Mirror of Life

If your heart is straight
with God, then every creature
will be to you a mirror of life
and a book of holy doctrine.

Thomas Kemps, 15th century

Of Note: Marie caught this little guy sunning himself. Looks somewhat like the Geico gecko, don't you think?

Today's Weather Report: Cloudy and in the fifties this morning. A very chilly fifty. However, now the the sun is peeking out from the clouds and the temps have zoomed to the seventies. This might even lure me outside for awhile.

Trembling With Joy

The sky and the strong wind
have moved the spirit inside me
till I am carried away
trembling with joy.


Uvavnuk, Inuit Shaman

Of Note: Marie certainly knows how to catch just the right shots with her photos. Sometimes I find it hard to believe the beauty found therein.

Today's Weather Report: Rainy day in the 50's. All the plants say "Thank You!"

Sky-like Vastness

The mind should be a vastness like the sky.
Mental events should be allowed to disperse like the clouds.

Longchenpa
Buddhist Teacher

Of Note: Marie just sent this picture this week. She said likes to take sky pictures because of a fondness for blue. I like to think about the planets, moon and stars still in the sky even though we cannot see them during the day.

Today's Weather Report: It's clouding up again after a cloudless morning. Still cool, but getting a bit warmer each day. The garden is starting to spring to life--hey, better late than never!

Buried Treasure

Words are symbols and as such
often embed information therein.
Look closely at some words,
and you will find buried treasure.


S. Schirott

Of Note: Thanks again to Marie for contributing the gorgeous part of this image. The pink card was part of a note she sent using one of her particularly colorful and well-composed photos.

Today's Weather Report: Chittering birds announce a sunshine-filled day, though chilly yet. Many green plant are emerging to meet the more frequent sun rays gracing the garden.

The Winds of Change

Once social change begins,
it cannot be reversed.
You cannot un-educate the person
who has learned to read.
You cannot humiliate the person
who feels pride.
You cannot oppress the people
who are not afraid anymore.

Cesar Chavez
1984


Of Note: Thanks, Marie, for this ethereal evening sky photo! Looks like a bird is taking off in flight.

Today's Weather Report: Cool and partly cloudy. By cool I mean 38 degrees when I awoke this morning. Burrr. This cool front is spawning tornadoes in Iowa and Minnesota when it meets the warmer, southern air. Parkersburg, Iowa was literally blown off the map by a twister 1.2 miles wide 43 miles long with winds in excess of 165 MPH.

Intelligence with the Earth

Shall I not have intelligence with the earth?
Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mold myself?

Henry David Thoreau

Of Note: Gardens in Texas are a lot further along than their Wisconsin counterparts. Marie took this verdant photo this month and shared it with me as a reminder of what is to come once summer arrives in the north woods.

Today's Weather Report: This morning opened with sunshine and upper sixties. By mid-afternoon, clouds had rolled in, a light rain fell and the temps had dropped to the mid-forties with a gusty wind.

The Path to Heart

Wholeheartedness is a precious gift,
but no one can actually give it to you.
You have to find the path that has heart
and then walk it impeccably.
It's like someone laughing in your ear,
challenging you to figure out what to do
when you don't know what to do.
It humbles you. It opens your heart.

Pema Chodron

Of Note: Marie contributes this peaceful but expressive photo. It reminds me that nature gives wholeheartedly every day without asking for anything back. This attribute is simply intrinsic in nature's beauty. Computer problems have kept me from this blog for a few weeks. Those are now more or less sorted out.

Today's Weather Report: Cloudy and cool with rain imminent. Last night we had a real thunder-boomer, but for only a short period. The dog almost crawled into bed with us. Long or short, she hates thunderstorms. The daffodils are blooming all over the yard. We will be rewarded with even more blooms after the rain.