Truth

Today and yesterday and the day before and the week before and the month before and the year before – well – for a long time, I have been thinking about truth and the truth shaped hole in the hearts of human beings.

I have been watching things change.  When I was young, there were jobs.  It is true.  You just went out and got one.  When I was young, humans were not so separated.  Not many people lived alone.  It is true.  My husband and I both lived in our family homes until we married and moved into ‘our’ family home.  And we lived in a large city. 

My father worked very hard – too hard – to support our family.  Also true.

SIDEBAR:  Most wives did not work out of the home if there were children, and there were two and then three of us.  By the time my first child was born, women had gone out to work.  My mother had, and she loved it.  My husband’s mother had, and she loved it.  My friends all loved it.  My husband worked to support us.  I was home alone and desperately lonely, so I put my firstborn baby in day care and went out to work.  And I too loved working.  Going out to work made women happy.  This was true.

BACK TO THE POINT: 

But, gradually, gradually, we have seen a new kind of industrial revolution creeping into society – called automation.  And automation means fewer jobs for humans.  Over the last two decades, the slow and steady drumbeat of the drive for greater efficiency has fuelled the automation and roboticization of work.  But that drumbeat of progress has sped up astronomically in the last few years.  By the thousands, people are being displaced from work (many from work they love). 

This movement has been in lockstep with the gradual onset and normalization of longer periods of education... children now are registered for ‘playschool’ while they are in the womb... beginning to attend these ‘playschools’ by the age of two.  And grandparents receive photographs of graduations from kindergarten.  And the children don’t stop at the end of high school.  More education is required now than ever before.  Trade schools, colleges, universities. And much of this education is digital.  Zoom classes, googling information for assignments...

Everyone is challenged by the sheer volume of information that is out there too.  Virtually any detail of any subject is available 24/7 to anyone on the internet.  So, in this context of the expectation of more education for everyone, recent developments in Artificial Intelligence have brought even more challenges.  How can anyone be sure anything is true anymore?  Educators grade someone knowing full well it is possible to buy essays on virtually any topic on the internet.  How can you grade exams when money buys hackers who adjust marks on line.

I remember travelling in the far east decades ago before the computer age.  It was kind of a prophetic experience.   We drove through a small village.  There was very little work in the area.  There was poverty.  But people were sitting on their concrete slab ‘porches’ in front of their dilapidated homes reading newspapers -- Back when journalism, although always politically slanted, still was committed to reporting actual events... before the advent of college courses like “transformational journalism.”  But the point is, humans are always trying to find out what is  going on in the world ... they are looking for and they yearn for the truth.

Well, as many of you know, conversation and the ability to converse human to human is important to me. Now, most times when I hear from someone what the going popular opinion of the moment (the 24 hour news cycle) is, I say little if I disagree, because I don’t want to have to endure a Maoist “struggle session”.  The general attitude of the times is like the one often heard after an election from the losing party,  “We just have to find a better vehicle for our message.”  It is never said,  “They didn’t like our message.”   You only hear,  “They didn’t understand our message.”  It doesn’t matter if the message is the truth or not... someone higher up decided this was the ‘stump speech’ and everyone is obligated to repeat it.

Anyway, since it seems likely there will be less and less work for most people as we stumble into the future, I think that a different kind of conversation is going become more popular.  I think I sense a new fresh wind blowing through the world.   It will probably start in academia – they do have a history ( spotty though it may be) of searching for truth.  But, because of essays for sale, marks easily hacked, artificial intelligence freely available and a coming plethora of robots, human beings are going to be learning differently.  How can I find out if indeed you know what I taught you?  Oral exams.  Yes, face to face exams in person.  Person to person will be the only way to guarantee truth.  Questions will be asked and answers will have to be given.  There will be requests for clarification and rewording of responses.  Examples will need to be provided.  Facts will be spoken.  Ooooh this sounds just too wonderful.  I will have to settle down.

And it will soon be part of everyday life.  As mentioned, since it is very likely there will be far less work available for everyone, humans will have a lot more time on their hands to do actual listening to one another ... to risk learning from one another ... to have real conversations with one another.  Listening, testing what is said, asking for facts, requesting sources and taking the time to check them out... We just may be on the road again to seek out truth – in order to fill that truth shaped hole in our hearts. 

Advent waiting...

Each day is shorter. And the sun is lower. So beautiful.

Two of the Loves of My Life

Two of the loves of my life are my husband and the sea.

They say if you are lucky enough to live by the sea, you’re lucky enough. Amen.

Team Issues vs. Entropy

Today I was thinking about how, in this physical world, decline and destruction is inevitable. Our sun will eventually burn out.

But not too long ago, I was walking through the parking lot of a large apartment complex when a rather delapidated vehicle caught my eye. The rusty bits - and gaping holes - were held together here and there with duct tape. Good rubber though! The truck was obviously in use as some kind of tradesperson’s ride. Perhaps it belonged to the contractor. There were all kinds of bits and pieces of construction materials in the back… electrical wire, plumbing pipes, screws, nails, tools and even a couple of shingles.

And cigarette butts. I used to smoke. You could always count on a cigarette to do exactly what it advertised it would do. It never let you down. Of course it was killing you little by little, but it did not let you down. There were never any ‘team issues’ with the cigarette.

But on the rear bumper right above the trailer hitch, there were carefully applied large letters spelling “Team Issues.” It made me laugh. I had to grab a photo.

I stumbled onto that photo this evening. I did a little research and found that “Team Issues” is a hot topic today. And I also found out that one of the major indicators of “Team Issues” is that ”too much time is spent on damage control” (thank you ”Thoughtfulleader.com”). Now this particular vehicle certainly did not have very much time or effort spent on damage control. Maybe the owner was acquainted with the concept of ‘entropy’ and knew it was futile to put up any kind of a fight anymore because of the current state of the truck. We all know that “rust never sleeps.’

Mirriam-Webster has a few ‘senses’ for defining ‘entropy’ but I think this one describes it best for this context:

“2a: the degradation of the matter and energy in the universe to an ultimate state of inert uniformity… Entropy is the general trend of the universe toward death and disorder.”

With respect to the vehicle itself, it was certainly heading in that direction. But in the clean, new “Team Issues” lettering on the bumper, we have evidence of a ‘still small voice crying in the wilderness.’

Just look at the application of the lettering. Large sans serif, bold, golden letters - straight line - decent kerning. Some effort was certainly expended here. This person knows the truck will die. But this person has a sense of humour and hope. It’s all about the people. There will always be “Team Issues.” So let’s all acknowledge that even though we are operating within a general context of ‘entropy,’ this should not prevent us from concentrating on fixing what we can fix in the here and now.

Studio Result

The best colour for today is a Liquitex Professional Heavy Body Acrylic - Indian Yellow.    Sometimes I forget about concentrating on fixing what is in the here and now. And then the bright yellow sun, or bright yellow sunshiny letters remind me to just get back to work.

The New Atheism

Today I was thinking about philosophy... the love of wisdom.

As I googled around, I became quite depressed as it seems in order to be a philosopher today, it is necessary to be an atheist.

But I puttered a bit more and came upon a refreshing thinker (who is an atheist) and I encourage you to check out The Philosopher's Beard at philosophersbeard.org. 

He rightly explained that today's atheist is really an evangelical atheist -- a believer in the creed of atheism.  I was delighted to discover I am not the only person in the world who is drowning in 'isms.' 

AND ... the author of this Blog writes essays - a delight!  

Here is an excerpt from the April 2014 essay entitled,  "Why I am not an atheist"  

Quoted from the philosophersbeard.org Blog:

New Atheism's scientism may be explicable, even understandable, as the kind of reactionary position one falls into, exhausted, after endless rounds of debating evolution with creationists. Nevertheless it is a very silly posture to end up in: a defensive crouch. Just because the natural sciences disprove many claims by religionists about how the world works doesn't mean that only the natural sciences can speak truth. It doesn't mean that one can actually get along with just the objective knowledge of matter in motion provided by physics, or determine the moral status of foetuses with the findings of developmental biology alone. Rejecting the broad but blinkered understanding of the world provided by religion only to lock oneself into the deep but narrow perspective provided by science doesn't seem particularly rational to me. Even most philosophers of science - who still think physics is awesome - have long since dropped this worshipful attitude towards the scientific method.

Studio Result

The best colour for today is a Daniel Smith's "Undersea Green."    Although I often find myself "drowning in isms,"  the transparency of the green lets me see some hope through the murk.

"Think people!!"

Conversation Redefined

Today I am thinking about conversation and the demonization of dissent.

We hear a litany of truisms every day.

Proportional representation is good.  Buying 'local' is good.  Generic versions of prescription drugs are good.  Big pharmaceuticals are bad.  Genetically modified food is bad.  Case closed. 

The media is a great developer and supporter of new truisms.  I was surprised to hear of a course in a journalism college called 'Transformational Journalism.'  But there we are.  Early on, potential truisms are often called 'issues.'   Potential truisms gradually garner support from concerned and interested individuals who listen and believe.  The truist is born.   And the truist must act. 

How many of us have heard a recent convert say,  "What can I do about this?   I must do something!"  So they begin to gather like-minded people together in order to 'do something good.'

We have all heard the dreaded invitation,  "We need your support!"

What truists really mean is,  "We expect your support!"

If anyone approached by a truist has a differing opinion about a truism, the offer of a clarifying and informative 'conversation' ensues.  "Oh, you aren't on board yet?  No problem.  We should have a 'conversation.' " Or, "I would love to have a 'conversation' with you about this!"

Of course, after a reasonable amount of time participating in this 'conversation,' it becomes ever more clear that there is a tacit expectation that you will eventually 'understand.'

I don't know, but I suspect many of you are like me. 

When invited to participate in a 'conversation' about 'the issues,' I grope wildly for ways to head the 'evangelist' off at the pass because I have had no success in having any dissenting point of view regarding a new 'truism' heard - ever!  I remember how shocked a person was one day when I declined the opportunity to sign a petition.  "But, this issue is crucial!  We need your support.  Do you need to know more about it?  Here, I have important information for you."  I did not agree with the truism contained in the petition, but the 'conversation' was beginning. I pathetically said,  "Actually, I don't sign petitions." And I escaped.  I admit I was a coward.  I am not proud of what I did.   But no one wants to be singled out and potentially publicly shamed for not supporting the truist and their truism.

On the surface it looks like I might be saying that today, truism and the truist using the 'conversation to conversion method' wins.

Not at all.  I am saying that this invitation to 'conversation' with a view to 'conversion' is not unifying and life-giving.  This method is divisive and destructive.

How many dissenters, offered the opportunity to participate in a project based on a truism and promoted by a truist, simply say,  "Maybe - let me think about it," even when they have no intention of supporting the project?

How many dissenters become so anxious, they are even driven to lie, for example, when they sign the petition in order to avoid having the 'conversation,' even though they have no intention of supporting the cause?

And of course -

How many projects crash and burn because the 'assumed' support for the proposed activity was not material?

In the context of truisms, the word 'conversation' has lost it's meaning.   'Conversation' now means 'conversion'  - which we all try to avoid like the plague.

The respect for differing opinions is indeed a lost value today.

The demonizing of dissent by truism and truists is a great evil. 

It has made the mutual exchange of ideas - conversation - impossible.

And that makes it very, very difficult to get anything done well.

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is a reassuring Cobalt Turquoise.

We collect things because our hearts are empty

Today I am thinking of Canada ... and remembering how it all started for me.

 My family was poor.  My father worked at two jobs saving and saving and saving.   My mother worked hard too.  We lived in a 'skid' shack.  It was one room with a divider - a living area and sleeping area. I remember it was a very small room.  You had to be careful not to stub a toe or whack a shin.

We had lots of food because my mother's family had farms.  We had lots of warm clothes for the winter and light clothes for the summer because our relatives gave us "hand me downs."  We had twelve close neighbours in a circle.  We all lived in the same small one room shacks.  We shared two pit toilets with our neighbours.  We shared one water well with everyone... moms and dads pumping water as needed.

I was very young.  I didn't think anyone else lived any differently.  I took a school bus to a one room country school.  An older girl taught me to print by making letters in the frosty condensation on my black lunchbox.  It was fun.

When I look back at precious photographs that were only taken at family gatherings, on holidays, on our 'first day of school' or on our birthdays, I see happy, smiling faces with everyone wearing starched, ironed clothes and polished shoes.  My mother used a washboard.  Monday was laundry day.  I remember frozen sheets coming in off of the clothes line, sheets that smelled like heaven to me ... although we were not church people.

In the backgrounds of the photographs, I see the grinding poverty.  I see clapboard covered here and there with peeling, faded wall paper.  I see lovingly crocheted doileys covering threadbare second hand sofas and chairs.  I see jack frost gloriously painting the leaky windows.  I remember my father scraping all of the bubbled and peeling paint off of the clapboard outside of the house every summer... right down to wood.  And I remember him repainting our little house.  Every year.

In my mind, I remember Saturday night baths.  I see my mother putting the galvanized square tub in the centre of the living area.  I see my father going out and coming in, going out and coming in, going out and coming in... bringing buckets of water for my mother to warm on the stove.  I see the steam pouring from the tub as 'pickling pot' after 'pickling pot' (the largest pot we had) of boiling water was dumped into the tub until it was full.  I remember immersing myself in the warm (not too hot) water and being soaped and rubbed.  I remember being dried and kissed and hugged.  And I remember my mother putting fresh pajamas on me.  And I remember sitting on my father's knee for a bed time story - he told wonderful stories.  And I remember my mother tucking me into my cosy bunk bed.

Once when my baby sister rolled out of her bunk and fell onto the floor, I pretended I was asleep.  My mother picked her up and comforted her and tucked her back into bed.  The lower bunk used to be mine until she came along.

I think people ask for and expect too much today.  All of that stuff is so hard to keep track of.  The insurance alone will kill you.

"We collect things because our hearts are empty."

                              -  The Heart of the Enlightened  by Thomas Merton

Studio Result:

The best colour for today - for Canada Day 2012 - is Red!

Good Friday

 

Evil versus "I have done all I could do".... or ... The Reality of Freedom and of Evil

Today I am thinking about Mary.    The Mother of God. 

Mary must have been worried, concerned and probably sometimes even disappointedwith how things were going for her Son Jesus. As her life with her Son progressed, she probably mused about evil from time to time ... and how to protect her child from evil.

I know I do.

I am a mother.   I pray for only the best for my children. "Deliver them from evil."   Of course, sometimes the answer to my prayers is "no."   And this reality is very difficult.  Evil exists.  Children get hurt.  Children get introuble. 

Like Mary, I don't pretend to understand these things ... but, like the Mother of God ... like most mothers ... I treasure these things in my heart while living my own life.  Have I done all that I could do?  That is the question.

In this world, not all problems have solutions.  Evil exists.  We know this.  We see it every day.  Not everything can be fixed.  It's sad, but not hopeless.  We are free to act, and react.  We are free - but our freedom is constrained both by reality and by the reality of evil.

Today is Good Friday ....

Look what we did to Jesus.  A healer, a teacher, a good man.  Mary's Son.  

I have just re-read Our Lady of the Lost and Found by Diane Schoemperlen.  I finished the book today,  on Good Friday.  I may read it again this time next year.

Here is a slice:

"Maybe the question of evil is the central mystery of existence, even more fundamental and pervasive than that other ubiquitous question:  What is the meaning of life?  Maybe these two questions are so inherently entwined as to be inseparable. "

She has something here!  Freedom is real.  Evil is real.  The meaning of life is to understand that you live only your own life.  So, choose only paths that are life-giving, realizing that these paths will not be easy. 

Studio Result: 

The best colour for today is Blue - any Blue!

A Sign of the Times: The Death of Conversation

Today I am thinking that we can at least partially blame the invention of the printing press for the death of conversation.   We are surrounded by signs telling us both what to do and how to do it --  signs that give us 'information' that is really unsolicited advice.  I know signs are meant to be helpful, to ensure our safety, etc. etc. -- but so many signs?  Do we really need all this advice?

Conversation:

Oral exchange of sentiments, oservations, opinions or ideas.

­Advice:

 Recommendation regarding a decision or course of conduct.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary

I saw a sign that said,  "Could you please try and not let the door bang as you enter and exit the building."   A simple conversation between people might have led to a solution for an obviously disruptive door banging situation.... but no.  Easier to just post a sign -- to give advice.  The tone in "try and not let the door bang" sounds like there might be some unfinished business along the path to a solution....

Lately, I have been experiencing a distinct change in the temperament of society.  All and sundry seem to believe they have the right to impose advice.  And, it is no longer a requirement to be polite.  There seems to be a 'no holds barred' attitude empowered by political correctness pervading most communication.

Sadly, I find that more often than not,  a conversation consists of an offer of and then a defense against  unsolicited advice.

I find it wearing and wearying to be barraged with advice more or less constantly. Increasingly, I find myself in a quandary, both longing for and, at the same time, dreading social situations.  This is a great shame.   I'm sure I am not alone.

Recently, I was in a group of people and mentioned a minor ailment - an aside really - and despite begging and pleading with a group member,  "Please, don't give me advice... please no...,"  the person simply had to do so.  My choice in such a situation was to sit in uncomfortable silence until the advisor was finished and thank her or to interject periodically in my defense.  Neither option is 'conversation.'

And even more recently,  I was in a group where each individual felt they had to give a detailed account of how they overcame a great obstacle (an obstacle I currently face) --  four people, 10 or so minutes each --  it was exhausting.   The plethora of advice on how I could 'overcome' was dizzying

Opportunities for real conversation these days don't exactly abound so I'm a lot out of practice.

So, horror of horrors, last night, while entertaining, I found myself offering unsolicited advice instead of participating in an "oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions or ideas."   

Unfortunately, advice givers -- including me --  are woefully unaware their evangelical effortsdisguised as conversation contribute in an insidious way to an increasing alienation between individuals and groups in society.

So I will have to do better.   And it's simple.

One of the wisest people I ever met sagely counseled:

  "Never give advice... especially when someone asks for advice!"

That way, you can enjoy a real conversation.

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is Rose Madder Genuine.ubmitted by connie on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 15:50

Marauder to Pioneer - It's a Journey!

Today I am thinking about how I usually have a theme that I'm struggling with but I think this image pretty much tells the whole story.

And  the best thing is that it is written in stone.

Interestingly enough, I run into this all of the time.  

There is a call for volunteers.  You join the organization, you offer to volunteer, you have an idea ... you find out - almost always in a very indirect way -  that the organization is quite happy with its 'organization' thank you very much. What we need is someone to carry on our fine traditions.  

Change is difficult. It takes time for preconceptions of you to change from Marauder to Pioneer. 

"When you feel how depressingly slowly you climb, it's well to remember that Things Take Time."    Grooks by Piet Hein

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is an optimistic Cadmium Yellow but we will keep it a "Light" for now (don't want to be too optimistic - patience, patience, patience).

Green with Envy

Today, I am thinking about jealousy.

I had an interesting experience. During a lighthearted banter with someone, her final retort was, “the Lord your God is a jealous God.” It was a signal the conversation was over.

But it really caught my attention.   So I did some digging.

There’s lots of talk in research about how the ‘jealous’ God is like a faithful and passionate bridegroom that watches over his betrothed.  So if he is jealous – it’s a ‘good’ and righteous jealousy.

Other writings concentrate on differentiating jealousy from envy and how jealousy is usually good but envy is almost always bad.

Others spoke of the Hebrew word having been mistranslated into English - it really means zealous.

Still others emphasized the importance of taking into account the culture and context of the time when the words were originally written:

“God’s attributes… tell us something about the feelings, yearnings, and customs of the people during whose lifetime they are ascribed to him.  The texts, which in the Old and the New Testament were culled from a doubtless much greater number of extant texts, belong to societies that disappeared long ago….”

Hildegard Baumgart   “Jealousy – Experiences and Solutions”, 1985

So ‘jealous God’ could be interpreted in different ways.

All I know for certain is that in our post-post-modern world, although I often hear people quoting from the Bible to emphasize their points, it is the ‘literal’ meaning of the text that is most often used.  Curious, because paradoxically, our current western intelligentsia is adamantly anti-‘literal.’  

Fundamentalism, accompanied by a literal interpretation and understanding of ancient scriptures, is the second greatest fear of our age (the greatest fear being ‘aging’ itself).

Funny hey?

The majority of Western literature we are asking today’s students to learn about is grounded in a culture of Christian thought.  But we do not teach about Christian thought in our public schools.  And religious studies courses are optional courses in our universities.  So how are those who study, or more importantly, those who teach, to interpret the text beyond a ‘literal’ understanding?  

As it stands,  all we expect people to know at present is that a “jealous God” is a bad God. 

After all, everyone knows that ‘jealous’ is bad.

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is Sap Green.

Lost!

Today I am thinking about how I'm lost.  But I know I am not alone. 

My feelings were hurt today.

I want to contribute.  To help to make the world a better place. 

I try, but I find I often cannot make myself understood.

I cherish opportunities to meet with those who have different ways of thinking.

I want to talk and discuss, to share and learn, to understand.

But ....

Maybe not....

Time to go back to the desert.

"Sharp teeth are intended to eat meat, but we have only two sharp teeth. 

 That means that we're supposed to eat mostly vegetables and very little meat."

 -  "Factory Girls"  Leslie T. Chang

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is mud.

Submitted by connie on Mon, 02/07/2011 - 22:12

Expert Opinions

Today I am thinking about opinions.

Today I was asked my opinion on an issue - public school education...  how to fix the system.  It's a big topic in the news these days.  Now, I am not an educator.  Most of what I know about public school education is what I have learned through personal experience... my own education... the education of my children... educational experiences shared with me by others... that's about it.

I find it exhausting that everyone is expected to have an opinion on everything.  In order to have an opinion, you need to prepare, to find out about the topic.  You should do research.  You should think about it.  Ideally, you should discuss the topic with others and then finally come to a conclusion.  That takes a lot of time.

But this 'expectation' that you 'must' have an opinion is so pervasive that we are subliminally coerced to express opinions on pretty much everything despite the fact that in most cases we are woefully unprepared to state our case.

Or overprepared....

I remember I had an ailment of some kind that required medical attention.  I made an appointment with my doctor.  And then I prepared for the appointment by doing copious amounts of research and arriving at a probable diagnosis.  The doctor issued me into the examining room and said, "What is the problem?"  And I told her.  I explained everything very carefully including the onset and progression of the symptoms as well as the probable diagnosis.   After I was finished, she said,  "That sounds pretty good to me, I think you probably have it figured out."  I felt quite pleased with myself. 

Then she said,  "You don't mind if I have a look, do you?"

After you have invested so much time and effort developing your opinion  -  done so much work that you are satisfied your opinion is correct  -  you run the risk of forgetting you are not the expert.

There's where the danger lies.

Socratic Intellectualism is not so popular today in our climate of suspicion of everyone and everything... but perhaps there is some wisdom here:

"...Only a fully accomplished expert in any field who can claim knowledge or wisdom of that field ... can train others to do the same...."

         -  The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Second Edition

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is Quinacridone Gold.

Submitted by connie on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 16:16

Chilling

Today I am thinking about gifts.

I fear the very concept of 'gift' is in peril.

I have been thinking about giving gifts and gift giving in general.  We really only know we are alive, truly alive, when we give and accept.  Without coercion.

The giving heart seems to be part of what it means to be fully human.  We are programmed to give, to offer... accepting is more difficult though.  Remember how you felt when you received that unexpected kindness - that special gift... humbled, surprised, thankful, noticed, singled out, uncomfortable even... .

Today, I gave a ride to someone who needed help.  I felt good - glad to do it.   The person seemed so surprised though - that anyone would go out of their way to do something for them - reluctant to accept and at the same time very glad to be helped.

This led me to muse about giving and then about poverty ...  the lack of something ....

In current culture poverty is being gradually redefined.  Poverty is now applied to all areas of human existence. Here is a list I found that is like many others:

There are seven poverties that are affecting us: 

Economic poverty: lack of food, clothing and shelter

Bodily poverty: lack of health and hygiene, malnutrition

Mental poverty: lack of thinking and education

Cultural poverty: lack of cultural activities and practices

Spiritual poverty: lack of mental peace and feeling of brotherhood

Political poverty: not casting one’s vote, lack of development

Societal poverty: lack of unity and neighborliness

                  Bhagavatula Charitable Trust © 2006

 Public policy and people of good will are moving us in the direction of a 'just' society, one that will guarantee the right to alleviation of every kind of poverty.  This is a noble goal.

We do want all to lack nothing - to have enough. 

But, there are consequences to every action, and often these consequences are unintended.

Let us assume that we have achieved this goal.  Our 'just'  society has decided that freedom from all kinds of poverty is a simple human right.  This is good.

Even better, we have found ways for our 'just' society to guarantee these rights to all.

The unintended consequence of this achievement, noble in intent, is that giving becomes unnecessary - even frowned upon.   We cannot give something to someone who is entitled to it.  We cannot receive something as a gift if we are entitled to it.

So now a wall has been inserted between human beings, between the giver and the receiver.  The very laudable goal to stop every kind of poverty - to fashion a more human and 'just' society has eradicated the only real connection between human beings - gift and reception. 

A child's,  "Can you tell me a story?" becomes,  "It's story time." 

Chilling. 

So, I give these musings to you while I am still allowed to give.

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is Titanium White.

Water

Today I am thinking about water.  

It is raining and drizzling and wet and late autumn.

There is a little bridge over a winter creek that I must cross to reach my studio.  When I was thinking about building this bridge, I thought a slightly elevated and curved profile would be more lovely to look at.  It was summer.  And it was dry.  

Now it is almost winter - and everything is watery.  The creek is roaring along nicely under the pretty curved bridge.  But the bridge is very slippery - wet cedar. 

I should have built a flat bridge. This grates on me. 

"The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to.  It is content with the low places that people disdain.  Thus it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground.  In thinking, keep to the simple...."  Tao Te Ching Translated by Stephen Mitchell

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is Ultramarine Blue Deep.

The whole world is groaning for a map with a clear pathway to peace

Today I am thinking about pathways to war and pathways for peace.  

Locally:

Today, I tried to explain myself during a discussion and found myself becoming angry - I felt the anger rising in my target zone - my gut.  Then I felt the familiar movement of anger from "fight" to "flight" - I felt a need to flee - I wanted to be anywhere but there.  I wanted peace but I wanted it cheaply.

Globally:

"The real problem of war is ... in the instinct for violence and for resort to force which has become inveterate in the human race.  Is this something that man can learn to change?  If so, how does he go about it?  What should he do?  Where should the study of this dreadful problem begin?  Who can say?  Perhaps our first problem is to get rid of the illusion that we know the answer...."   Thomas Merton,  "Love and Living"

Studio Result:

The best colour for today is Red Ochre.

Day of the dead

 My tall blonde Dad serving food in World War II - Daniel Kroshewsky (d. 2000).

 May he rest in peace.

Showings

Today, the traffic is heavy.  I am running late.  I miss the ferry.

Now everything must be reprogrammed, rearranged, reassessed, reprioritized.

The heron catches my eye.  Reality.

I remember "... and you will see yourself that every kind of thing will be well."   Julian of Norwich, "Showings"

Studio Result:

Paynes Grey is the best colour for today.

This is what I saw today or on a day just like this ...

Today I saw someone. I have a history with this person and that history is not "life-giving" for me. My heart is so tired of struggle and sorrow.

"We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer."

Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison

Today I was very much looking forward to being alone. I worked very hard last week and weekend.

I slept late. I awoke to the sunshine. And then everything flooded into my brain. All the appointments and undone work.  I would like to go to the desert and rest.

"Through the Thou a person becomes I." Martin Buber, Ich und Du (1926).

Studio Result:

Hansa Yellow is the best colour for today.