We may speak of “public land” or “private land,”
but the truth is we are in the presence of an ancient mystery
–life itself—and the great life communities
within which all beings thrive and die.

The pines were contemporaries with the dinosaurs;
the sequoias were a dominant forest
that swept across the north Pacific rim
and into much of Asia, long ago.
Oaks are in several genus
are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Indeed, “distinguished strangers” from another world.
They are all amazing.
We live in a lovely and mysterious realm.

Back On The Fire, essays by Gary Snyder, Thinking Toward the Thousand-Year Forest Plan

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For me, to be fully human is
to be fully responsible to my own skills
or lack of them,
and to have the possibility of death
always there at the right hand.
Then, when you are fully vulnerable
and on your own, you know what it feels like
to be fully alive.

Tom Birch, philosopher, teacher, hunter, and backcountry rambler.

It is Monday morning. Reading these words incline me to gratitude, and a desire to give something in return. What opportunities will this day present?

I spent Saturday afternoon at the drag strip at Byron Illinois. The Pro-Modified cars are works of art, the built-by-hand, careful composition of high strength steel frame-tubing, sheet metal, and an engine conceived to produce maximum power, meticulously tuned by the driver and crew chief.

Each car is poetic expression in fire and steel.

I was privileged to spend time with Jeff and Dave Lumbert, and their River Rat II 67 Chevy Nova pro-mod car. The Lumberts are members of the Chicago Wiseguys club. I have no doubt that a pro-modified driver and crew feels intensely alive at the moment a car launches from the starting line, transiting the finish line a quarter-mile distant at 200+ mph.

* The header suggests “The Thinker” by Rodin. Jeff taking in the fine weather at the track.