James Bethel James Bethel

No rust for the wicked . . .

It's Satyr's day, and appropriately . . .

. . . in case you missed it: The Rolling Stones have released their first album of its own songs since 2005. The new album ‘Hackney Diamonds’ received a press conference in London at the Hackney Theatre hosted by Jimmy Fallon. The youtube video is worth a watch as is the first single “Angry” official video.

Speaking of video: On Uncertainty and Possibility—Meeting the Climate Future is a 10-part series of short videos with Christiana Figueres, Rebecca Solnit, and Roshi Joan Halifax.

Solitude

– after Thomas Merton

It may be necessary for some of us to live alone.

Silence is our boon companion

and the sweet dark warmth of the whole world

becomes our love.

Out of the heart of that dark warmth

comes the secret that is heard only in silence,

but is the root of all the secrets

whispered by all the lovers in their beds

all over the world. Well may we be obliged

to preserve this stillness, the silent pure nothingness

arising in each moment-by-moment

at the center of all loves.

That we have chosen this task

may escape us in the doings of our being

amid the contradictory joyous burden

which sustains and drains our earthly life.

— JB



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James Bethel James Bethel

To cancel half a line . . .

It's Freya's day . . . The mailbox is filled with history.

The longest-serving Independent in United States Congressional history, Bernie Sanders, was born 82 years ago on this day in 1941 Brooklyn, New York.

Today is the 126th anniversary of Jimmie Rodgers' birth. The singer-songwriter and guitarist known as “The Father of Country Music” was born on this day in 1897 Meridian, Mississippi.

The first episode of the series Star Trek aired on American television today in 1966.

Peter Sellers was born on this date in 1925. The British actor portrayed an astonishing range of characters. Sellers was born in Southsea, Portsmouth, England.

In 1941 German and Finnish armies began the siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, which lasted for 872 days.

German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl died on this date at age 101. She was among the finest and most-influential directors of the 20th century, but her association with Adolf Hitler made her as much reviled politically as admired for her artistic and technological achievements.

Queen Elizabeth II died a year ago today in 2022.

And in 1504 Michelangelo's the David was unveiled in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy.

The moving finger writes; and, having writ,
moves on: nor all thy piety nor wit
shall lure it back to cancel half a line,
nor all thy tears wash out a Word of it.

– The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam

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James Bethel James Bethel

Civilized by others . . .

It's Odin's day and Northerlies are moving over Okieland, bringing a brief, but much welcomed relief from the heat-hammer. It could be the beginning of our annual Summer-into-Fall roller coaster weather pattern. May it be so.

The mailbox this morning held reminders . . .

What makes a society a civilized society is public service . . . I am deeply moved by America’s faith in goodness, even for giraffes like me. I don’t take that for granted. Thank you very much. – Garrison Keillor

Speaking of public service . . . Biden’s promise to the Republican-dominated state of Florida even in the face of DeSantis’s pettiness was a striking contrast to former president Trump. – Heather Cox Richardson.

FYI, today is the 163rd anniversary of Jane Addams' birth. The social reformer, peace activist and founder of Hull House was born in 1860 Cedarville, Illinois.

[The] marginalized, the have-nots of our world . . . see reality with a clarity of vision that we may never achieve . . . those of us who are more privileged, who will never fully share the lot of those who are impoverished by the system that creates our wealth, at least can weep over the tragedy of human suffering. Righteous indignation at the injustices that cause marginalization, can lead us toward a relinquishment of the power and privilege that maintain injustice, and toward a solidarity with those who are poor in their claim on justice. – Richard Rohr

The Bright Sadness

...much of our world

seems not to see.

Why is that?

Silence holds deep contentment

and deep sadness;

joy, grace, love, and a dark mirror.

Not opposites,

both/and are complimentary

facing the shadow.

— jb

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