Are we there yet?

It's Odin's day and strong Northerlies are bringing a reminder of Winter to Northeastern Okieland today. Dawn's windchill was 15º

Courage has nothing to do with our determination to be great. It has to do with what we decide in that moment when we are called upon to be more. – Rita Dove

You are at this very moment being called upon by The Way to become more. Even now, you can by simply opening your awareness of your shared presence with It and letting go of anything that looks and/or seems like denial.

Garrison Keillor's post today also spoke of going with the flow …

Events of this date:

The twice time Nobel laureate scientist and peace activist Linus Pauling was born today in 1901, Portland, Oregon.

Frank Gehry is 95 today. Arguably the most important architect of the contemporary era and certainly the most famous living architect was on this day in 1929, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Check out images of his works.

In 1953 James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin discovered the structure of the DNA molecule.

Demter's Prayer to Hades

This alone is what I wish for you: knowledge.
To understand each desire has an edge,
to know we are responsible for the lives
we change. . .

I see clearly the trail you planted,
what ground opened to waste,
though you dreamed a wealth
of flowers. . .

And so I give up this fate, too.
Believe in yourself,
go ahead – see where it gets you.

– Rita Dove

From Collected Poems 1974-2004, W. W. Norton & Co, New York, 2016.

Wind from unseen wings . . .

It's Tew's day and the mailbox is facing record high temperatures and rattling winds, literally and figuratively . . .

The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born 217 years ago on this day in 1807, Portland, Massachusetts [now in Maine.

And it is also the birthdate of John Steinbeck. The author of Grapes of Wrath was born in 1902, Salinas, California,

Fr. Rohr's Meditation this past Sunday was a sharp pointed message. There's no need to identify with Christianity in order to “get” Rohr's messages – usually, anyway. I find that by substituting the term “universal EcoCreation” for all the “God” “Christian” “Jesus” terms works quite well. I'm also of the opinion that Fr. Rohr would find that quite acceptable to his Franciscan sensibilities and Weltanschauung.-- which is why, if you've wondered, he shows up here with some regularity as we explore The Way.

Regarding meditation and why it can be difficult, challenging, frustrating (you pick): Just begin where you are. Although you start with ego’s version of enlightenment, at a certain stage, ego is threatened by your commitment to the path. It begins to wear away, to drop out. At that point, we are approaching the cliff we need to leap from, which is suicidal to ego. – Chӧgyam Trungpa

“Either do it or don't do it, but get on with it.” – J. Krishnamurti

There is a need for a revolution in the psyche of every human being. Such a revolution cannot be brought about by any external entity, and is the natural outcome of absolute and unconditional psychological freedom, which is within everyone's reach. The only “requirement” is the “reach” – to take the journey. This immediately implies a kind of unconditionalness, to become open to opening, to receive the “lessons” available from the universal storehouse of infinite potential possibilities. Obviously this is a trust issue.

from Endymion

The rising moon has hid the stars;
Her level rays, like golden bars
… And silver white the river gleams

… Like Dian’s kiss, unasked, unsought,

Love gives itself, but is not bought . . .

No one is so accursed by fate,
No one so utterly desolate,
But some heart, though unknown,
Responds unto his own.

Responds,—as if with unseen wings,
A breath from heaven had touched its strings
And whispers, in its song,
“Where hast thou stayed so long!”

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (this poem is in the public domain)

What is beauty for?

It's Sol's day . . . The Springiest day yet in Northeast Okieland, trees and flowers a-bloom and headed for record high temperatures . . .

What can we do in a culture dominated by huge corporations that want us to spend hours every day swiping and scrolling? – Ted Gioia

Today is the birth date of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Among the leaders of what became impressionism, he was born today in 1841 Limoges, France.

The 151st anniversary of Enrico Caruso's birth is today. “The greatest tenor ever” was born on this day in 1873 Naples, Italy.

In 1950, one of the most successful variety shows television has ever seen debuted on NBC. "Your Show of Shows" featured Cid Ceaser and Imogene Coca with an unequalled ensemble of writers and comedians.

George Harrison born today in 1943, Liverpool, England

And Chelsea Handler turns 49 today. The comedian was born in 1975, Livingston, New Jersey

The hero’s journey is not to just keep going to new places, making the trip a vacation or travelogue. We have to return to where we started and know it in a new way and do life in a new way. — Richard Rohr

“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, remembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning;
At the source of the longest river
The voice of the hidden waterfall
And the children in the apple-tree
Not known, because not looked for
But heard, half-heard, in the stillness
Between two waves of the sea.
—T.S. Eliot, from “Little Gidding,” Four Quartets, Gardners Books, 2001. Originally published 1943.

FYI: Little Gidding is a real place.

Have you finally figured out what beauty is for?

And have you changed your life?

– Mary Oliver, “Swan,” Swan, Beacon Press, 2010