Life as acceptance. People, places and things are exactly how they are meant to be. Breathe in Breathe out.
Since I wrote this we have been having some tough times.
Some times it takes all we have to keep from getting some kind of down and bummed out. It has not killed us, so I reckon we are stronger for it. Now I forget what the hard times were about. Lately for sure money but what else was there --- not a danged thing.
Watering Chores
Glad I had a tree and some lemonaide
It is kind of a lazy dog days afternoon and my boy and I were out cleaning the house and yard. When you get in a drought like this you still gotta clean things off because they are just heavy laden with garbage from soot to pollen. So we are busy squirting each other and getting all sort of soaked when these two brothers drop by. Jehovah’s witnesses to be precise. O’ golly we gave them some drink and stuck ‘em under our Juniper shade trees and spoke of how my wonderful roses were like the garden of Jesus. We laughed and spoke of troubles preaching and we talked about the core concept of love for one another. They said they would like to drop by my church and I will drop by theirs. There was no clumsiness or debate over doctrines and protocols. They spoke of a Pilipino ministry and I spoke of my Vietnamese. If we preach Love why would we not get along.
I put blinders on I suppose and trudge forward like every buddy loves me.
I do not for one minute enjoy, accept or even approve of their style. I do not care for their strict adherence to dogmatic doctrine that restricts individual happiness and joy. And I assume, them not mine. That is so cool. We found on this hot august day that we had things in common. That we could share some lemonade and the shade of a fine tree. That we could agree our ministry and our God were ones of Love.
How can two different views find a together? How could we enjoy each other’s company? Why can we share drink and food and only come away with a better more real understanding of ourselves through another who is different?
Then we “migrated” to the back yard only to find what appeared to be a small Monarch, with a fairly deep rust colored tint. So much to understand about this creature. Certainly not to hurt it or catch it. But not to be afraid of either. Perhaps forge a friendship. For over twenty minutes my son played with that beautiful example of nature. Approaching, backing off, approaching, flying off, a plate of water, a drop of honey, backing off, getting within 3 feet, holding steady, talking gently. So I went back an hour later and the butterfly was still landing and what seemed to be watching my son.
How two different species find a together? How could we enjoy each other’s company? Why can we share food and drink and only come away with a better more real understanding of ourselves through another who is different?
Peace and acceptance among all men.
I just went ahead and gave up Eric's agenda and got into people
There I was back in about 1999 in a foreign communist country. I had spent a year diagnosing, prognosising and anthropolizing this country. I had studied the language the nuances and the business dealing foreplay that is so crucial. I could name the country’s presidents and I knew the exact capacity and integrity of the business I was there to discuss. But goodness I am a card carrying free enterprising Jesus freak about as far from communist as Reagan.
The man sat there and pontificated. He sat and warned me, he sat and chastised my nation. I complimented his. I quoted from his declaration of independence. I quoted from his founding fathers and I quoted his Country motto. And we agreed to meet for dinner and to talk more in the following days about our mutual goodwill. The man remains my friend.
How two different cultures find a together? How could we enjoy each other’s company? Why can we share food and drink and only come away with a better more real understanding of ourselves through another who is different?
Seems the Piute, around 1880 accepted living with Christians
Please sing something that connects us, and think how much better you could have written this than me.
So I reckon me and my son and the Jehovah witnesses were just carrying on an old family tradition. It ain’t what separates us, it is what brings us together. It is not about the wrongs it is about the rights.
I am fairly unwashed on the poetry thing but I’ll try again.
Winter Storms and huge seas may seem to separate us
Warm hearths and family connect us
Finances and law separate us
Weddings and funerals connect us
Liturgy and ceremony separate us
Prayer and song connect us
Money and things separate us
Heat and thirst connect us
I reckon I am just happy to have weddings and funerals and warm hearths and family and heat and thirst. I suppose I am ready steady to give thanks for my little guy to share it with. Can I get an Amen?!
Seasons Change and water flows. Way Cool!
