At the Turning Point

Desire change. Be enthusiastic for that flame
in which a thing escapes your grasp
while it makes a glorious display of transformation.

That designing Spirit, the master mind of all things on earth
loves nothing so much in the sweeping movement of the dance
as the turning point.

~Rainer Maria Rilke
Sonnets to Orpheus: II, 12 (Stanza 1)

Of Note: Spring is finally showing her colors, at least in Texas. Marie sent this view from her churchyard last week. Soon, we will be seeing the same in northern Wisconsin--though "soon" may be a month or more. The change presented by spring is so showy, so grandiose. Over the top, really. I revel in the abrupt transformation every year and know that incrementally more beauty is manifested each year. Not only in my garden but all over the globe. Some may not believe that because of the apparent discord on Earth at the moment. But the Indomitable Spirit can only go one direction in the dance and that's upward and onward.

Today's Weather Report: Alleluhia, it's 50 degrees today! Yesterday as well. For some reason, in the middle of winter, it seems that warm weather will never arrive. But each year it does. Our brains have a way of fooling us that way. More of the same is expected for the next few days so a look-about in the garden will probably be in order--though, nothing but the chives will be peeking out of the ground yet.

News You Can Use Snippet: A minister in Kansas City is on a mission. His program, A Complaint Free World Inc., is distributing purple bracelets that teach people how to end their complaining. Folks are responding enthusiastically and 6 million have been distributed to date. How does the program work? Very simply. If a person finds themselves complaining while wearing the bracelet, they have to switch it to the other arm. The goal is to go 21 days without a switch. Of course, it's not easy to break the all-to-human habit of complaining, but the program sponsor finds it can be done. The secret? New habits can be formed with 21 to 28 days of practice. So like anything else, it's practice, practice, practice. The enterprising minister is also sponsoring a complaint-free cruise next month and a complaint-free trek to Tanzania this summer to build a birthing center. He summed it up this way: " In good times, people often take for granted what they have, and whine about what they don't have. Bad times make people more grateful."