Seeing with new eyes speeds up the process of change

I was looking at a book the other day and these words caught my attention:

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"there are some periods where creative and disruptive

forces reach maturity and combine to speed up

the normal process of change. We encounter the

clash and the fusion of old and new on every side,

in science and religion, politics and economics,

law and literature, music and architecture.

It is the impact of modernism upon medievalism

which gives the age its peculiar character. ........

it was in the name of conservative tradition

that the great rebellion in politics and religion was conducted."

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Now the question is when was this written and for what time period was this message intended. I have for the purpose of showing some clues as to "when" posted pictures of the shelf just about this computer. It could of course be about the 1920's or the 1950's or the 1960's or even the 1980's. Maybe this fits the last half of the 1800's. As a matter of fact I find the last half of the 1800's fascinating. Lincoln being at the center point of this time of change. Some might find the age of the computer in the late 90's and today to be a central point. Maybe it was just a few days ago when I just figured a poem of my own was fine. Who knows................

Well the book, as you will see in the picture, was "English Literature in the Earlier Seventeenth Century 1600 - 1660.

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Proust
The real voyage of discovery consists
not in seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes.

Solemn Light

The quality or condition of being solemn is what is meant by solemnity. Solemnity may be a trait rather than a particular "state" or condition. Solemnity, it would seem, must be "about something" . True beliefs, things that matter a lot. Whatever it is that is at the core or center impacts the outer layers. *

Land and sky, reach out
Embraced by the old
Touched with light
A new world
Desires for right

Vantage Point

Looking back over a lot of years wondering when the best of times really was and then again wondering if it would be fair to label anything the worst of times. Truth is the times have been so much on the good side that worst is an unfair label even for the troubles. Doesn't mean that challenging times have not occurred. In fact some of the challenging times seem to come in the middle of some of the best times. Best times would include a long list..................
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1 All the days, and every day that I have known KJ
2. Early years with just the two of us
3. Time following each child
4. Time when all were under one roof.
5. Times when we are all together.
6. Much about the ABQ time
7. Much of what we did to our Fortuna house
8. Zach's mission
9 MJ's move to ABQ
10. The arrival and time spent with each grandchild
11. Being with Jeff N, anytime
12. In many ways, "now".
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I like the way Dickens put the words together in the first of "Tale of Two Cities". The impact is in contrasts. It is tempting to see contrasts around us but it would be an overstatement to try to balance the extremes because the good so far outweigh the contrasts otherwise.
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Tale of Two Cities
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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

it was the age of wisdom,

it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoch of belief,

it was the epoch of incredulity,

it was the season of Light

it was the season of Darkness,

it was the spring of hope,

it was the winter of despair,

we had everything before us,

we had nothing before us,

we were all going direct to heaven,

we were all going direct the other way
Charles Dickens

Plenty to Imagine ..........running or not

John and Albert on my mind today.....................

When I run I often listen to my IPOD and one of the songs on my "long" list is Imagine by John Lennon. I have always liked the song but then there are things to not like about the song too. The song, "perhaps", take a point of view that there is now heaven and really only now, but then "perhaps" that really is just a backdrop or tool to frame the idea of living "now" better. Earlier this week I have found a new theory by Stephen Hawking about the formation of the universe very interesting. In this theory, the early universe can be described by a mathematical object called a wave function and, in a similar way to the light particle, the team proposed two years ago that this means that there was no unique origin to the cosmos: instead the wave function of the universe embraced a multitude of means to develop. Imagine............the big bang theory is being replaced. This new idea suggests that everything that there is expanded from the size of an atom.

Tag, whatever that means, and I'm "it".

Today another

"favorite

blog" created an approach that required answers so I will follow that direction here............So here's my tag

1. What’s your latest addiction? Right now caffeine is it.

2. What are you listening to? I listed to a lot of CNN. Flip channels. Listen to the radio first thing and on the way home. IPOD on my runs.

3. How late did you stay up last night and why? 8 PM. I was tired. Got up earlier.

4. Who were you with last Friday night? KJ is my standing date.

5. Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 months from now? Yes of course..............KJ

6. When is the next time you’ll see your close friends? I am note sure which of a lot of friends I would list as a "close". My best friend and I see each other each day and night.

7. What were you doing this morning at 7am? I was sitting in a chair visiting with my close friend about the night, yesterday, this day and so forth.

8. What radio station do you listen to the most? KKOB is a local talk radio station. I like to listen to Paul Harvey and the news in general. I wear out pretty fast on any part of it that has call in.

9. What was the reason you last cried? I probably could find a reason to cry if I watched "Peggy Sue Got Married again and frankly I need to do that. Likewise I find things about "Dances with Wolves" that can evoke that. A lot of movies can do that. I find moments running that do that and I find times reading the scriptures that do that. These may not be the deeper reactions but I think that for a person to really feel remorse is something that ought not to be listed on a blog list. On the other hand what have refereed to is mostly deeper feelings.

10. Have you ever talked to someone when they were high? Yes but to call it "talking to them" is not accurate.

11. What’s the fifth text in your inbox say? A note from Mike is #5 in my in box. It deals with writing suggestions on an article I should have taken a lot more time with before I asked for feedback.

12. Where was the last coffee shop you went to? I have been to a lot of coffee shops. Mannies, Lindys, Millies, Macs, come to mind. Old style food. Interesting places.

16. What were you doing at 11pm last night? Sleeping or thinking about something.

17. Who was the last person you talked to last night before bed? KJ, course prayer is last. Then again I sort of think to myself for a lot of time.

18. Will you be driving in a year? Little as possible. I don't like to drive. I am on the other hand expecting to feel "driven" but then I don't need a car for that.

19. Is there anything that you are craving right now? I would like to be 5 miles into a 10 mile run. I would like to be deep into a good book. I would like to to be deep into a conversation with my best friend.

20. When did your last hug take place? MJ, Sunday.

21. Do I know why I am making up my own #21 and what is my favorite cookie and fruit, and day of the week. First off, no I don't. Then of course KJ's chocolate cookies. and a Brigham City Peach might be good. I like the Saturdays that we take a walk. The evenings that we go to Flying Star. The Sundays that we eat dinner together. Also any day that I run.

22. Have you ever started a sentence with “No offense, but. . .? No offense but this question seems odd. On the other hand as to the "intent" of that comment I very often try to think about how things sound. Need to more.

23. Do you drink tea? I don't think I have had more than a taste in my life. Dittto on Coffee.

24. Have you ever been arrested? Not in a long long time and then they might have been bluffing.

25. Have you ridden in someone else’s car today?No.

26. Have you made a mistake this past week?Of course but hopefully, not too many.

27. Who was the last person you emailed? Looking in my email, sent box I see, myself, KJ, KJ, King, KJ..................

28. Are you happy with your life right now? We have had some of the most significant blessings in our lives. I find much to be happy about. Some down moments happen too.

29. In the past 72 hours have you been under the influence? Regarding Caffeine...................I fail to see "influence" being an accurate description of too much or just enough but then "yes" is a good answer.

30. What’s the connection between you and the last person you emailed? Everything.

What you "hear" or "see" may not be fair and balanced but a tempest can be a problem.

Even so you have to do something about what you "see" or "hear" and it can be a challenge.

The world can get you down. Especially when you listen to the news. It is hard to get a "fair" review of what is going on and itt seems like we are surrounded by a "tempest" and that we are in danger of being pulled into the unknown. The source of our information changes the appearance of a problem a great deal. News from the left or the right or even the center are less accurate than just looking at the facts. News claiming to be fair or balanced may not be accurate. Sometimes the facts are staring us in the face. The scriptures report in Mark 4:37-41 of a great storm. A tempest. Many feared the unknown. Folks were scared. They awoke the master and asked if He cared. He suggested that with some faith that they had no need to fear and He calmed the storm. Answers come. Help comes. The best solution is to find the right source for help and for that matter understanding.

I have wondered a little about what the best source of "daily news" is. Those guys in the boat looked out and saw the news themselves. What they saw was very relevant to them. For them it was not an issue of "fair and balanced" but about whether the news meant a problem was at hand. Some over the years have had to fight for FREEDOM themselves and not been able to just have the storm calmed. On the other hand maybe they could have. Maybe they were sustained as they fought and that they needed to do all that they could before the calm came. Many have, like those in the boat, asked for help in faith and found it. Even in the boat those who feared were left to face that fear until they asked for help.

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Fair and Balanced is a news perception that you really find on the tube or in the paper. Reality is not balanced. It is what it is. You know what the real news is when you are inspired and concerned enough to seek help in faith and being willing to ask for a solution.

I relaxed just above the road

Yesterday I saw a bird drop down to within a foot of the road ahead. His wings seemed to lean forward as his body leaned back and then with what seemed to be on obvious increase in speed the wings worked together to hold the the body almost still while the bird looked for something. Quickly it moved to the other side of the road and then ahead, each time almost stopping in mid air for a few minutes. The rhythm of the wings and the stillness of the body seemed perfect.

I thought of that "moment of stillness" today as I reached a midpoint in my 10 mile path. I relaxed just above the road. Sometimes with a deliberate attempt, but best unplanned, come moments of "stillness". The body moves across and up the road but then comes a second when mind seems to leave the body and float. Unplanned it can be like fresh new air just arrived. As the brain inhales it loses its recollection of recent events. For a moment you can not remember where you are and what you were thinking about. Often the brief moment having left is so missed that I "reach" for it to come back. Several large breaths of air inhaled and then the last held can help. I admit to closing my eyes at those moments and then for a brief second your mind and thoughts seem to fall and become separate from, and unconnected to, your body. The fall is almost real and is emphasized as you feel your body almost stagger but all the while you, and what you perceive to be "you", seems to be somewhere else.

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Unplanned and even created highs,

to a degree while running is

a moment of stillness.

Just above the road,

energy all around

quietness within.

Are "favorites" really "hypothetical"

Men often become

“what they believe themselves to be”.

If I believe I cannot do something,
it makes me incapable of doing it.
But when I believe I can,
then I acquire the ability to do it
even if I didn't have it in the beginning."
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Favorites

Favorite President: Abraham Lincoln. His second inaugural address is the essence of a life lived and learned from. He changed. His conclusions presented in this address were born in testimony of what he knew to be right, at that point.

Favorite questions to ponder: “What if there were no hypothetical questions?”

Favorite Cookies: chocolate…………. 2 c. sugar,1/4 c. cocoa powder,1/2 c. milk,1/2 c. butter or margarine, 2 c. quick oats, 1/4 c. peanut butter,1 T. corn syrup. In heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and corn syrup; stir in milk. Add butter or margarine. Bring to boiling; boil vigorously 3 minutes. Stir in rolled oats and peanut butter. Return to boil. Remove from heat; stir until slightly thickened. Immediately drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper. Cool. Makes about 36 cookies (hint)

Favorite Singer: Dolly Parton: this could change but she will always be in the top few.

Favorite Authors: William F. Buckley Jr. His positions were thought out and anchored in real experience. I especially admired the consistency of his faith that was part of his writings throughout his life.

Favorite Boxer: Ali, I liked a lot of his quotes. “If you even dream of beating me you better wake up and apologize.”

Favorite Fruit: Raspberries win this one. Memories of eating them right off the bush are good thoughts.

Favorite Running Places: Millcreek Pipeline. Any trail that has 10 miles run behind me.

Favorite Vacation: Shakespeare Festival with “all” the family

Favorite Pizza: BBQ, usually

Favorite Grocery Store: Big store in Austin

Favorite Picture: Little Girl, Little boy, standing holding hands, kissing, together.

Favorite Gift: anything Kathy gave me

Favorite Book recently read: Einstein by Walter Isaacson

Favorite Day: today

Favorite Song: Angel, Sarah Mclachlan

Favorite yesterday : Ask me tomorrow

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Favorite verse from a poem:

And you, my father,

there on the sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Favorite verse from Edgar Allan Poe

For the moon never beams

without bringing me dreams

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

And the stars never rise

but I feel the bright eyes

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee

Favorite verse from Browning

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need

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Favorite Sport: Basketball if it is the Utah Jazz and Stockton and Malone are there.

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Favorite time of day: Mornings

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Favorite Pet: the grand cat and grand dog

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Favorite Blog: Any that Kathy does

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re inventing and reflecting

I, again, have an office. It has been 9 months. I suppose better things than this office could come from 9 months effort but nevertheless this is what I have. The two collage's on the wall added a lot of color. (story of one of them was posted a couple of days back) I understand that the tile will be changed soon. The walls will be re done. Good things compared to no office.

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Last night I watched a presentation by David McCullough the author of the book, "John Adams" . He spoke with a lot of passion about this man. It was re run from a few years back. One of the things that was interesting was to be reminded of how important Abigail Adams was to knowing John Adams and so much about this time period. John and Abigail exchanged over 1000 letters that have been preserved. John Adams frequently sought the advice of his wife on many matters, and their letters are filled with intellectual discussions on government and politics. I remember when I read the book how impressed I was with their love for each other, their marriage and her intellect.

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McCullough must have read most of the letters and seemed to know both John and Abigail well. Well enough to understand both the human side as well as the side that was so committed to doing what was right and learning and mastering all that they could while sometimes just losing tempers and making mistakes.

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The part of the office posted today of value is the pictures. Kathy and Abigail have a lot in common.............................................................