Every Purpose Under Heaven

To every thing
there is a season,
and a time to every
purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
and a time to die,
a time to plant and
a time to pluck
what is planted,
A time to kill,
and a time to heal,
a time to break down,
and a time to build up.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 3.

Of Note: These biblical words perfectly sum up the seasonal cycles of a garden. These sunflowers are the last blooming reminders of the coming fall. The sun is already leaving us earlier in the day as the morning temperatures drop to the upper thirties. The garden is taking notice. On the shortest day of the year in December the sun sets at 4:30 pm! By then, the garden will be most likely covered in snow and readying itself for next spring.

Today's Weather Report: It was three years ago this weekend that I started having symptoms of blastomycosis. Little did I know how it would change my life. Hurricane Katrina was flooding New Orleans as I lay there coughing and feverish. The coming Hurricane Gustav may be a reminder of that fateful weekend. Up here in northern Wisconsin with temps today predicted in the upper 80's, you'd never guess what is going on a thousand plus miles south.

Flame of Blessing

When the all-pervading rays
of the Buddha's compassion
are focussed through the
magnifying glass of your
faith and devotion,
the flame of blessing
blazes up in your being.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Of Note: There have been many Buddha's other than the one that lived 2500 years ago. Buddha is simply the name of a type of saving Avatar, and many have walked the Earth. In this sense, Christ was a Buddha as well and was often accepted as such in the East. So, if one can only see a Buddha statue in their mind's eye when seeing the word, substitute the word Christ. The buddhic message of love and compassion is universal. Many thanks to Marie for the gorgeous Texas sunset shot used as a flaming backdrop.

Today's Weather Report: More sunshine and cool mornings. I can't remember August ever being so lovely. Then, I've never been home every day like this to enjoy it.

Faith Revisited

Faith consists in believing
when it is beyond the
power of reason to believe.

It is not enough that a thing
be possible for it to be believed.

Voltaire

Of Note: Faith is a funny thing. Ancient wisdom says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. How can faith be substance and therefore evidence? Voltaire hits on the answer above when he alludes to the fact that faith is a belief, a thought. Energy. Substance with the power to move mountains when the motive is love. Simple really.

Today's Weather Report: Last night a stealth thunderstorm moved in around 8 pm and did it dump some rain! Torrents. Today blue skies prevail with temps in the upper 70's although it started out at 40 degrees or so.

Inspirational Path

We all have the karma to meet
one spiritual path or another,
and I would encourage you,
from the bottom of my heart,
to follow with complete sincerity
the path that inspires you most.

Sogyal Rinpoche

Of Note: This tranquil photo was shot on a path through the woods by my house which is not trodden often so is lush with grass. Although this view is inspiring to look at, a real spiritually inspired path is often full of pot holes and ditches, and to a casual viewer would not make a great picture. It takes courage to step onto that path with open eyes and a heart aflame.

Today's Weather Report: Thunder awoke me around 3 am or so and somewhere between then and 7 am the rain blew in. Looks like more rain and at 62 degrees, it promises to be a cool shower. The garden is drinking it up.

Treating It Like Dirt

"With eight billion people, we are going
to have to start getting interested in soil.
We are simply not going to be able
to keep treating it like dirt."

David Montgomery
University of Washington


Of Note: This ended a great article on soil in the September 2008 issue of National Geographic. Eight billion refers to the number of people in our grandchildren's world. While the US has done pretty well--or could with technology--in the dirt department, much of the rest of the world's soil is in need of remediation. Without it, many of the dreams of self-sustaining communities will come to naught.

Today's Weather Report: Clouds, clouds and then more clouds--although for a few hours the sun peeked out to say hello. I reminded myself today that most of November is cloudy like this. The moderate temps today are NOT like November, however.

A Lover of Silence

If you love truth,
be a lover of silence.
Silence, like the sunlight,
will illuminate you
in God.

St Isaac
7th century


Of Note: These gigantic, 12 foot-tall sunflowers seem to be reaching up to the heavens. They do have a ways to go before matching their 80-foot white pine tree companion in the background, which no doubt has been into celestial communion for some time.

Today's Weather Report: Another 38 degree morning greeted us but soon warmed to the perfect 70's. The old cat, Beaner, has been sleeping on the deck in the sunshine all day. Maybe he's communing with God as well.

MIracles

MIRACLES DO NOT HAPPEN
IN CONTRADICTION WITH NATURE,
BUT IN CONTRADICTION WITH
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT NATURE.

ST. AUGUSTINE

Of Note: If you think about it, we know very little about anything. Miracles are thus the promise of what science holds in store for the future.

Today's Weather Report: It was 38 degrees this morning and is very slowly warming. That means that the porch plants will have to start coming in soon.