Selecting the Greater

From two kinds of evil
select the lesser.
From two kinds of good
select the greater.

~H. Roerich

Of Note: As our consciousness evolves, we are no longer confronted with simple black and white decisions. The tests become more difficult. In front of us are two doors, each with a good behind it. Or the opposite. Which to choose? The guiding principle above could help in that time of uncertainty. After having made a few of these dicier decisions, we understand that others are confronted with the same situation. Judging others becomes much more difficult and our compassion grows. Until it fills us. And on up the ladder of evolution we climb in this most difficult school called Earth. (We might also keep this in mind when watching world leaders grapple with the many "opportunities" presented daily.)

Today's Weather Report: Can you believe since last blogging a few weeks back it is still chilly every morning? Around 34 degrees. A few mornings it has been below freezing. For some reason (probably hope not based on reality,) I put tomato and pumpkin plants out on a warmer day, forgot to cover them, and they bit the dust. So, newly purchased plants now sit inside waiting for the cold to pass. If it passes. During past chilly summers, I've worn shorts only once or twice. Hopefully, this will not be one of those. If that occurs, I might as well plant the tomatoes in pots in the house and send the pumpkin plants back to Illinois with my grandkids when they visit next week. We finally got rain starting last evening and continuing through today. Maybe even tomorrow. Rain is badly needed as this is our fourth year of drought. The dock sits askew with no water underneath. Mind you, the lake still has lots of water--it is just not near the old shoreline.

Watch For Change Snippet: Today is Great Invocation Day. The day the Christ pours out his blessings over all the world. The Great Invocation is a request or even a gentle demand that light, love and power pour forth upon the Earth, sealing the door where evil dwells. The Christ hearing this demand sends his love and light daily, but today propels an extra boost of power. With His inevitable backing and our continued striving, we are guaranteed construction following destruction. Signs of new growth can be seen already like teeny blades of grass sprouting through the scorched crust. We hope some day to have a verdant carpet.

No Inevitability, Only Possibility

History is not made by quietism
but by the historic achievement
of those who seek perfection.

Those who are self-conceited
lose the bliss of searching.
And the self-conceited are
condemned to sterility.

There is no inevitability,
there is only possibility.

~Helena Roerich

Of Note: All of us are self-conceited--even if we think we aren't. Self-conceited in this passage means self-involved in family, community and our busy lives in general. Often we give a few minutes to the spiritual side of life and forget about it the rest of the time. Ancient wisdom teaches that earthly existence is death and spiritual living is true Life. Accepting that concept as reality, we would inevitably reach our minds to the stars. In doing so, we would stand along side the Christ in bringing salvation to the world. Even now, He is gathering minds for that eventuality, that future perfection.

Today's Weather Report: It looks like rain as the clouds are dark and low. Even at temps in the 60's Fahrenheit, the air is chilly....so much so that socks were a necessity this morning. I finished the garden over our dog's grave, and it looks sparse as all new gardens do. By next year at this time, it will have filled out. I did plant a couple of pumpkin plants that over the course of the summer will take over the area. When that occurs, I'll post a picture. Seasons are short here in northern Wisconsin for pumpkin growing, but sometimes all the stars line up for a good pumpkin harvest.

Watch For Change Snippet: Our new President must know that perfection is ultimately created in action not passivity. He is certainly taking the nation on a new path--amazingly, it is letting him have this space. The financial meltdown seems to have put a damper on people's fighting mood which was so prevalent during the elections. It was like a great release went forth prior to November 4th, and now we are taking a much needed mental break from belligerence.

True Wealth

True wealth is not measured in
money or status or power.
It is measured in the legacy
we leave behind for those
we love and those we inspire.

~Cesar Chavez

Of Note: If our children were educated about "true wealth" from day one, the world would change quickly. Started at home, this education would commence with an inclusive definition of "those we love." Presently, the love of an individual might extend to family members, maybe the community and workplace. If done right, future generations will consider all humans as family and all beings as part of the community.

Today's Weather Report: A lovely day with the sun shining and little wind, though it was freezing again the pre-dawn. The newspaper officially announced the 4th year of drought which explains our lake being low. This may be just how it is for some time. Those who used to fish from the dock will not have much luck this year, unless they can catch fish in a foot or less of water. The lilypads are loving it, however.

Harnassing the Energies of Love

Someday after we have mastered the winds,
the waves, the tides and gravity,
we shall harness for God the energies of love.

Then for the second time in the history of the world,
we will have discovered FIRE.

~Teilhard de Chardin

Of Note: Love is the all-consuming fire of which Jesus spoke. In the teachings of ageless wisdom all energy is described as fire, but love provides the special fuel whereby burning fusion is possible. It is the next evolutionary step for all of us. A burning love makes all things possible. President Obama seems to know this as well. During the Notre Dame University commencement speech yesterday, he spoke these eloquent words:

"So many of you at Notre Dame--by last count, upwards of 80%--have lived this law of love through service you've performed at schools and hospitals, international relief agencies and local charities. Now you must carry the tradition forward. Make it a way of life. Because when you serve, it doesn't just improve your community, it makes you a part of your community. It breaks down walls. It fosters cooperation. And when that happens--when people set aside their differences to work in common effort toward a common good, when they struggle together, and sacrifice together, and learn from on another--ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE."

This whole document is worthy of serious reflection at www.ncronline.org/news/politics/obama-calls-understanding-respect.

Today's Weather Report: It was a strange weekend weatherwise. Early Saturday morning brought snow--not a lot, but snow nonetheless. Then the temps hovered at about 35 degrees Fahrenheit the rest of the day while wild winds made the air even colder. We were greeted Sunday morning with temps in the high twenties although by last evening it was 50 or so. Today was more moderate. The walleye fishermen who came up from Chicago thought this was just perfect weather to catch fish, and they were quite successful in that endeavor. Though, even those intrepid souls said that this was some of the coldest fishing weather they'd had in all the years they've been getting together. And that's saying something since this was at least their 30th year doing just that.

Lighter than a Feather

By united effort, let us raise
the very heavy burden.
The raising of this burden is
difficult only at the beginning.

Once it is raised off the earth,
it become lighter than a feather.

~H. Roerich

Of Note: Our destiny is to someday leave this earth and all its travails behind. But this guarantee is only in place if we learn group cooperation and tolerance in an atmosphere of loving understanding. According to an astute Teacher, peace will be the interim outcome but nothing can prepare us for the final revelation when a united man stands heart to heart and mind to mind. It has been called the "peace that passes understanding." The radiance will be blinding. Every effort to raise our brother's burden gets us one step closer. What are we waiting for?

Today's Weather Report: Who knew that this morning we'd be at 39 degrees Fahrenheit again? It's now 50 but chilly somehow. For some unknown reason 50 degrees can be either t-shirt or sweater weather. Today it is the latter. The flowers continue to smile because of the rain yesterday, which freshened everything up. But the lake continues to be way down, like last year. I can't imagine what could bring it up to its old normal except a deluge of some sort for days on end.

Invincible Summer

IN THE DEPTH OF WINTER,
I FINALLY LEARNED THAT
WITHIN ME THERE LAY AN
INVINCIBLE SUMMER.

~Albert Camus

Of Note: Winter gets a bit long here in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Sometimes it seems that it will never end. But then it does, and I can't seem to remember what snow is like. Cycling through year after year the seasons emulate the cycles of breathing. First the breath in, and the higher interlude. Then the breath out, and the lower interlude. Four parts. Four seasons. The frog, which was featured on these pages last summer, is back. I found it looking at me from the pond the other day--its head floating with its arms and legs dangling down in the water. It's glad spring has arrived so it can begin its own cycle of tadpole creation.

Today's Weather Report: Rain finally. We need it badly. The new garden over the dog's grave is now complete, and all the new plants were starved for water. Picture plants smiling and that's what the garden looks like today with the rain coming down. The five cats are not too impressed with the wet conditions, however, and can be found in piles of cats here, and there around the house. They figure they will just sleep the day away.

News You Can Use Snippet: For some reason, we did not know until now where penguins went when not breeding. That sure surprised me. We can send a man to the moon and probes to Mars but didn't know the life cycle of penguins. Turns out, after the breeding season, penguins headed out to the open sea and spent six months foraging for food. During that time they each traveled over 8,500 miles! In the last leg home, they covered an incredible 1,500 miles in one month. In our previous guesses about the beasties, we didn't even have the kind of food right or where they went--until now. The penguins cooperated with scientists by wearing half-ounce monitoring devices during their sojourn to the southern Indian Ocean where they gorged on crustaceans. This information will be important to conservationists, who have noted a decrease in the birds over the last twenty years.

The Grace to Transform

WE MUST NOT WISH FOR
THE DISAPPEARANCE
OF OUR TROUBLES
BUT FOR THE GRACE TO
TRANSFORMS THEM.

~Simone Weil

Of Note: Troubles are a gift from our soul to get us moving in the right direction. Once we know that, we are free. Not necessarily free of troubles, but free of fretting about them. Mothers in particular sacrifice themselves to transformation through troubles. Sometimes with grace, sometimes not. The umbilical cord is always attached at some level, it seems. Happy Mother's Day to all those mothers who know what I'm talking about.

Today's Weather Report: Can you believe it was 34 degrees Fahrenheit again this morning? Out came the winter clothes again, though I was comfy in the pre-worn jeans my daughter sent for Mother's Day. She and I have this interesting relationship where she gives me hand-me-down clothes, shoes, and sometimes even socks. Several weeks ago I lamented that the last jeans she provided--my all time favorites--were wearing out in the seat, and I had no idea how to replace them. (Mind you, this was no fishing expedition; I really had no idea since I hadn't bought jeans for so long.) Walla, the answer arrived in the mail Friday right in time for the cold snap. Thanks, Daughter, those last jeans were getting a bit drafty!

News You Can Use Snippet: Check out www.ponderonthis.net for an unforgetable video guided tour through the philosophy of ageless wisdom. If nothing else is gained but relaxation, that in itself would be good. But I suspect that a viewer will go away with much more than that. Supposedly, the three videos were created by a "22 year old philosophy student." Reincarnation would be the only way to explain how that is possible. But you be the judge.