As God Is

As man is, God once was;
As God is, man may become.

~Joseph Smith Jr.

Of Note: What I am about to say may be controversial, and I usually try to steer clear of controversy. However, the fact that the Entity we call God evolves as we do explains so much it cannot be ignored. The Tibetan Masters explain that all Higher Beings were at one time human and that Earth is considered the school of hard knocks. It is boot camp before moving on to levels of higher consciousness and cannot be circumvented. We are not privy to exactly why training has been set up in this way but we are part and parcel of this Plan. One day, we too will be one of these Higher Beings and will then know why. However, I suspect that we will little care because the Earthly past will be a distant memory as the future spreads before us like a prismatic horizon.

Today's Weather Report: Well, it is not snowing yet though snow flurries are still in the forecast. If all we get are a few sprinkles, the 80% chance of rain won't mean much. The garden and lake don't care what kind of precipitation; any will do. Misty is stitch free as of this morning, and Chewy's ears are up permanently. A friend said that German Shepherd's ears stand erect at three months. Chewy didn't get that memo so waited another 5 months just to prove a point. What point, we will never know. The cats are scarce downstairs since the dog's arrival but in Jim's small turret office, four cats and two gargantuan canines often cohabitate within a few feet of each other. What a sight.

Make Visible the Invisible

MAKE VISIBLE WHAT, WITHOUT YOU,
MIGHT PERHAPS NEVER HAVE BEEN SEEN.

~Robert Bresson

Of Note: The breaking news in genetic science: most people carry Neanderthal genes. That revelation surprised the scientists, who had no idea that the burly Ice Age hunters, long thought to be extinct, survive in humanity embedded in their DNA. This was the first time that a genome of an ancient human species had been reliably sequenced with no doubt that the DNA came from Neanderthals and not sloppy lab technicians. Based on this information, many have now asked whether Neanderthals can be called a separate species. Diane Ackerman mused: "It began in mystery and ends in mystery, but what a beautiful country lies in between." I would bet that when all genomes are routinely sequenced, more surprises will be in store. After all, we also carry genetic traces of worms. Some day the meaning will be revealed.

Today's Weather Report: It is partly cloudy today with an 80% chance of SNOW tomorrow. Snow, can't believe it. About this time of year, I'm ready to put on shorts, cut the grass, pull weeds and tend to my flower garden. Snow blows a hole in that plan. Misty will have her stitches out tomorrow from that attack three weeks ago. She is healing well but stays a bit closer to home that she used to. We still have no idea what got her, but a human attack is not out of the question.

This Political Lion

Have you noticed, how moving toward
a great dream summons from life's jungles
the fiercest lions, the scariest tigers
and the grizzliest bears . . .
who eventually turn out to be the noblest teachers,
the bravest guides and the dearest friends?

You're on your way,
The Universe

~ Anonymous

Of Note: Yesterday a friend and I had the privilege of attending a National Park Service event where David Obey, our northern Wisconsin Congressman, spoke. Following a standing ovation, Hon. Obey, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, commented on the announcement of his resignation he made earlier in the week. He basically said that it's been fun but time to move on after forty years of service. Looking at the picture of him above, we weren't entirely convinced that he meant it. Also in attendance were former Vice-president and Senator Walter Mondale with his wife, Joan, as well as Mrs. Gaylord Nelson and daughter Tia. In a teasing way, Tia wistfully opined that Dave has always been like a cranky uncle to her. Laughter was heard from the large audience because the venerable congressman has always been famous for his volatile temperament. All the admiring comments from these friends were tinged with a note of sadness and sounded to me like one eulogy after another. However, I have a feeling we have not seen the last of this political lion.

Today's Weather Report: Here is proof from last evening that we did indeed have snow yesterday and through the night. Snow completely covered the rocks by morning. Now, however, the sun is trying to peek out, though it is cold and in the upper thirties Fahrenheit. The two tulips seem to be taking the strange weather in stride. We will see later if they continue to bloom or retreat by wilting. The apple trees were just in the process of flowering and sometimes weather like this at this time means no apples later in the season. The apples would be missed. The daffodils and grape hyacinths are simply ignoring the disturbance.

Nothing Else To Do

The sun, with all those planets
revolving around it
and dependent upon it,
can still ripen a bunch
of grapes as if it had nothing
else in the universe to do.

~ Galileo Galilei

Of Note: Albert Einstein once said that there are two ways to look at life. One is as though nothing is a miracle, and the other as if everything is a miracle. He and Galileo should have gotten together, don't you think? Two revolutionary geniuses discussing their worldviews would have been something to hear.

Today's Weather Report: The weatherman had it right, snow is falling as we speak and has been all afternoon. No telling where it came from exactly, but we all hope it comes and goes quickly. Thankfully, few plants are up yet; so, they will not get nipped in the bud. The little apple tree I planted a few days ago is probably loving the moisture. The dogs, who went running with Jim in the snow, are completely soaked and happy. They love running more than anything, except a biscuit.

Sunshine Upon My Heart

AS THE SUN SHINES UPON MY HEART,
SO MAY MY HEART SHINE UPON OTHERS!

~The Upanishads

Of Note: The universe does not ask much from a human being. It simply asks that one human love another. If this tenet was followed, all else would flow automatically. We get in the way of the flow, however, and then things do not go according to plan. What is needed is en-light-ened leadership--literally--and it can start with each of us loving who and what comes our way. It's the connection that important: heart to heart until we are one vast chain of love. Then watch out world, things would never be the same again.

Today's Weather Report: Can you believe there is an 80% chance of rain tomorrow that may turn into sleet and snow?? We did not have the usual snow storm on or around April 1st so this must be it--on May 7th. The tulips pictured above may or may not care. I wouldn't know because these are the first I've ever had grow after many failed attempts. Last year the the bulbs came in an Easter arrangement, and I threw them in the ground after the blooms had wilted. Forgot all about them until recently. Amazingly, Chewy had tried to dig up this flowerbed not once but twice and the bulbs survived. The wagon wheels in the photo are Chewy deterrents. So far, the scheme has been successful.

Spirituality--No Penthouse of Existence

Sometimes people get the

mistaken notion that spirituality
is a separate department of life,
the penthouse of existence.

But rightly understood,
it is vital awareness that
pervades all realms of our being.

~Brother David Steindl-Rast

Of Note: Ah, spirituality. That word connotes in many minds religious experience of some sort. Thus, many people who would not identify themselves as religious do not identify with spirituality either. In fact, as the kind Brother notes above, spirituality is not an experience rather a growing awareness of a way of being. It opens the door to the Reality that Love is. What it takes to get from one revelation to the next can look messy on the outside. As a matter of fact, it can appear absolutely chaotic--but that is only an illusory appearance. Thus, as we tread the spiritual path, for in fact that is what we all are doing every day, judgment of others must be left behind for appearances can be and usually are deceiving.

Today's Weather Report: It is cloudy and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, with a slight breeze blowing. Last Friday the main dock here was hauled off as it was useless with no water under it anymore. The second dock is being replaced today by a new one that will extend further out into the lake where there is still water....and away from the gigantic snapping turtle which holed up under the old dock that was removed. This monster was 2 feet across and maybe 100 years old. Although I'd heard tales, I had never seen it until last summer. Interestingly, the small painted turtles ate the growths trailing from its back, and it could care less. Instead, it lifted its head from the water and looked curiously at my granddaughter and I, who were stationed safely on the dock. The tales it could tell!

What We Love Transforms Us

WHAT WE CHOOSE CHANGES US.
WHAT WE LOVE TRANSFORMS US.

~Jan I Richardson

Of Note: No one would argue that central to growth is a constant process of evolution. That is the meaning of the phrase Onward and Upward. What is little understood is the place that love plays in that transformation. Humanity has gotten quite far with their brains in overdrive--"technology can fix everything" is the steady mantra. But the heart is sometimes lost in the search for the material goods. What is needed to get us past this current impasse is the connection of head to heart. When that occurs, another world unfolds--one that we did not know existed. That is the world that the Christ is offering to us in revelation. It is the world of the future that is being created today as we transform ourselves through the magic of love.

Today's Weather Report: It's late and the dogs are barking at the moon, no doubt. Since last writing this blog, the two have gotten much bigger and are now quite at home. Misty, the older pooch, tangled with something two weeks ago, and it took 18 inches of stitches to close the two wounds. We will never know what or who did this to her and wish she could tell us. We do know she is not that interested in going outside without us. The spring has been temperate and today it was around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The ice went out on the lakes on March 28--one of the earliest on record. This was the first year I can remember that we did not have snow on or about April 1st. The violas pictured above are some of the first flowers to grace the garden.