Since my retirement one of my projects is to re-read some of the classics I read while in college. I just finished REPORT TO GRECO by Nikos Kazantzakis. What a gift that book is. He writes of his tumultuous life "wrestling with God" and when talking with his friend, Zorba speaks of the universe following a "divine rhythm. Seeds in the ground, birds, stars,--all obey. Only man lifts his hand in rebellion and wants to trangress the law and convert obedience into freedom. This is why he alone of all God's creatures is able to sin. To sin--what does that mean? It means to destroy harmony." I think the world is full of sinners today.
I travelled to Torrington (a town in southeastern Wyoming) to visit Heartland Biocomposites (http://www.heartlandbio.com/) where they re-cycle plastics to make fencing which is stronger then wood and has a lifetime warrenty. What a neat thing! We would like to start a recycling project here in Casper to supply Heartland with the plastic they use, and are doing the research to get that done.
I attended a book signing at Casper College over the week-end. The author is Lynne Cheney, the wife of the vice-president. The book title is BLUE SKIES, NO FENCES. It is about her life growing up in Casper in the 40's and 50's. I was one year behind her in school and our lives are similar in that regard. I remember Dick and Lynne in high school. Dick was Darth Vador even back then, quiet, surrounded by his group, not reaching out much and powerful behind the scenes. Lynne was always friendly and felt comfortable talking to everyone. I went, feeling I was at a conservative love fest, mainly because I love Wyoming history. Her book brought back many memories of a simpler time. All of us are connected, even if we don't much want to acknowledege it.
Pax Tecum
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
October
If you ever wondered what Fall is all about, (you in Houston or Phoenix might question it), you need to be in Wyoming now. This morning the sun looks crisp, frost covers the roofs of houses, and the mountain sends her message: get ready, things are about to change in a big way. I love October. It's a transitional month, taking our hand, leading us from the heat of summer into the stark coldness of Winter. I love Wyoming. This beautiful place where nature speaks to you in the warmth of the sun, in vivid colors, in falling leaves, and in crisp fall mornings. You know that days ahead of searing cold winds and blowing snow and harsh sunlight will be here all to soon.
This special place speaks to us and prepares us for what's ahead. It's comforting to know that despite the hard winters, nature is predictable in the changing of the seasons. We know what's coming, so button down the hatches, stock-pile the pellets and get ready! Were that man made situations could be as comforting. Issues of our making such as war, injustice, poverty and the many other problems we perpetuate change in a heart-beat without warning or preparation.
Why can't we take a lesson from the seasons?
Pax Tecum
This special place speaks to us and prepares us for what's ahead. It's comforting to know that despite the hard winters, nature is predictable in the changing of the seasons. We know what's coming, so button down the hatches, stock-pile the pellets and get ready! Were that man made situations could be as comforting. Issues of our making such as war, injustice, poverty and the many other problems we perpetuate change in a heart-beat without warning or preparation.
Why can't we take a lesson from the seasons?
Pax Tecum
Monday, September 24, 2007
TIME LAPSE
There is a wonderful poem I have treasured since college days. It was written by Mary Jean Irion. I want to share it with you.
"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savor you, bless you, before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so. One day I shall dig my fingers into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky, and want more than all the world your return."
Our lives were suspended from the middle of August until the middle of Sept. My husband's sister, Cathy, developed a massive infection and literally fought to her death. She existed in ICU units in two cities for a month. Spending a month in ICU as an observer is an education in itself. The heros were family members who found out they could become advocates, effective and vocal, for their loved one. And nurses. I am one. But the profession I spent 40 years in reinforced my commitment to it. They were strong advocates for patients unable to speak for themselves.
But more important than all of that was the dignity of the human spirit. We, who were allowed to be present to the most important journey Cathy ever made, marvelled at her strength, at her presence in the moment, and her final total acceptance. I am not the same person I was last month. My gift in that time lapse was the stark reality of that glorious normal day!
Pax Tecum
"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savor you, bless you, before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so. One day I shall dig my fingers into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky, and want more than all the world your return."
Our lives were suspended from the middle of August until the middle of Sept. My husband's sister, Cathy, developed a massive infection and literally fought to her death. She existed in ICU units in two cities for a month. Spending a month in ICU as an observer is an education in itself. The heros were family members who found out they could become advocates, effective and vocal, for their loved one. And nurses. I am one. But the profession I spent 40 years in reinforced my commitment to it. They were strong advocates for patients unable to speak for themselves.
But more important than all of that was the dignity of the human spirit. We, who were allowed to be present to the most important journey Cathy ever made, marvelled at her strength, at her presence in the moment, and her final total acceptance. I am not the same person I was last month. My gift in that time lapse was the stark reality of that glorious normal day!
Pax Tecum
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
CRAP
Camus: "I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice." Is that possible? I just completed reading a book entitled BROTHERS by David Talbot. It's about the Kennedy years. I'm old enough to remember the impact they had, and the heartbreak I felt when they were both murdered.
And I think most Americans realized that the Warren Commission findings were just a bunch of CRAP. We knew then and have always known they both died of a conspiracy. They were killed by forces in their own government. Pretty sad, huh? And here we are 40 years later, still unable to get the straight facts about their deaths from that same government, which by the way, is our government, in essence is US.
I thank David Talbot and people like him who think it's important to keep this story alive. Personally I remember that the Kennedys put the spark of passion for public service in me. As a result I trained for the Peace Corps, and worked the the public sector for 40 years as a public health nurse. To this day, I am active politically and work for social justice causes.
I am sad that my children did not get to know their passion, or understand their vision of a just world where peace is more important then war, and governments can be noble. I worry about who their role models will be, and if justice will be a priority in their lives.
CAMUS: "I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice."
Pax Tecum
And I think most Americans realized that the Warren Commission findings were just a bunch of CRAP. We knew then and have always known they both died of a conspiracy. They were killed by forces in their own government. Pretty sad, huh? And here we are 40 years later, still unable to get the straight facts about their deaths from that same government, which by the way, is our government, in essence is US.
I thank David Talbot and people like him who think it's important to keep this story alive. Personally I remember that the Kennedys put the spark of passion for public service in me. As a result I trained for the Peace Corps, and worked the the public sector for 40 years as a public health nurse. To this day, I am active politically and work for social justice causes.
I am sad that my children did not get to know their passion, or understand their vision of a just world where peace is more important then war, and governments can be noble. I worry about who their role models will be, and if justice will be a priority in their lives.
CAMUS: "I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice."
Pax Tecum
Monday, July 30, 2007
YO, ALBERTSON'S !!!
The word "green" used to be all about St. Patrick's Day. It has more meaning these days, and rightfully so. Combating climate change and gaining "energy security" often has me wondering what kinds of things I can be doing to help our old polluted earth.
I do most of my grocery shopping at Albertson's. It's close to my home and is smaller then the big box stores I get lost in. Going there this week led me to a great discovery. 10 sturdy canvas green bags for sale for 10 bucks. I bought three and carried my groceries home in green bags I will use again and again. Congratuations and thank you Albertson's! You are doing something to stimulate responsibility, and I'm responding!
Plastic bags have bothered me for some time. Did you know there is enough petroleum in 14 bags to drive a car one mile? It takes 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees to make all the paper and plastic bags Americans use each year.
A plastic bag needs 1,000 (yes, that's 1,000) years to decompose, according to the EPA. while a paper bag takes a month. Yet, paper bags generate more pollutants in production than plastic counterparts. Reuseable cloth bags solve the problem.
I applaud my daughter's friend, Adam, for completing plans on building a "green" house. Talk about being environmentally conscious!! As for me, I'm taking baby steps. Today, green bags, and light bulbs. Tomorrow, hopefully more. And how about you? Are you in the loop?
Remember to care and be aware...........Pax Tecum
I do most of my grocery shopping at Albertson's. It's close to my home and is smaller then the big box stores I get lost in. Going there this week led me to a great discovery. 10 sturdy canvas green bags for sale for 10 bucks. I bought three and carried my groceries home in green bags I will use again and again. Congratuations and thank you Albertson's! You are doing something to stimulate responsibility, and I'm responding!
Plastic bags have bothered me for some time. Did you know there is enough petroleum in 14 bags to drive a car one mile? It takes 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees to make all the paper and plastic bags Americans use each year.
A plastic bag needs 1,000 (yes, that's 1,000) years to decompose, according to the EPA. while a paper bag takes a month. Yet, paper bags generate more pollutants in production than plastic counterparts. Reuseable cloth bags solve the problem.
I applaud my daughter's friend, Adam, for completing plans on building a "green" house. Talk about being environmentally conscious!! As for me, I'm taking baby steps. Today, green bags, and light bulbs. Tomorrow, hopefully more. And how about you? Are you in the loop?
Remember to care and be aware...........Pax Tecum
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Difficult Discernment
I consider myself a peace activist, but it is a hard road to travel. Where to go, what to do, when to do it. How involved to get, not only with your money and your mind, but all out acts of civil disobedience.
Discern, by dictionary, means to perceive by the sight or the intellect, or to distinguish mentally. The decision to attend demonstrations, to be visable and vocal is fairly easy for me to do. I am good as part of the crowd, one of many making up the whole. I find it a very effective way of getting the message out, one of many, who understands the power in numbers.
But individual acts of civil disobedience puts you into the arena alone. The stakes are definitely higher, and the reasons for doing it must be clear in your head. This is heavy stuff, involving arrest, confinement, and notoriety. Why in the heck am I even talking about this???
I will tell you why. House Bill # 1707 was defeated again this year by a few votes. The bill was written to eliminate funding for the SOA/WHINSEC. That notorious combat training facility for Latin American security personnel located ar Fort Benning , Georgia. It is a school of torture and failed U.S. policy, and you and I are paying for it with our taxes.
Every year in November, at the gates of Fort Benning, thousands of the little people who value justice gather to demonstrate against the schools human right abuses. I've been there and demonstrated, and am now discerning if the time has come for me to do more.
It's hard when family and friends think you're crazy for even considering it. One member of my family stated "why in the world would you do that? It wouldn't make a bit of difference, and it sure would not change a thing". I think of the solidarity that would unite me with all the people who died and whose families were torn apart by this program. Am I crazy? Maybe.
I remember something Robert F. Kennedy said, and I think it addresses the little people like me. "Few will have the greatness to change history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."
Pax Tecum
Discern, by dictionary, means to perceive by the sight or the intellect, or to distinguish mentally. The decision to attend demonstrations, to be visable and vocal is fairly easy for me to do. I am good as part of the crowd, one of many making up the whole. I find it a very effective way of getting the message out, one of many, who understands the power in numbers.
But individual acts of civil disobedience puts you into the arena alone. The stakes are definitely higher, and the reasons for doing it must be clear in your head. This is heavy stuff, involving arrest, confinement, and notoriety. Why in the heck am I even talking about this???
I will tell you why. House Bill # 1707 was defeated again this year by a few votes. The bill was written to eliminate funding for the SOA/WHINSEC. That notorious combat training facility for Latin American security personnel located ar Fort Benning , Georgia. It is a school of torture and failed U.S. policy, and you and I are paying for it with our taxes.
Every year in November, at the gates of Fort Benning, thousands of the little people who value justice gather to demonstrate against the schools human right abuses. I've been there and demonstrated, and am now discerning if the time has come for me to do more.
It's hard when family and friends think you're crazy for even considering it. One member of my family stated "why in the world would you do that? It wouldn't make a bit of difference, and it sure would not change a thing". I think of the solidarity that would unite me with all the people who died and whose families were torn apart by this program. Am I crazy? Maybe.
I remember something Robert F. Kennedy said, and I think it addresses the little people like me. "Few will have the greatness to change history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."
Pax Tecum
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Women in Black
Women in Black is an international movement of women for peace. It began in Jerusalem in 1988. It is a movement of women who hold silent vigils across the planet. They stand dressed in black to honor those who have experienced the devastation and tragedy of violence. This simple action is a unifying commitment to justice and a world free of violence.
It is an opportunity to participate in promoting peace within your sphere of influence: your heart, your home, your workplace, your community. By cultivating peace in our own lives, we can change the world, leaving a legacy for those that follow.
In Casper, Wyoming Women in Black meet on the first Wednesday of the month (rain or shine, blowing wind, or deep snow) . We stand in silence in front of the County Court House from noon to 1:00. We stand in solidarity with each other for peace, and create an awareness and energy for all who pass by, reminding them that peace is the ONLY answer.
Pax tecum
It is an opportunity to participate in promoting peace within your sphere of influence: your heart, your home, your workplace, your community. By cultivating peace in our own lives, we can change the world, leaving a legacy for those that follow.
In Casper, Wyoming Women in Black meet on the first Wednesday of the month (rain or shine, blowing wind, or deep snow) . We stand in silence in front of the County Court House from noon to 1:00. We stand in solidarity with each other for peace, and create an awareness and energy for all who pass by, reminding them that peace is the ONLY answer.
Pax tecum
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