To be
simple,
pure,
clear,
still,
level,
and constant;
to be impartial without action
and in action to be aligned with heaven—
this is the way to sustain the spirit.

The swords made at Wu and Yue
are kept in a box
and rarely used since
they are valuable.

But the subtle spirit
moves in all directions
and flows without limit,
rising up to the heaven above
and encompassing the earth below.
It transforms and sustains
all things
without taking on a fixed form.

This is called
the divine in man.

Zhuangzi trans. by Hyun Höchsmann and Yang Guorong, Book 15

I was present for the Elvis Tribute Concert at the Paramount theater last night. The concert was a celebration of Elvis birthday which was on January 8th. Elvis would have been 91. Elvis died. As will I and you as well, the reader. Elvis has been dead longer than he was alive. What a trivial statement, given the duration of space-time in a universe of billions of galaxies…

Elvis’ music yet echos, as a worldwide carrier-wave in the hearts and minds of all engaged in giving birth to a humane future.

Seated at the Paramount listening to a superb group of musicians, and five tribute artists render Elvis’ songs, each in his own style of presentation, I failed to dismiss our Minneapolis, Minnesota situation from my mind. I couldn’t help but remember the standoff between Minnesotans who wish to protect their Somali neighbors, also to shield the men and women from Central America or Mexico from masked ICE agents who intend to rough them up and deport them. Will the situation careen into a similar cluster-fuck such as occurred at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890? There an estimated 250 men women and children were slaughtered. As far as I know the Lakota descendants living on the Pine Ridge Reservation still wait for an apology.

I understand Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has the National Guard on standby. The guardsmen ought to be positioned between ICE and the homes and businesses and motorists they are ordered to harass, to bully.

It is 5 degrees outside. Colder in Minnesota.

Here is an Elvis tune that has always moved me to tear up. It is called An American Trilogy.