I was taken by surprise to hear that Notre Dame Cathedral was burning. Something of such magnificence deserves to exist forever, does it not? My spirit believes that some things ought to be exempt from the erosion of time, and the common accidents that occur during renovations. Was the cause an errant spark, a…
There are times in life, when you just step up to play your part, fulfill your role to the best of your ability, knowing that there has been no rehearsal. Moreover the role is not one that you would’ve happily chosen. We are in Eagle River, Wisconsin for a few days. Laura’s aunt is…
Things all dance themselves: they come and hold out the hand and laugh and flee — and return. Everything goes, everything returns; the wheel of existence rolls eternally. Everything dies, everything blossoms forth again; the year-of-existence eternally runs on. Everything breaks, everything is integrated anew; the same house of existence eternally builds itself. All…
Walking is among the most life-affirming of human activities. It is a way we organize space and organize ourselves to the world at large. It is living proof that repetition – placing one foot in front of another— can in fact allow a person to make meaningful progress. Walking is practically and physically beneficial……
There are times when music is similar to a divine visitation, having a god drop by to have coffee with you. A tune and lyric is moving in a way that you cannot describe. You are told things that you did not know that you knew. This song does it for me. I’ve heard…
Brothers, am I then so cruel? I say that what falls, you should also give a push! Everything of today—falls, de-constructs; who would preserve it! But I, I wish to give it a shove! Recall the joy of rolling a stone over a precipitous edge? The men of today, look how they roll over…
This however is my teaching: Anyone who wishes to fly one day, must first learn standing and walking and running and climbing and dancing… .…one does not fly into flying! With rope ladders I learned to reach many a window, with nimble legs I climbed high masts; to…
What is the difference between fact and opinion? I knew until I thought, and thought some more about the subject. I have a better idea of how we use those terms, their role in day to day discussion. I am still unsatisfied with the “distinction” and I know there is a difference. My instinct…
The Cain and Abel story is strange. Certainly the two young men were brothers by blood. As suggested by the poet, perhaps the kinship involved little more. Realistically, a store house of rage is likely to have fueled a act of murder, — an act which in all civilized society signals an end to…
This morning is sun bright. My disposition was not so sunny. I felt unliterary. Enthusiasm for life is a reflection of bodily well-being. The older one gets, one’s moods are predictably more somber. Some of that is simple biology. Aches and pains…. The other dimension is the perspective that a higher vantage point, a…
