyond the elk; it extends to all of us, for the narrowness of our vision, our chronic inability to see beyond our own self-interest. Perhaps one day we'll value empathy as much as self-preservation, cooperation as much as dominance, and a love wide enough to encompass more than our own clan. Perhaps one day we will choose life.

DISTRACTION

Some resistance exercise routines demand attention, focus, and exertion. And even counting. But there are some repetition routines during which the mind is freed to find its own path, and the most demanding task is combatting boredom. On the treadmill and elliptical machines, for instance, time and distance are measured automatically, and precious little attention is required.

The necessary distraction can come in many forms, among them memory – reliving and savoring prior adventures, experiences, and relationships, and the companions with whom they were shared; imagination – virtually pre living what could be; creativity – designing the means to bring the imagined to life. There are, of course, external distractions, for some television or radio.

This morning my elliptical session passed, seemingly in a flash, as I was caught up in the drama unfolding outside. Through the tops of the now bare walnut trees, a squirrel raced at speed, leaping with abandon from branch to branch, and tree to tree. Not just in play, however, as I watched a large hawk dive into the tree behind it, stymied by the web of branches through which our furry friend scurried so hastily, finally flying off after a brief disgruntled stop.

Then it was time for celebration, and, joined by a companion, the squirrel returned to its own playful exercise routine, honing its skills in preparation for life's next big adventure, I imagine using memories, imagination, and creativity in the process.

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT

The following requires, at least initially, only a bit of quality time and some honest reflection.

1) Write an epitaph for your own tombstone. With minimal words describe the person you would like to be known as.

2) Write an obituary for yourself. List all the things you hope to have accomplished in your life.

3) Compare with your actual life and character.

Though written in the past tense, remember that today is indeed the first day of the rest of our lives, the beginning of new opportunities to be all we can be.

Though written in the context of informing (impressing?) others, this is all about seeing ourselves clearly and harnessing the will to match our own ideals.

FACT OR FICTION – WHEN DOES IT MATTER?

In his book Did Jesus Exist?, expending a great deal of scholarly effort, and given the meager material with which to work, Bart Ehrman makes a reasonably good case for a historical person at the root of the stories we have about Jesus; but the message is clear – a great deal of interpolation is required. Reza Aslan in Zealot paints a picture of Jesus' life and times quite unlike the mythology with which we've grown up. But by now we are familiar with the creativity involved in illuminating the lives of famous individuals, even those more recently part of our history, such as our founding fathers; and characters in fictional works can be as convincing as historical ones, reflecting as they do various human qualities.

Since all stories, those based on real events as well as those entirely the product of imagination, are passed through the filters of the original and all subsequent tellers' minds, they may reveal as much about the tellers as about their protagonists – their values, hopes, and dreams given life in story form, their characters metaphors for concepts.

Whether or not one can accept as factual the magical claims made for Jesus, or the historicity of the words attributed to him, the characteristics he was said to possess were valued by those who told his story. The human mind is capable of appreciating goodness, love, and caring (even when seen in other animals), and characters illustrating those qualities are capable of moving us in powerful ways. May our lives be the basis for stories not needing undue embellishment to also inspire and transform others in positive ways.

SHADOWS

Shadows are all about light. Or relatively less light, or light coming from limited directions. Can you imagine how flat and featureless things might be without shadows? Well, actually, we don't have to imagine; any densely overcast day is a good example, and we know what that can do to the spirits. Or a moonless night. How much greater sense of the contours and texture and nature of things we get when shadows are present. And how our imaginations soar when we think of all the creative shadows we can cast. Is it possible that shadows are good for the soul? Or is it the light?

THE POWER OF CONTRAST

When I was a kid, I read an anecdote, probably in the Reader's Digest, about the execution, by hanging as I recall (we actually did that once upon a time), of some criminal. The crowds recounted his dastardly deeds and evil nature. In contrast, one little old lady, when given a chance to speak, asked if anyone had noticed what a lovely set of teeth he had. She had trained herself over a lifetime, not to ignore unpleasantness, but to focus on the positive. It's not easy sometimes to find anything positive in certain unfortunate situations, a circumstance in which many feel caught up today. But look carefully.

Is there a tree in your neighborhood which you tend to take for granted because it's always there? How about that stormy morning when the golden rays of the rising sun sneak through a gap at the horizon, highlighting the tree against black clouds? Suddenly, not only are you aware of the tree, but also of the sun, waiting in the wings to drive away the storm clouds; all because of the contrast with the darkness.

Our land is filled with goodness in many forms, often ignored. But viewed against a backdrop of darkness all of a sudden we become aware of its presence and the immense power behind it. It energizes people to work together for the good of all. We're seeing an outpouring of goodwill which may not have been released had not recent circumstances made its character stand out in stark contrast. Is it possible that some good may come from our current situation? Will we be part of it?

METHODOLOGY

Science in two phrases: Could it be that … Let’s see …

Reason in one phrase: Think about it.

Religion in two phrases: This is the way it is! Scripture says so!

Ideology in one phrase: Take my word for it.

CAVE DWELLERS?

An invitation to openness

Life is rich with diversity. In nearly any category we can imagine, the likelihood is that enough variations exist to satisfy a lifetime of study and exploration. So why do some of us see the world in binary terms ー black/white, either/or, win/lose, right/wrong, good/bad, us/them, all or nothing? Why are we willing to sacrifice a full and satisfying life to hang onto cherished opinions and beliefs, inherited or ingrained, examined only enough to support the answers we start with?

Is it possible that we're lazy? Analysis takes effort, and time. Even though we know that every skill gets easier with practice, this is one we seem reluctant to initiate. Do we crave certainty, even at the risk of being sure about something not true? Are we so dependent on group identity that we are fearful of thinking outside the box, the accepted group norms? Do we accept values predefined for us by tradition, culture, and ideology as right without question? Is our self-image so fragile that we can't bear the thought of being wrong? Has habit become so embracing that we just won't think outside our comfort zones?

Or are we really unaware of the splendor, the magnificence, the joy of engaging the larger world on our own terms, of understanding issues, of examining options and possibilities, of savoring diversity, of reveling in cooperative exploration, of building a better world side by side with someone not of our own tribe?

Plato used the metaphor of cave dwellers restricted to seeing life in terms of shadows cast on the wall, unwilling to leave the familiar, and thereby deprived of fulfillment. May that never describe any of us.

PRECIOUS MOMENTS

This afternoon the sky is clear, the air is crystalline, and the sunshine is brilliant. But this morning the overcast was so heavy, it was like being trapped in … , inside a beast. It reminded me of those days we’ve all encountered, dark and dreary – until the setting sun peeks under the edge of the thick clouds, and in a moment transforms the day forever...

All day long the somnolent beast lies dormant, those of us inside resignedly plodding along at our accustomed routines, the lumpy grey hide just translucent enough to dimly light our way. Toward evening, as if checking out the prospects of noisy nighttime adventures, the beast’s eyelids rise a bit. Our little world is flooded with a glorious golden glow, gilding each leaf and blade of grass. With camera, pen, brush, and soul we store up visions and memories enough to last and last, through the thunder of the night, through the showers of the day, till death do us part.

AWAKENING

Mike Klingler’s description of finding that his ideals are best expressed by Bernie’s approach to building a society which seeks the best for every member, parallels my own experience amazingly closely. Raised in a rather conservative environment, but paying little attention to politics, and ignoring labels, I too have discovered that my core philosophy fits best into the basket of cultural goals labeled Democratic Socialism. From the first time I became aware of what Bernie Sanders stood for, I had little doubt that it best reflected all that I understand America to represent.

It is heartwarming to become aware of the number of friends and acquaintances who also care enough about this land of ours to accept our responsibility to make it all it might be. I’m optimistic that enough Americans are able to recognize the current level of political and societal dysfunction to help usher in the radical changes necessary. Here’s to peace, understanding, and cooperation as our new paradigm!

TRIGGERING CREATIVITY

A great flame, wrote Dante, follows a little spark.

Whether writing, painting, composing, landscaping, whatever, the bold initial step taken often results in a miraculous feedback loop in which it feels like the work is creating itself, or at least whispering instructions to the artist who will listen. One of my favorite bumper stickers is Just Do It!; perhaps it should read - Just Start!.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Love and caring may be a power in our lives as relentless and driving as the musical force in so many late Classical and Romantic period symphonies and concertos, also leading us to moments both sweet and triumphant. Savor goodness.

RESPONDING TO THE TRINITY – the GOOD, the BEAUTIFUL, the TRUE

Any moral code not grounded in feelings of compassion is suspect. The feelings and practice of benevolence allied with common sense form a reliable basis for recognizing one’s duties and responsibilities in life.

– Allen H. Agnitti

Compassion, feeling with another, is a learned attitude, inspired by example, nourished by thoughtful practice, and impossible in the self-centered, arrogant, and greedy. Similar terms include empathy, caring, and, if you’re really into four-letter words – love.

SEIZING THE DAY

Life is full of twists and turns, some planned, many unexpected. Here in the Pacific Northwest, winter days are overcast and/or rainy much of the time; some might say dreary. The sun breaks boost the spirits and are all the more welcome for their relative rarity. But the rain brings its own rewards. Fields flood, temporary ponds form, and the waterfowl come in droves to light up our lives.

Our own pasture usually hosts Mallards. At the park down the road, the most frequent guests this winter have been Common Goldeneye. Bufflehead, Merganser, Grebe, and many duck varieties. Trumpeter Swans, Canada Geese, and even Gulls, band together to help clean up the fields. And around the full rivers and permanent ponds, Eagles thrive.

Last week the dogs and I braved the weather to walk a section of trail we usually avoid because of the human traffic it hosts. But for once we had it to ourselves, the dogs free to frolic and explore on their own. To my delight, in the flooded field next to the trail, families of Northern Pintail and American Widgeon swam and fed. And on the way back to the car, we walked below an adult Bald Eagle perched high in a trailside cottonwood. Have to admit being grateful that little Coco, our Westie, was close by at the time.

Hands chilled but hearts full, the warm air from the car heater felt like a fitting conclusion to a wonderful outing. But there was more – the air filled with strains from Delius’ Florida Suite – another first for me, and a real treat; icing on the cake you might say. (Did you know Frederick Delius tried his hand at managing an orange grove in Florida?)

Life is good, rain or shine, planned or not, if the heart is ready to recognize it.

CHARLIE ALBRIGHT AND LIFE

Saturday evening was a good example of a spiritual high. One of Centralia’s native sons returned to bless the community with a piano concert of Beethoven, Chopin, Mussorgsky, and other – more about that in a moment.

The musical experience itself reminded me, not so much of Charlie’s childhood prodigy years, as of a concert by a previous local artist, Michael Yannette. To give you a feel for how that prior concert moved me, I’ll copy what I wrote at the time:

The real standout at the concert was a local pianist, Michael Yannette, whose musicianship redefines awesome. Beyond technical mastery, his interpretations were alive with sensitivity and passion. He didn’t just play the piano, he and the piano were one conduit through which the music flowed. … He pounded ringing brass nails into Boredom’s coffin. He juggled a hundred glowing marbles and played jump-rope with too many ropes to count. He poured molten silver at our feet and blew glistening pixie-dust into the air above our heads. He drew the full-bright moon from amber depths and caught the rainbow in spray over the thundering breakers. And as he played he was a magic doorway to places far away and moods close enough to touch.

This was a concert on that level. But there was more. The Corbet Hall venue at the college is ideal; there’s not a bad seat in the house, the size is just right, and the acoustics are great, and the thoughtful preparations for the concert included a large on-stage screen for viewing Charlie’s hands close up from multiple angles. A treat, not just for those who play (or hope to), but for all of us who have a hard time even conceiving of human hands performing such magic.

And to be able to share such an event with friends and neighbors, some of whom we see on a regular basis, and many of whom come together more rarely! What a wonderful way to draw a community together. A warm thanks to Charlie, and to the college for making this happen; and to Charlie’s parents and all the mentors and supporters whose investments in Charlie throughout the years are also investments in the community and the whole human family.

The other mentioned above is perhaps the most remarkable part of the concert. Charlie played two amazing pieces never before heard (and probably never again, at least not exactly the same). They were improvised on the spot, one of them from four notes suggested by members of the audience. To have such a connection with the foundations of music-making, and with the tools by which it is created, to have absorbed the essence of music itself to such an extent, is an inspiration beyond words.

It’s enough to cause one to ponder what level of preparedness we're creating for life’s unexpected challenges and experiences. Have we laid the groundwork so well that our natural responses, too, are beautiful; elevating, and filled with kindness, caring, and nurture? Have we been willing to put in the time and effort required to assure that our reactions are consistent and in line with our ideals?

Thank you so much Charlie for the experience, the example, and the inspiration!

WHO I AM

I am an old, white guy. Not much choice – time has rolled relentlessly onward, and the genetic lottery pretty much laid the cards on the table when my parents met. There are, of course, connotations that go along with the label, which, aside from the prejudices and preconceptions of others, are quite irrelevant to who I really am.

So, what choices do I have in the matter? Do I need to see the world in binary terms – black/white, either/or, right/wrong, us/them – or do I get to assess the value of ideas and actions on the basis of outcomes? Do I have to accept facts as presented on the basis of tradition, or the number of believers, or claimed authority, or as effective in achieving a self-serving end, or do I get to consider evidence to the best of my ability? Am I inevitably the result of my nature and nurture, or do I get to make choices about the real me?

And is the real me a fixed and unchanging thing, or am I allowed to grow, and change? When finding flaws in systems in which I was raised, must I discard the whole, or can I retain the elements which feed goodness and positive relationships? When my anchorage is untenable must I drift at loose ends, or am I allowed to shift my anchor to a more comfortable location? Must I remain anchored, or am I free to adventure and explore?

Is conformity so necessary to my self-identity that I cannot think for myself; or, on the flip side, is independence so important to me that I am unwilling to see how interdependent we all are within the global family? Is self-interest so high a value to me, that I blind myself to the necessary care of our beautiful earth-home and all its wondrous inhabitants, or can I see beyond the here and now to a sustainable world for us all?

Do I get to choose to be kind, understanding, respectful, even to those with whom I disagree, or must I be right? Can I listen, or must I present my position as truth?

Over the decades I’ve developed the serenity to accept the many things about myself which are beyond my control. I’m working on the courage to grow as I’m able. And I’m seeking the wisdom to know where best to apply my efforts. I value the insights each of you share with me. At the end of the day, there’s a little bit of each of you in who I am.

BANISHING FEAR

There have been many adaptations of the old question If a tree falls in the forest ..., some of them rather humorous, but the original, ..., and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?, is an important and thoughtful consideration of a tendency we humans have to give greater credence to our perceptions and beliefs than to reality itself. In some circles, belief is considered an ultimate good, even though it may close our minds to other views, some far clearer than those with which we were indoctrinated and have grown up. A consequence is to view all things as relative to ourselves, our perceptions, and our feelings, rather than existing on their own, unaffected by the filters through which we see them; to define truth as what we see, rather than what is; or even to project our imaginings as reality. Our need for certainty, or, more accurately, our fear of uncertainty, causes us to cling to 'answers' while neglecting questions which have the possibility of shaking our confidence in our beliefs. Even obvious realities can be rationalized away to protect our self-image as 'knowing', or our place in a group to which we feel loyalty.

The humility which a comfortable interaction with reality demands, is compromised by insecurity, and therefore threatened by anything which induces fear, which tightens not only our sphincters, but also our grip on certainty-inspiring beliefs, whether correct or incorrect. Ironically, insecurity is often masked by excessive confidence, so choosing to believe the most confident individual may not be wise, especially if their position is presented with bluster rather than accompanied by carefully thought out reasoning and supported by well-documented evidence.

So how do we get beyond a limited worldview which revolves around ourselves? Perhaps focusing on the positive features of this beautiful world of ours and dedicating ourselves to the task of making it better for all its inhabitants can help. Having the courage to question every assertion and assumption is easier once we discover we are not alone in the honest quest for understanding – so opening our hearts and minds to the multitude of others seeking truth, rather than hiding behind piles of preconceptions, makes us less insecure, and a less vulnerable target for those who have an agenda to foist on us. Perhaps seeking to do good is more important than needing to be right. Perhaps asking questions is more helpful than having answers. Perhaps rational thought is a clearer lens than rationalization or borrowed viewpoints. Perhaps humility fosters peace, and ironically enough, security.

Savor Truth and Beauty. Practice genuine Kindness.

ESCAPING THE DANGER

... each reflecting the myth systems in which they were immersed during their formative years, only a few of them ever growing into their own thoughtfully considered personal understanding of reality.

ANNIVERSARY THOUGHTS

Tick marks along the circumference of the yearly circuit are convenient reminders to reflect upon what we've learned, how we've grown, the positive influences we've experienced, and all the wonderful people who help to make life such a rich and rewarding journey. We create ticks to label celebrations of births, weddings, and momentous historical events which color our worldview and affect our lives. Some are more deeply etched than others. Some are of only transient significance. We get to choose how to respond to each one.

This week marks year one of my membership in the Facebook community; quite a trip for one not exactly social, outgoing, or political by nature. A review of my timeline and activity log is opening the gates to a flood of memories, and revealing traits due for reassessment. Kind of like looking back into a tunnel, and turning on the lights. Just as our perspective is broadened by a great book, a drama, or movie, travel and exposure to new cultures, meeting new people, or catching up with old friends, the Facebook experience can open one to new ways of seeing.

Among the observations is recognition of how important to human thriving shared experience is, even for those of us content with our own company. Another is the variety of ways in which a person can be a success ー in business, career, relationships, parenting, creative expression, caring, enabling, nurturing, understanding, and on and on. All are enhanced by thoughtful openness and a willingness to try; and try again when necessary. One can only sorrow for those locked into a prison of group-think, shoring up their own insecurity by dwelling on the perceived inadequacies of others.

In so many ways America is indeed exceptional ー a land of opportunity (for some), freedom (for some), a greenhouse for creativity and inventiveness (for some), charitable giving (at least to other countries), wealth production (for a few), representative democracy (for those who can afford it). But bragging about our golden eggs distracts us from the care and feeding of our precious goose, and from maintaining the environment upon which her very existence depends. It's been heartwarming to connect with so many who are giving of their talents, energies, and selves, in education, health care, and so many other ways, to assure that this great land of ours remains