Walk in Darkness; Run in Light
I may be presented a 1000 paths to choose from as I attempt to make my actions manifest. I want to contribute to humanity’s aspirational future, my actions matter, and my priorities are important. I have limitations and my abilities are nearly insignificant, but not ineffectual. I had moved through a multitude of reflections. I came to a decision to more carefully choose, a commitment not to worry, I felt assured. I could trust myself, my vision. I do not expect others to see my vision; I will simply pursue it with assurance. If I have a love filled spirit and I simply do what I know is best, it will be my path. I will move aligned with our aspirational human evolution to work as one with God. The love filled spirit overcomes the tendency to self over God. Seeking God, becoming aligned with the source of love, leads to a love of the amazing creation, a respect for all things existent. Ours is a world of measured time. I could not, not take notice of the natural rhythm of progression. I had to return to the ever-present techno world. Just as the planet, I believe Venus, often called the morning star, was unshrouded by the clouds. The dawn was approaching. Darkness was evaporating; time had ended my walk into darkness.
My photo of first light on the horizon.
Link
to Mahler and Bernstein not the performance on my iTunes account
As light awoke me from my meditation I took out my phone: for the camera, the time, the weather, the social media updates, the texts, the emails, the calls, and the music. My iPhone often is playing music from my iTunes without my specific intention. Mahler’s 9th symphony was playing as put the buds in. I decided to listen on the trip back. My return journey had an accompanying sound track; my son, Erik, has said he thinks his life would be improved if accompanied by a sound track. As I faced into the wind the back of my hands were cold, so I began to run, soon jog, and quickly fell back to a walk. Running in the sand was rather tiring. I continued my run then walk pattern. It did keep my hands warm. I ran, OK: walked, jogged, and ran, as sunrise began to rule the sky. I will share the songs; it occurred to me almost all the music was the creation of people no longer living, yet still impacting my life. Now in the daylight I was more in the everyday world, being more careful of my steps while I ran, sometimes daring the swell of the surf. I did keep my feet dry.
A shot of Venus still visible above receding cloud bank.
Accidental selfie taken as I was trying to get cold fingers to use camera on phone. You now have your amusement for the day do not hurt yourself while you are ROFL.
Haken The Path -- began following the Mahler Movement
Haken’s the Path came on next it continued the mood setting. I was floating amongst thoughts, the coming sunrise, the music and lyrics. I also realized I had walked a long ways. Not wanting to fumble too long with the iPhone music player or continue the random selections. I choose Dan Fogelberg’s Full Circle album, tapped numbly to play it. In the good ole days listening to music on AM radio broadcast from towers 200 miles away or listening from fuzzy records the lyrics were often muddy. As clear digital music allows me to hear lyrics, I have found I had created alternative lyrics for many songs. Mine were often more interesting than the actual ones.
Dan Fogelberg was a fitting choice. He was from Illinois, Peoria-Pekin actually. Our return later that day would be to the airport in Peoria. My college roommate Phil introduced me to his first album, my wife and I have been to two of his concerts. We used his song “Longer Than” as part of the music at our wedding. I bought this CD for Nancy for her many work related drives when it was released. Now it lay there in the digital archive of my iTunes library. Fogelberg was about my age but he died seven years ago. Part of my contemplations during my fitness effort have been to wonder why my body is eager to do this, finding motivation to do what others my age and younger can not do. I try to make use of this gift, see where it leads. I ran mixing my thoughts with phrases from the departed ‘troubadour of my generation’. Yesterday, I listened to the album again as I ran on the elliptical. I began recapturing the feelings, thoughts, and inspiration. So many of the songs had phrases that seemed so fitting with my experience on the beach watching the day emerge over the horizon.
Amazon link to Fogelberg's Full Circle album where you can sample songs
Many in our society will tolerate no mention of God in any context. I have probably lost the Evangelical Atheists a 1000 words ago, but my vision of the universe and seeking God does not to exclude anyone. We as a humanity are one organism aspiring to achieve a higher plane. Even though our knowledge of the observable universe is ever expanding, it is also ever redefining, ever proving one thing and disproving another. Imagine the contrast between me in the 2014 present, and our most famous Illinoisan in 1862 looking up to the same sky, beside the same ocean. He must have felt just as out of place listening to the waves as I. Lincoln may have marveled at the night sky in the 19th Century, but I do so today with so much more knowledge. Not knowledge I gathered personally, but shared Knowledge made available to me. One of my early Internet experiences was to view a photo sent from the surface of Mars to my computer screen in Smithshire (over the newly available dial up connection). The explosion of knowledge available of the vast universe and the processes within our own bodies is amazing. It is not complete, our search continues. Science has peer review because not all peers agree. Conflicting theories, each discovery unraveling more questions, it is a journey. An aspirational journey we are all on as humanity aspires to a higher collective consciousness. Jesus stated the highest commandment is to seek God. The religious who deny science do not seek truth or God; they deny God. Theirs is a greater sin than any atheist seeking only science.
Stopped for a couple of photos
I likely have offended all the Christianists of stultifying rigidity, along with the atheists. Without any doubters or believers I may have no readers left; no one writes for a larger audience than one. As limited beings I feel no one should assert the primacy of their belief system. I have too often listened to great arguments between people who probably believe in similar things, but their emotions and lack of articulateness allows the heat and misunderstandings to grow like a prairie fire fanned by strong winds. I know or believe some things but recognize my limitations. If there is one Godly attribute we should all practice it is of grace. We should extend grace to one another. This is where Jesus’ second greatest commandment to love others needs to rule behavior. Essentially seek God (truth, knowledge), live unselfishly. Everyone can do this, not limited to believers or non-believers, but everyone.
Our achieving a higher plane is really a race with time, can knowledge and wisdom disseminate throughout the human organism before we destroy ourselves. Compare humanity to our bodies, we think we want to satisfy our body’s cravings and lounge before hypnotizing displays, particularly if they have cats on them. If we leave behind the French fries and video games, then start moving we achieve a healthier state. I still love French fries and video games; I am especially hooked on Sid Meier’s Civilization series. I started with Alpha Centauri and yes, I am aware a new update of that iteration is coming. Keeping at fitness gives us healthier bodies. The mind body interactions improve. Our openness to joy, gratitude, and peace expands. I can contribute more, but I have to overcome the desire to eat, chill, and distract myself. It is a path for the body of humanity. Our short-term desires are not what puts us in a healthier state. Looking back on history, once something is achieved it seems obvious. Voices of objection and obstruction are often silent once history proves them wrong. Our human capacity for selective memory then allows us to have always been on the right side of history. Many corporations are lobbying heavily for laws not in their long-term interests. Our car manufacturers argued against fuel efficiency standards, even got a special SUV tax break for business during George W Bush administration. Having gotten exactly what they lobbied for it became a huge factor in GM’s bankruptcy. ...
view from Currituck Lighthouse
Forgottonia
is a place where you can endlessly wander the lonely roads, and
never once miss the fast lane. The name Forgottonia captures an
image of a region, off the beaten path, which is very true of
Western Illinois.
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