Just By Happenstance

     I'm a reasonably intelligent person. I've led a fairly moderate life and have enjoyed my share of accomplishments and suffered my share of setbacks. I've learned a lot in my fifty-something years on planet Earth, and am aware that there's a LOT more I have yet to learn. My vices are few, the worst of which is being a little opinionated, and I'm working on that one; really. I've observed some things in recent months which have really challenged my better judgment and discretion, though, to the point that I wonder if keeping my opinions to myself is necessarily healthy. Isn't America supposed to be "the land of the free and home of the brave"? How free am I if I merely tread the waters of current events, only to be carried along by their flow; how brave am I if I censor my words--spoken and written--for fear of the reactions they may arouse in others?

     My beloved avoids discussing politics, religion, money and sex--outside the embrace of our personal environment. I've always deemed them to be meaningful and utterly fascinating aspects of the human experience and legitimate fodder for enlightening dialog, but experience has taught me that to dangle my toes in those swirling waters is to risk drowning in them. He's probably right in declining to participate in such dialogs; there's no way to predict how people will respond, and a perfectly benign conversation can turn volatile in an instant. I've seen it happen and it's more than sad than scary.

     In the past twenty years or so, in the interests of open-minded consideration, I've observed some things which were brought to my attention and which, at that time, were pretty "fringe". My personal respect and regard for the person who brought them to my attention prevented me from calling the information outright nuts. Deep inside, I have to confess, I was skeptical. Then, with the passage of time, I watched as, one by one, those "fringe" events and trends played out; it has been at once a fascinating and disturbing experience.

     I suppose I am, in a way, observing my beloved's discretion in not being more specific here about what I've seen happening around me, and I wish it were out of wisdom and not apprehension; I never dreamed that, in my lifetime, I would see Americans putting up and shutting up to the extent that many are now doing. We face times more troubled than this country has ever faced before and overcoming them will require significant discomfort. The media, which we count upon to bring accurate information concerning the people and events of the day, can't be relied upon for verity and I sometimes wonder if we were told exactly what's going on around us, would we be able to handle it? Personally, my preference is that, if I'm going to be hit by a train and there's nothing I can do about it, I would rather see it coming.

     I will state for the record that I have utter contempt for the current state of the contest for the presidency of this country. The media is dishing up personalities du jour and the public is getting caught up in the feeding frenzy. Solid information backed up by indisputable facts is essential as we face one of our most important adult decisions: the one we will make in November. I won't presume to tell anyone which candidate is most qualified, most attractive, or most clever with words, nor will I express my gravest concerns about issues of veracity and integrity--there are too many of them on both sides of the fence.

     This fall I hope to be able to cast my precious vote for the person I will entrust--literally--with my life and the lives of my loved ones. I hope to be able to vote for a person I believe is best qualified for the job, not the one I mistrust less than the other.

     It's gonna be a long time 'til November.            

A Prayer for Animals

Hear our humble prayer,
O God,
for our friends, the animals,
especially for those who are suffering;
for any that are lost or deserted
or frightened or hungry.

We entreat for them all
Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them,
we ask a heart of compassion
and gentle hands and kindly words.

Make us, ourselves,
to be true friends to animals
and so to share
the blessings
of the merciful.

~Albert Schweitzer ~

I dedicate this little prayer to Nancy's "Gracie"

 and Sarah One Beam's "Janie" (the entry which follows tells of One Beam's wise decision concerning Janie's well-being).

both of whom could use a little help...

and to all critters, finned, furred, or feathered

which need a little help from the Source Of All Healing.

With love,

Marge

labor day 2008

we all came from somewhere

some from across the big water

ocean tossed, undaunted

others by land, dreaming the great dream

all prepared to work for a better life

there is dignity in human labor

nobility in commitment to a job well done

satisfaction knowing "i've done my best"

and this country was built with the blood and sweat

of hard-working men and women

no matter how you believe or what you believe

believe in something, you who labor long hours

let no one take from you the dream of the better day

let no thing deter you from holding your dreams dear

amid the struggle, never surrender your hopes

for even as storm clouds gather, ominous and threatening

and the thunder of disillusionment and conflict rumbles

human aspirations toward a better day persist

defying all odds

keeping alive the great dream

hold fast to your dreams and pass them to your children

teach them integrity, honesty, generosity, compassion

and when times are the toughest

teach them persistence, and stubborn determination

lest their dreams die

there is only dignity in the labor of honest hands

building   working the soil   healing   entertaining

educating   thinking   problem-solving

and all of us are a part of the great work

of keeping alive the great dream of our country

be true  

be imaginative

be persistent  

be brave

never give up

I wish you a peaceful Labor Day, Gentlespacers...

Respectfully,

Marge 

it's said that they are among us

watching and guiding quietly

unnoticed in the background

and that each of us has had one

from the very beginning of beginning

their work is never-ending

as bearers of inspiration

when human aspiration fails

as guides to purpose

when human motivation is lacking

i wonder at the stories

told in whispers by fortunate souls

who were touched by the extraordinary

barely believing themselves

that little miracles have taken place

i want to believe

have always wanted to believe

in tender ghostly friends

sent to watch over us

in their gentle work

but are we all not angels ourselves

seeing the troubled lives of others

the pain they suffer   the loneliness

but choosing to remain detached

our work left undone

is it easier to hope for angels

to keep doors open to them

hoping for intervention

when trouble comes to call

leaving us utterly alone

i wonder if we are the angels

and have been all along

unaware of our own powers

our potential to transform others

as we hope for transformation ourselves

how many times have i longed for it

that gentle rush of soft wings

bringing rescue and comfort to me

when my life went wrong

and wondered why i was forgotten

what if angels exist

in the goodness of the human heart

awaiting a moment of need

an opportunity to intervene

and bring light into the darkness

there are so many of us

all struggling  all searching  all so alone

waiting for angels to come

not realizing that the work of the angels

is really our own