A little of this and that

A glimpse of Philadelphia.

These are pregnant times throughout the world. Just as in geology we have breaking lines between huge blocks of earth, so today we are at the juncture between great blocks of time. This is the place of storm and volcano – and of becoming. In today’s reality, a small act can have far-reaching consequences, beyond imagination, whereas things that will be done five or ten years from today will be so much less effective. This is precisely the meaning of pregnant times: Anything can be born. And this is exactly the time when one must not sleep.

~ Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Parabola

A glimpse of the ocean.

I feel off-kilter when it comes to blogging lately.  I don’t know what to write about.  Maybe it’s always been that way?  I know I’ve started many a post with something along the lines of “I’ll just begin writing and see where this goes.”  I wonder if what keeps me from blogging is the same thing that blocks me when I try to write a letter or a postcard or a comment on other blog posts.  The words just don’t want to come.  I have to tug and pull at them, using all of my mental strength to gather enough words to make a sentence or two.

At 23rd Street, near one end of the boardwalk in Ocean City, MD.

I feel passive.  No, that’s not the correct word.  Receptive.  I want to receive rather than transmit.  I have been gobbling up words in books or magazines or online.  I’ve been watching movies, documentaries, television, and listening to talks online.  Sometimes I sit by the pond, on the dock, or in the woods, and just watch, listen, absorb, wait.  I have no idea what I’m waiting for.

Looking for a sign.

Yesterday I went out to the porch and sat in the sun for a while.  I heard a couple of Bald Eagles chattering and looked up.  One of them dropped a stick on the deck.  An accident?  A gift?  A wake up call?  I was grateful that my head didn’t get bonked.  The stick hit the deck pretty hard.  The eagles should have their nests built by now.  In fact, they should have eggs and be tending their nests.  Perhaps these two were a little late to the nesting party.  Or they just needed to make a few repairs.

The other way.

There’s an Octavia Butler quote going around on the internets.  It’s a good one.

Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought.
To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears.
To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool.
To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen.
To be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies.
To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery.

Food for thought now that Cadet Bone Spurs is in the White House.

Blocking the view.

I reckon that’s enough randomness from me for today.  Thank you for stopping by.  I think we should head out to the Point for sunset this evening.  The high clouds might give us a good show of color.  Sunset is scheduled for 5:36 PM.  I’ll meet you there about ten or fifteen minutes before that.  It shouldn’t be too bad out there.  The temperature is almost 50°F and the winds are relatively calm for a change.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

The boardwalk in winter.

A few of the 10,000 reasons to be happy:  551)  Walks on the boardwalk.  552)  Bald Eagles leaving gifts, even the unintentional.  553)  Things returning home when they get lost.  554)  The warmth of the porch on a sunny day.  555)  The Winter Olympics.  I’m looking forward to watching.