Puzzles, Grammar and Life

It seems that we have developed a tradition of putting together a puzzle during the Christmas/New Year Holiday.  We've missed a few years, but most years we have managed it.  Any guesses as to what the picture might be this year?  I will try and remember to post an image once completed.

I grew up with puzzles and have always enjoyed them.  I might even have a few that my grandchildren now enjoy when they come to visit.  They teach things like patience and observation.

People attempt to assemble puzzles by various approaches.  My preference is to 1) assemble the border and then 2) focus on specific, recognizable features on the interior.  I like to place those features in the approximate correct location within the borders as they come together.  I then connect them as pieces are added.  Frequently you will see me with a piece in hand, 3) scanning the picture on the box for a match of color and distinguishing marks which then lead me to place the piece near where it belongs in the assembling puzzle upon the table.  Some people start with step two and others with step three.

There are lots of things for which puzzles can be a metaphor (I think that's the correct term).  Life is like a puzzle -- or, a bowl full of cherries in some movies.  We spend our developmental years figuring out all the pieces and beginning the assembly process.  The last piece falls into place as we take our last breath.  Our careers are also like a puzzle in some ways.  The big differences between life, careers and puzzles is that we don't know what the picture will look like when completed until they are almost over.  Even then there can be twists and turns that change the final view in dramatic ways.

I like the idea of a puzzle with a constantly evolving outcome.  Once a couple of pieces fit into place, the picture changes and finding the next piece is a completely new challenge.  I think that is often how life unfolds.  We usually can't see beyond the next piece.  We also sometimes struggle to see where the current piece fits in our overall plan.  It doesn't mesh with the mental image we have developed of the future.

I think that in life and careers, just like in puzzles, we need to learn to focus on the present.  We need to be mindful of the possible futures and prepare for them -- especially those we would like to develop -- but, we should focus on the piece in hand.  When we place it correctly within the overall framework, it makes the next piece fall into place more easily.  If it is handled poorly -- placed incorrectly -- the pieces connecting to it are more difficult to assemble.

Upon further reflection, my example of a puzzle is a simile rather than a metaphor -- at least in the way I used it.  If, instead, I had said that life is a puzzle, it would have been a metaphor.  Simile = "like", metaphor = "is" is the rule.  I've always struggled with that one.  Maybe I've puzzled over the differences.  I don't know.  This correct grammar stuff is frustrating -- just like the piece that doesn't seem to fit anywhere....

Entrepreneurial Genius

As some of you knew and others probably guessed, my sporadic blogging this past week was due to travel.  Usually I have time to find a Wifi connection, hook up my laptop and post something, but that wasn't the case a couple of days.  Sometimes I have been known to prepare an entry or, two ahead of time and then post them via my smartphone.  Nope, not this week.  Maybe I just needed a little break.

I did run across a Texan this week who was unfamiliar with Buc-ee's.  I was a bit surprised until I reflected on the fact that the phenomenon of these convenience stores on steroids hasn't yet reached the northwest part of the state.  We stopped at the one in the above image on the way back home.  It is one of the newer ones and not the largest, but it has 48 gas pumps -- each of which can accommodate a car on either side.  That means 96 automobiles could theoretically be pumping simultaneously.  You think that's crazy?  I've seen it and with cars backed up in line to move to the pumps.

One of the draws of these retail wonders is their restrooms.  They are designed to handle as many people as the fuel pumps but, I have seen folks lined up in order to have a turn at the facilities.  In fact, a friend posted a photo to Facebook over this past weekend that showed a line stretching about 100 feet or, more at one of the facilities in the central part of the state.

When you think of the saying, "Everything's bigger in Texas," you are probably tripping over the inspiration for these mega-successful stores.  They are springing up along the crowded Interstate highways of the state and each one seems to be bigger than the last.  I never fail to be amazed at the number of people who have stopped to utilize their "money-trapping" facilities that  offer everything from souvenirs to barbecue sandwiches.  Their fuel prices are reasonable and their restroom facilities attract travelers like bees to pollen.

A couple of years ago I was traveling with some visitors that included individuals from New York, Maryland and England.  I took them to a Buc-ee's.  They talked about it the rest of the trip.  I have to admit, I definitely admire the entrepreneurial genius that took the idea of the convenience store to the level of superstore.

Trees and Imagination

I've always been intrigued by trees.  It probably is from growing up in an area where the only trees were planted by someone.  When I run across a tree like this ancient Bois d'arc, I understand how they could inspire writers to create characters from them.

Imagine yourself walking through the woods around midnight on one of those nights when the moon is full and bright; the crooked limbs of the tree are shadows across the sky.  An owl hoots nearby and something is skittering around in the dry leaves and grass.  Suddenly, your sleeve is snagged by one of the small branches that overhangs your pathway and you find your clothes hung on the stubby remains of a twig broken from the limb.  In your struggle, you make enough noise to startle some larger creature which goes crashing off through the underbrush.

The next day, when you return to the site of the excitement to retrieve the tattered remains of your clothing, you realize that the tree was completely harmless, although your clothing was ruined.  For the writer, it is fuel for the imagination.  I'm apparently only a so-so writer because, yes, it caught my imagination, but as I read my description, I find it falls far short of what J.R.R. Tolkien or, Washington Irving accomplished.  I need to work on that.

A sense of being watched was overwhelming as Ichabod stumbled along the forest path.  The slightest sound would cause him to start as though a giant beast was about to pounce upon him.  The distant hoot, hoot-hoot of an owl was answered nearby followed by the rush of wings swooping down and talons snatching the cap from his head.  He dove to the damp ground, disturbing the moldering leaves to release their pungent odor of decay.  Fear overcame sense as he sprang to his feet, dashing directly into the drooping moss-covered branches of an ancient tree which enfolded him in springing, clinging, hairy arms.

The stone marker beside the road reads, "Here lies poor Ichabod, dead of fright."

Reflections, Patterns and Life

The other day, while walking through the woods, we came upon this pond full of reeds.  It looks like the perfect habitat for ducks, but we didn't see any.  The pond was isolated and sat in the middle of the only open area on the land where we were walking; the rest was overgrown with brush and trees.

When I look at the image, many things come into my mind.  I think of the story of Moses being put into a basket made of reeds, placed in the reeds along the bank of the Nile River and later being found.  I think of the baskets the early Americans made from similar types of reeds.  They also were used for hats -- woven in much the same manner as the baskets.  I thought of hunting pheasant in the dry playas of the Texas Panhandle during the fall and winter months, pushing through the reeds and cattails that were so thick you could barely move -- especially since I probably wasn't very old the first few times I did so.  Most of all, when I see this image, I see the reflection of the reeds in the water that make it seem as though there are twice as many as are actually growing there.

The reflections form patterns and shadows upon the water and give the various creatures that live beneath the surface a measure of safety because the patterns on those creatures match the patterns made by the reflections, allowing them to blend in and remain unnoticed by predators such as a Great Blue Heron or, an Egret that might be searching for a meal.  They match the stripes on the back of a frog, or, the pattern of scales on a turtle and almost perfectly match the color patterns on the side of a Crappie or, some of the other small fish that may be hiding in the shadows in order to avoid being a meal for something larger.

Nature is full of patterns and more patterns which reflect other patterns.  It is natural camouflage -- patterns blending into patterns.  Think of a moth on tree bark, or a sparrow in the weeds.

Patterns are all around us.  They tend to be repetitive.  When something doesn't fit the expected pattern, we notice it.  (It is a survival response.)  Did you notice in the image the thing that doesn't fit?  There is a single seed head on one of the cattails.  It is in the process of releasing the seeds.  (You may need to zoom in on the image to see it clearly.)

I knew when I first looked at the reeds in the pond that something didn't seem right -- it was the sterility of the pond; it appeared lifeless -- until I spotted the single cattail which was releasing its seeds.  Instead of an image of death -- a dying pond -- it became the image of a pond clinging to life.

Perhaps patterns lull us into lethargy.  I suspect there are many things subliminally written into our minds by the patterns around us.  It is only when we look for the anomalies that we see life.  As we approach the end of the year we often spend time reflecting on the events of the previous one.  Is it time to break a few patterns?  Patterns seem to become ruts which lead down the same old path of sameness.  Maybe next year would be a good time to break out of the ruts, break the pattern, do something different that will inject new life.  I'm looking forward to seeing what it will bring.  I hope you are too.

Merry Christmas

We decorate the Christmas tree

With lights that shine so bright

To represent the stars above

Upon that Holy Night

When One was born to save the world

And take away the sin

Of all who call upon His name

And are reborn within.

The ornaments upon the tree

Are gifts to Him above;

They are a simple token

Of hearts filled with love.

Underneath the tree are gifts

Exchanged with family;

Symbolic of the precious gift

He gave to you and me

Of life eternal in a place

Beyond imagining;

A place of peace, filled with love

Where choirs of angels sing.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" -- Luke 2:8-12

Death and Rebirth

You never know what you might stumble across when walking out in the woods.  I wasn't sure whether it was one of the reindeer, or maybe the Devil that met his end right here before Christmas.  I'm not sure why, but it seemed like an appropriate post for Christmas Eve.  Perhaps it is that the birth of Jesus was the introduction of a New Covenant between God and His people.  The skull, in a way, represents the death of the old which leads to the birth of the new.

I've never really thought of Christmas in that way before, but when I think of the excitement on children's faces as they race to see what is under the tree I reflect on what our attitude should be upon discovering the true gift of Christmas, a Savior, sent to the world to open a pathway for those who believe.  Christmas isn't just a commemoration of the birth of Jesus, it represents the opportunity for all of us to be reborn -- to die to the old and live life for the new -- to die to our sinful nature and be born again into a life guided by love.

I was unable to post yesterday due to trying to cram too many things into a day.  I likely won't post anything tomorrow as it will be spent focusing on family and the reason we celebrate.  I hope that will be your focus as well.

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." -- Luke 2:14

U-turn for a Longhorn

Okay, I admit it; we stopped, turned around and drove back to take a few pictures of the Longhorns.  They were some impressive specimens of the breed and the one above was displaying an almost perfect classic set of horns.  I would bet they end up on someone's wall one of these days.  For now, though, they create a challenge for this old boy to move around among the trees.

This animal is carrying quite a bit of age to have horns of that size.  They also appear to have been trained.  Many raisers of Longhorn cattle will use horn weights to influence the growth pattern over time.  Completely natural growth can be a little more unpredictable with some turning down, or maybe they just aren't symmetrical.  The ones on this old steer are almost perfect.

When I think of Longhorns I see them in my mind on the trail up through the Plains where there isn't much in the way of natural obstacles for them to maneuver around except the occasional muddy river or, creek.  In this part of Texas, and down in the central and southern parts of the state where the trail drives originated, there was lots of brush, cactus, trees, rocks and other natural impediments to their travel.  They had to be constantly aware of the width of those ornaments in order to navigate effectively.  Yeah, it seems like a simple thing, but I hadn't really thought about it.

I find myself struggling through the woods and I'm not nearly as wide as those massive horns although I'm certainly wider than I once was.  I'm surprised he doesn't have a few tree branches hung on them that he likely tore off while passing through the brush.

I suppose this post isn't particularly deep, but sometimes I just need to record my meager thoughts in order to preserve them for the next time I forget.  Who knows, I might decide to plow into creating a novel about a cattle drive some day and need to recall this thought!  Well, maybe a short story is more likely.  Umm, a vignette?  I may have to be satisfied with this blog post that will perhaps aid some other writer who has more ambition.

I am happy we turned around.

Re-fueling

I woke up late this morning,

That's not something that I do,

I have a good internal alarm.

For some unknown reason

I kept on catching ZZ's,

Maybe 'cause I was all nice and warm.

The dogs were surely wondering

Why I hadn't let them out

But, they were being quiet and I am glad;

Now they're out there howling

At nothing I can see

And we had to get on to them like they're bad

When really, that's just what dogs do.

It's their job to bark and howl

At the things that don't belong --

It's the way they tell you they are hard at work

On their patrol about the yard --

It’s just them singing out their working song

While here I sit, just typing

On this nonsensical rhyme

As I get the coffee flowing in my blood.

But, now I've reached a point

Where I'm running out of words

So, I'll just go get another cup of mud.

Lessons in an Old House

I am drawn to old buildings like this one I ran across on a back road in Central Texas a few years ago.  Those were some tight living quarters, but for the era in which this was built, it was common.  I took the image from the road and resisted the urge to walk out to it since I didn't have permission.  If I recall, there was a barbed wire fence in the way, I just took the shot over the fence.

To me, a building such as this that has withstood so many years of the elements is a reflection of the folks that built it.  They were tough.  There was no running water, no electricity, no indoor plumbing.  I'm sure they had a garden for vegetables and a milk cow in a pen out back.  Much of their table fare was likely supplied by hunting for a rabbit, or some other wild game.  Trips to town were few and a major endeavor.

We surely take a lot of things for granted these days as we live in our palaces and have our meals delivered.  I suspect there are lots of folks who couldn't handle it.

There are still tough people -- even in this country of luxury.  They aren't the kind of "tough" portrayed in the movies which depicts "toughness" as violence; they are the kind of "tough" that endures hardship and challenge and that overcomes the obstacles that continually seem to be placed in their path.  They survive in spite of the odds which seem to be stacked against them.

I'm not talking of the "silver spoon" folks who have a network of financial and other help, I'm talking about those who are born in circumstances that put them at a disadvantage, yet are able to rise above that life to one of productivity and success.  Some see success as the poor kid who ended up as a star athlete, or entertainer; what I'm referring to is the one who worked to provide for his family while getting a high school education and then went on to college and a job where they learned skills that allowed them to rise within the organization, or perhaps to step out and start their own business.  In a way, they are the pioneers of today.  They pave the way as an example of overcoming the odds.

In today's world it seems to be "the thing" to take advantage of ignorance.  I see ignorance as an opportunity to educate.  Maybe I'm a bit altruistic, but I believe the responsibility that comes with the blessings I have received is to pass on the things I have learned to those in need.

My post drifted a bit. 

Chasing a White Rabbit

I was walking in the woods the other day and came across something I had never seen before; it was down in the hollow base of a large tree.  Looking into the cavity, there appeared to be a round, white, puffy ball lodged in a hole.  My first thought was that some animal, such as a white rabbit, had become lodged in there and was stuck.  Of course, my eyesight isn't quite what it once was, so I just wasn't certain what it was that was down in that hole.  It almost looked like a ball of snow, but we hadn't had any, so I knew it couldn't be that.

I took the logical approach and poked it with a stick.  That didn't tell me much, so I then proceeded to dig it out with the stick.  It was stuck and didn't come out easily and in fact, came out in pieces.  I wish I had thought to take an image of it before I tore it up.  It was very cold and a bit squishy to the touch. 

I, of course, had to research a bit to find out what this cold, squishy ball of rubbery stuff might be so I searched first on iNaturalist.  There, I found it to be a Lion's Mane Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus.  It is edible and has medicinal properties.  Some of the benefits are related to immune function, anxiety and depression, cognitive health, heart health, cancer, diabetes, digestive health, wound healing and nervous system recovery.  Seems like an important mushroom with which to become acquainted!

You never know what you will find if you just get out and explore a bit.

What Makes a Man

That which is a man is judged

Based on what we see,

Much like what is left

Of this old hollow tree.

We see the outer shell --

Crusty, hard and worn --

Shaped by daily living

Life since he was born.

What we often fail to see

Is that which lies within;

Hidden deep inside of him

Beneath his outer skin.

Sometimes he is hollow,

Just like this rotten log;

There's nothing there but emptiness

Filled with vaporous fog.

If you want to know the man

The most important part

Is to look down deep inside of him

Into his beating heart.

That is where his passions lie,

The things which give him drive

To overcome all obstacles

And make him feel alive.

It's not just the container,

Like some old rusty can,

It's the heart that beats within him

That makes a man a man. 

Relevance in Being Present

There are silent places

That compel you to pause and look

Upon the distant horizon,

Lost in wonder.

Time is no longer relevant.

Miles hide the scars.

Past and future merge

Into our presence in the present,

And for a moment,

We are content to be.

Re-making Boxes

Don't let others define you

Based on arbitrary categories

That align in neat boxes;

Define yourself based on who

You were made to be.

We are each uniquely suited

To some task that lies always before us

And that which we do each day

Prepares us for the moment

We step into the gap.

Our lives become a series

Of those gaps where we are the part

Which fills the need that

None other can fill because we alone

Have what is needed.

Boxes are empty places

Surrounded by walls

That attempt to contain

When what we need is to

Grow to our potential.

We speak of thinking

Outside the box when what we

Should be doing is redefining

The boxes in which we find

Our true selves.

The Power of Christmas

At the center of Christmas is a child.

That child grew into a man who changed the world.

That he was more than just a man

Is the center of a faith

Necessary

For that change.

It is not in an institution,

But, in the power of God

That transcends this world.

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" -- Romans 1:17

What Do You See?

This image was taken in far western New Mexico just off of U.S. Highway 60 back in 2010.  I noticed what looked to be a cave off to the south and stopped to get a photograph only to discover that it wasn't a cave, but an arch.  When I looked at the image this morning, I saw something completely different.  I saw R2D2.

I'm not sure what he is dragging along behind him, but that's definitely R2D2 on the left.  For the two of you out there who might not know, R2D2 is a robot from the Star Wars series.  He speaks in high-pitched beeps and whistles and is in charge of navigation on Luke's fighter -- along with many other duties such as carrying stolen Death Star plans and crucial maps of the Universe.  He has even been known to produce other items out of a hidden compartment, such as Luke's light-saber, at critical moments.

I am definitely a Star Wars fan, but my wife is a fanatic.  I suspect she can quote the script of every character in every one of the movies -- not only quote them, but her timing on them is impeccable.  I may know the gist of what is coming, but she speaks the words as they are spoken in the scene as it plays out in front of you.

There are many who do not care for Science Fiction, but it is my favorite genre of fiction.  It is where we can delve into societal issues in an imaginative world of the future.  Sometimes the creative vision of the author plays out and at other times it doesn't -- I'm thinking Jules Verne.  Science Fiction has been around for a long time.

What are your favorite Science Fiction books?  Your comments would be appreciated.  My favorite is probably "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert A. Heinlein.  I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, but it is one that will definitely get you to thinking.  I look forward to your lists!

Contemplation

Way down in the pasture

Is a place I like to go

That makes me feel I'm stepping back in time.

I no longer hear the highway

With the people passing by

On their way to spend or make another dime.

It's a place where birds are singing

And their music fills the air

While shuffling critters go about their way.

I can sit in quiet wonder

As the time rolls silent by

And think upon the beauty of the day.

Eyes Ahead

Sometimes we get a glimpse

Of what lies just ahead

And we get all excited

Or, our hearts are filled with dread.

The tantalizing vision

Which lies just beyond our reach

Has lessons of its own

That it will surely teach

But, for now it is the journey

That leads us ever on

Until we step into that place

Where we have never gone

And witness with our very eyes

Those things which lay before

As we travel through this crazy life

To some far distant shore.

Boundaries

Boundaries.

Defined spaces.

Borders.

Mine:Yours.

Frontier.

Known: Unknown.

Fences.

In: Out.

Partition.

Divided areas.

Perimeter.

Outer edge.

Open borders are no borders at all.

Freedom respects boundaries because it is defined by personal rights;

Both mine and yours.

No boundaries = no rights = no freedom.

Empty Places

Deep within each of us resides a longing for something beyond ourselves.  We rise from our slumber out of habit, or because we desire survival, or because we are filled with an eagerness for the day; something draws us that we may not understand, but is there nevertheless as a constant lure just beyond the edge of our awareness.

I am drawn to empty places.  I smell the dust rising from the grasses as I pass quietly in quest of what lies just beyond -- just beyond the next hill, or tree, or ravine that I must cross; just beyond the mountain, or valley, or whatever lies ahead because in my passage I am pulled onward to discovery.  The place to which I am drawn must lie over the next horizon where it ever awaits my arrival.  My journey through the empty places relieves the tiredness of the world that has seeped into my bones and replaces it with the fatigue of effort.

That which compels me is not a place of ease where I might sit in comfort for it is in those places the energy seeps from me and I feel life fading, but where there is struggle and challenge and a battle that pits my wits against the elements, I am energized.  Vitality springs from the earth and fills me with the desire to succeed -- to live.  Life begets life.

I was made to move forward.  Stagnation and decay occur in motionless inactivity.

Rise from your easy chair and set foot into the world where adventure awaits -- if not in your front yard, just over the next hill.  Overcome your lethargy and seek life in abundance.

Venturing Forth

From behind my guarded walls

I peer into the distance

Where enemies abound

And opportunity awaits.

Dare I venture forth

Into the great unknown

Where I might fall before the powers

Who seek to slay me there?

Or, do I wait behind my walls

Until the day I die

Alone and afraid

Of that which I might have conquered?

Step forth into the world

With eyes wide;

Armored in Truth,

Shielded with Faith.

Ephesians 4:10-18

Memories

In the garden of my dream

I looked through all the many windows

And saw faces of long ago,

Smiling from their compartments,

Of place,

And time,

As if waiting

For reunion.

Peaceful Presence

There are pathways in my mind

Where I walk in silent thought,

Lost.

There I am surrounded by

An encompassing cocoon of

Peace.

It is then I feel the

Comforting presence of

God.

Water, Conveniences and Contaminants

As I continue my journey back through old images from Mission San Jose in San Antonio, I am struck by this one of a water well.  Here in this country we take clean, readily-available water for granted although it is critical for our survival.

Can you imagine living where the water you drink and use for washing is all hand-dipped from a well?  There are numerous places where that is the case even today.  Often, the water in those open wells is contaminated with debris along with bacteria, insect larva, fecal material and chemicals which leach into it or, fall from above.  Many times, they are the source of disease or, other contaminant-induced illnesses.

In 2009, on a trip to Niger, I saw large community wells that provided the drinking water to many people.  I recall peering into one and seeing quantities of trash -- plastic bags, containers, wood, other debris -- that had blown in from the surrounding streets, yet the people lowered their buckets and drew out the water for consumption.  It is no wonder their mortality rate is high.

The same thing happens in this country, but we aren't usually aware of it.  Roadside trash washes into our streams, rivers and lakes which often serve as reservoirs of drinking water for our cities.  If it wasn't for the decontamination processes of our municipal services -- which includes chemical treatment to kill organisms in the water -- we would be in similar circumstances as the poor in other countries.  Fortunately, we have built infrastructure to cleanse the majority of contaminants from the water before we consume it.

Notice my use of the word "majority" in the previous comment; one thing we fail to completely remove is the micro-plastics -- microscopic pieces of plastic that come from the tons of plastic items we use  on a daily basis.  Those plastics include things like food wraps, straws, drink containers, toys, storage containers, tires and many other things.  Plastics are so pervasive in our lives that we no longer take notice of them.

There are many different kinds of plastic.  They are sometimes rigid, sometimes flexible, some contain dyes while others are clear, they are often combined with other materials such as in footwear.  They are a major component of tires which leave tiny fragments on our roadways as we drive.  Those fragments are washed into ditches and eventually into our waterways.

The consumption of all of those micro-plastics is something being studied by numerous scientists.  As of this time, little is known about the impact they may, or may not have, on our health.  I don't know about you, but I'm not particularly thrilled to know that I am consuming it.

Modern technology is amazing in the the things that make our lives better; sometimes, though, there are unintended consequences that come along for the ride.  I am trying to use fewer plastic objects.  I also am attempting to do as my grandparents and reuse or, re-purpose items more frequently.  There is not only a benefit to the environment, but also an economic benefit.  I wish more people would do the same.

Often it is difficult to connect all the dots between our consumptive behavior and the environment; water is one area that falls into that category.  The next time you grab that plastic wrap, think about where it will end up.  It might be that you are feeding it to your grandchildren....

Subjects of the Crown

The old Spanish Missions often included a Presidio, or fort.  The image above is from inside one of the towers along the wall which surrounded the compound at Mission San Jose in San Antonio.  The round holes are gun ports.

Small groups of Spanish Priests and their acolytes would trek into the wilderness of the New World accompanied by soldiers.  The soldiers aided in the subjugation of the natives by protecting the clergy and helping to provision them until sufficient numbers of natives could be "tamed" to provide the labor to support the missions.  The stated purpose was to Christianize the natives, but the efforts were supported by the Crown because they wanted easy access to whatever riches might be discovered.  The mission efforts were backed by the government because they wanted to grow their power and areas of domination.

In all of South and Middle America, the Spaniards killed large numbers of the male natives and "married" the women.  The resulting mixed blood people were more easily controlled because of their familial ties -- even though they were second class citizens.  They became the peasantry of the New World.  There are still multiple terms used to describe the percentage of Spanish blood in people in Mexico.  Being fully Spaniard carries prestige not enjoyed by those of mixed blood.

In North America the story was somewhat different.  The small number of French who penetrated the continent sought to trade with the natives.  They were focused on furs and other trade goods rather than gold and mineral riches.  The French trappers often married into the tribes with which they traded.  The English, however, took a very different approach; they simply annihilated the competition.

There were exceptions, though, and those exceptions account for the large percentage of white-skinned population in the U.S. that contain native DNA.  Usually, ahead of the "official" spread of European-blooded population across the continent, there were brave souls who ventured into the wilderness without sanction of the authorities.  They were looking to escape the highly regimented control of the British Crown's colonial policies which placed lands in the hands of a few.  Those explorers were trappers and traders and just people looking to find a place to live in peace on a piece of land that was their own.  They were willing to fight for that privilege.

With the exception of a handful of government sponsored trips, it was only after those explorers had become established and their numbers sufficient to support a viable economy that the federal powers followed with military might.  The spread of "civilization" was through the efforts of individuals first, rather than a deliberate government-controlled plan; however, the wealth that was "discovered" or, built, from the wilderness attracted the powers-that-be and control was soon sought through military might.

To a large extent, it is the descendants of those explorers who populate the middle (flyover) part of the North American continent.  They are the ones who feed the world through their agricultural ingenuity and persistence against the elements.  They are also the ones who seem most to cherish their freedom to pursue the livelihood of their choice without government interference or, support.  They are the "thorns in the side" of those in power who want only a subservient population who will do their bidding without protest.

A Prickly Symbol

I have been trying to avoid political posts, but this old Yucca makes me think of our embattled President.  I'll let you figure out the symbolism.

This image was taken at Mission San Jose in San Antonio, Texas, a few years back.  The mission was founded in 1720.  Official activities of the mission ended in 1824 and the buildings fell into disuse, being occupied by soldiers, the homeless and occasional bandits.  The mission was restored beginning in 1933.

History is filled with the struggle of those who are "civilized" and their attempt to subjugate and "reform" those who remain "heathen."  European powers fought the Mongol hoards, in Africa the Colonial powers fought against the many tribes who were native to the land -- often enslaving them.  On the American continents it was a similar story with European powers "taming" or, destroying those who were here first.

As the world was conquered by the Europeans, there occurred a blending of the blood in such a way that there remains within those of us living today, a streak of the "wild" people who were overcome.  I suppose that brings me full circle to the political aspects of the image that heads this post.  I think we are still resisting the conquering European mindset that has infiltrated political institutions and that is why so many stand with the President in his resistance.  In him -- despite his prickly nature -- is seen the fight to remain independent rather than subject to the powers of those who would govern.  That is, at heart, why the "common" people support him.  It isn't about his style, or his policies so much as it is about seeing him as one who is fighting against the concentrated power of those who would rule rather than serve.  We recognize his imperfections yet see in him the hope of breaking the corrupt "deep state" that sees itself as above the law.

It really has nothing to do with opposition to "climate change alarmists" or, isolationism, or, any of the other "global" issues.  It is about freedom.

Europeans don't understand that mindset since most have never fully escaped the feudal institutions built on royalty versus commoners.  They have never really experienced freedom in the way those who conquered the interior of the American continents did.  Those of us in rural areas of the U.S. still have the blood of that freedom coursing through our veins.  In our hearts we remain free and that is why those in power or, in the crowded cities of the coasts, despise us.  

Yep, I got political.

Purpose

We all need purpose in our life,

It fuels our will to live

And keep on striving every day

With all our strength to give.

Without it we are just a rat

Caught within a cage,

We fight against confining bars

And daily voice our rage

At how it is another's fault

But, never is our own

That we are not successful

And it is quite well known

How they must have cheated

Or, had advantage over us

When the truth is so much simpler

Of how we missed the bus.

It's all about our purpose,

Why we get up every morn

And work to do the things in life

For which we were born.

If you are lacking purpose

Spend some time upon your knees

And God will help you overcome

If you ask Him with a "please."

It may not be the way you think

But, He will fill your heart

With reasons to get up every day

Until this earth you part.

So, rise and then move forward,

Don't sit there till you die

Or, think that you are worthless

For that's the devil's lie.

Live your life with purpose,

Moving forward every day,

Take others on your journey

As you travel on the way

And you'll be filled with joy

Even when there are some tears

As you overcome your failures

And conquer all your fears.

Purpose is the answer,

One of life's great mysteries;

Find reason for your presence here

And The Father, you will please.

Diversity and Strange Lifeforms

Have you ever really noticed how strange life can be?  I'm not talking about the events that occur in our life, I am referring to life forms.  Take for example this Horseshoe Crab I saw on the beach on Marco Island, Florida, some years ago.  To me it is one of the strangest looking creatures I have ever seen.  I believe this one is the Limulus polyphemus which is commonly known as the American or Atlantic horseshoe crab.

They are not really crabs.  They are not even a Crustacean although, like Crustaceans, they are in the Phylum Arthropoda.  They have two primary eyes and seven secondary eyes -- two of which are on their underside.  Their mouth sits in the middle of their legs.

Despite their strangeness, horseshoe crabs are the source of a compound that is important to humans.  Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is derived from their blood and is used for the detection of bacterial endotoxins in medical applications.  Prior to 1986, they were the only source of the compound which placed tremendous pressure on the animals due to demand for their blood which was extracted from them after capture.  They were then usually released back into the ocean, but a significant percentage of them died or, were unable to reproduce.  In 2003 a synthetic substitute for the product was developed and is now commercially available.

A number of times I have mentioned that we have a tendency to celebrate and congregate with those most like ourselves.  Sometimes being different is important.  The amazing differences in the life forms of various plants and animals provide a diversity from which to draw many things which are important to us.  I think if we give those who are different than ourselves a chance, we will find that they also have much to offer.  I hope there is diversity in your life and in your work.  Those differences may lead to important discoveries that make this world a better place.

Shout for Joy

Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves that the storms will pass and we should focus on what lies ahead.  These verses, the first I ever memorized, seem like an appropriate way to complete this season of Thanksgiving.

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100: 1-5

Thankful for Forgiveness

On this seventh and final day of Thanksgiving Challenge I am thankful for forgiveness.  We all need forgiveness because none of us is perfect; we do things we shouldn't.  Without forgiveness this world would be even more violent and full of hate than is already evident.

Forgiveness is the foundation of Christianity.  God provided a pathway to forgiveness for our wrongs against Him and each other by sending His Son to earth to fulfill the requirements necessary for our forgiveness.  When we forgive others it is a reflection of the model provided for us by the Creator of the Universe.  The price we pay is the sacrifice of our pride -- it is the placing of "self" in submission to God's Will.  It is acknowledging Him as supreme rather than ourselves.

I am thankful that I am forgiven.

"For God so loved the world He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." -- John 3:16

"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." -- Acts 13:38

Thankful for Health

On this Day 6 of thankfulness challenge, I am thankful for my health.  It is easy to take our health for granted until we have problems.  I have been very fortunate that there have been no major health issues to face.

It seems that I have reached the age when many of my contemporaries are dealing with bodies that are wearing out.  I read on social media of knee replacements and hip replacements, of surgeries and heart problems.  So far, knock on wood, I've not had those difficulties.

I have found that walking/moving/staying active is the biggest boost to how well I feel.  The more active I am, the better I feel.  If there are periods when work, or weather, chains me to a chair, I begin to feel as if my energy level is diminishing.  The longer it occurs, the worse the feeling until I no longer want to do anything and begin to feel unhealthy.  If I will intentionally, or otherwise, get plenty of exercise in a day, I feel better.  It doesn't have to be strenuous, just enough to get the circulation moving -- to elevate the heart rate from normal.

I think we all are called to an active lifestyle.  We are not made to remain stationary.  We are made to go and to do as long as we are alive.  Not only is it true of our bodies, but of our minds as well.  We need to keep active and engaged mentally as well as physically.  Read a book, work a puzzle, solve the worlds problems at coffee with your friends -- do something to keep your mind engaged.

I suppose I am thinking of this from the perspective of my age group, but it applies to all ages.  Go and do, work and play, remain active and relevant because once you stop doing those things your body and mind will begin to die.  Okay, we begin to die the day we are born, but our time on this earth is brief, make an impact while you are here and don't hasten the day when you will move on to the next adventure -- leave that in God's hands.

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." -- 3 John:2

Thankful for Agriculture

On this fifth day of challenge I am thankful for agriculture.  It seemed appropriate that on this day that is often marked by feasts and the gathering of families and friends that my focus be on that which is the "hands and feet" of providing us with the food we eat.

The grain sorghum in the photo above might not seem like the appropriate photo to represent food, but this field southeast of Amarillo, Texas, to me represents perfection in the agricultural "arts" for lack of a better term.  We don't normally consume sorghum directly but, they do in many parts of the world -- especially in Africa.  In Niger, of which I have previously written, Millet is a primary crop; it is a very close relative to what you see in the photo.

Many parts of the country are still harvesting this years grain crops.  The wet spring delayed planting and in many areas the crops were late maturing.  There are some still harvesting corn with snow on the ground.  A blizzard is crossing the Plains today and those involved in raising livestock are out in it caring for the animals which will eventually end up as food on our plate.

Without agriculture it is likely that I wouldn't be sitting at this computer.  Agriculture allows us to differentiate our labor so that we don't spend the majority of every day out gathering fruits and nuts and hopefully shooting or, trapping wild game for our sustenance.  A single farmer in the United States feeds many, many people, freeing the rest of us to pursue other things such as developing technology.

It is thought that agriculture is the foundation of civilization.  Without it, we would be dispersed about the countryside in small groups that would be able to maintain a subsistence through the hunter-gatherer lifestyle.  Farming allowed us to concentrate in cities for mutual protection which led to systems of governance due to the close daily interactions with others. I suppose that particular "benefit" might be questionable in a lot of minds today due to the poor behavior by many of those who hold offices within those current governmental structures.

Wherever you might be on this day of thanksgiving, be thankful for those who produce the bounteous food which you consume.  Be mindful that there are many throughout the world who don't have enough to eat and consider ways you might help those less fortunate -- and don't just consider -- do.  The greatest sign of thankfulness is a willingness to share with those in need.

Happy Thanksgiving.

"Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.  Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field." -- Exodus 23:16

Thankful for Shelter From the Storms

Here on Day 4 of this week of thankfulness I am thankful for shelter from the storms.  A major snow storm is sweeping across a large part of the country and there will be those who are out in it -- some to take care of their livestock, others in emergency services and others who are traveling.  I am thankful to not be in it and I pray that those who must face it will do so in safety.

It is easy to take the homes in which we live for granted.  The homes in which we live -- especially here in the United States -- are often large and far beyond our needs.  I've been in places where most of the homes were built of mud bricks and there were many people living in spaces smaller than the average bedroom of an American home.  I've seen homes built of scrap wood and metal and cast away cardboard boxes.  I've also seen the homeless living on the streets in our own cities.

We all need to be thankful if we have a place to get in out of the cold, but we also should be mindful that there are those who don't.  This thanksgiving season is a good time to reach out to those in need and help where you can.  In thankfulness, share your good fortune with those who are less fortunate.

"Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?  Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." -- Isaiah 58:7-8

Thankful for Books

On this third day of self-imposed challenge to be mindful of thankfulness, I am thankful for the written word -- for books.  The photo is of a small section of the "Great Works" series as chosen and published by Britannica many years ago.  We acquired this set long before we could afford to do so because we strongly believe an understanding of such works is important to a complete education.

The written word is a storehouse of knowledge that is ever evolving as we collectively learn more and more about the world around us.  As I view those in the photo, the works of Ptolemy stand out to me.  He wrote three primary works, "Almagest," "Geography" and "Tetrabiblos."  The first, "Almagest" is important in that it is the oldest surviving comprehensive treatise on astronomy.  It is geo-centric in that it places the earth at the center of the universe, but it describes the universe as a set of shells revolving about the earth (this implies the earth as a ball).  He included only the area of the sky visible to him due to limitations to travel during his lifetime.  His mathematical models enabled one to accurately predict the positions of many celestial bodies such as major star constellations, the sun and the moon, based on the time of the year.  They provided a foundation for navigation.

In Ptolemy's work, "Geography," he published locations of the "known world" of the ancient Greeks based on a coordinate system similar to that used today.  His calculations, utilizing degrees of arc, established relative positions of various places according to their positional relationship to the equator and the polar circle as well as to each other (again implying the earth is a ball).  The coordinate system was also an important foundation to navigation.

We must use wisdom when reading what others have written.  It is clear that much of what we "believe" to be factual at a particular point in time is later proven to be incorrect, or incomplete.  With written records of our thoughts we can build on what others before us have recorded of their own thinking and by doing so, we are able to advance our own understanding.  Without the written word, we would have to rely on oral tradition which evolves quickly due to imperfect memory.  Many of us have played the game in which a "secret" is whispered in the ear of the next person in a circle.  After several iterations of passing the "secret" along it becomes almost unrecognizable.

Reading and writing are the most important skill sets we can teach our children.  If you can read, you can learn almost anything.  Yes, some things require hands-on aptitude as well, but a basic understanding can be gained from books which makes acquiring the manual skills easier.

I am thankful that my parents read to me as a child and through them I gained a love of books and learning that I have passed on to my children and they, in turn, will pass on to theirs.  One of my greatest pleasures is to read to my grandchildren and to see their joy in hearing the oft-repeated stories.  There is nothing better than a bunch of kids sitting on the lap or, the arm of the chair, or standing to the side, or behind as you read to them.  Yes, I am thankful for books and how they connect us through the generations.

"Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." -- John 21:25

Thankful for Family

In Day 2 of my self-imposed thankfulness challenge I am thankful for family.  I am thankful for the small feet, the large feet, the help, the messes, the fun, the work, the questions, and all the other things that come with family.  Not everyone has the good fortune to have family in their lives.  If you do, be thankful, no matter how messy the relationships can sometimes be.

Thanksgiving is also a time when the impact of missing family members hits home a little harder than it might at other times.  It is because when the family gathers, those who are no longer there stand out by their absence.  Those are the times when we need to remember that our faith will bring our families back together again in a place without sorrow or, troubles.

The Thanksgiving holidays always meant hunting when I was growing up.  It meant chasing the elusive quail through the Sandhills, or out on the Draw.  It meant the occasional wild turkey dinner because Grandpa used to go deer hunting on the weekend before Thanksgiving and if he could bag one, Grandma would cook it for Thanksgiving Dinner.  She always had a "store-bought" one in reserve just in case.

Family together means games and noise and sometimes flared tempers.  There might be a few tears here and there too.  The gathering together exposes how we've grown apart and changed.  It is important though, to renew our bonds and allow our hearts to be filled with the presence of those most like us genetically.  It is in our DNA that we feel a connection to family that transcends our differences.

I pray that this Thanksgiving you are able to spend time with family.  If it isn't family of the genetic sort, I hope it is those with whom you feel a bond, a closeness, a connection that fills that part of you that needs family in your life.

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate." -- Psalm 127:3-5

Thankful for Opportunities

I realize that it's a few days early, but it seems a good time to think about Thanksgiving.  Actually, every day should be one of thanks, but what I plan to do is to have a week of Thanksgiving.  On each day this week I intend to write of something for which I am thankful.  I would encourage any of you who read this to do the same.

I will begin with being thankful for opportunities.  We don't all have the same abilities, or talents, but we are all given opportunities to use the ones that we have.  It seems the more times I step forward and accept an opportunity, the more of them come my way -- and the more rewarding they become.

Through the years I have had numerous opportunities to do things that have made a positive difference for others.  Some have been small and some much larger (at least to me).  They seemed to increase in frequency the more that I stepped out in faith and accepted them when presented.  They also came after prayer.

Sometimes I think we fear opportunities because they usually come with risk.  One risk is that of failure.  Another is that they take us out of our comfort zone.  That's where faith comes in.  God gives us opportunities in order to help us to grow.  Until we attempt what we have never done, we don't know that we can do it.  If it is something you are comfortable with doing, it really isn't an opportunity.  Real opportunities stretch us beyond our comfort zone into a place where we must trust that God will provide what is necessary to get us through.

My prayer is that God will continue to bring opportunities my way and that I will have the faith to accept them when they come.  I pray the same for you.  I am thankful that God cares enough about me to provide opportunities for my growth.

"...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you." -- Matthew 17:20

Pushing Forward

Sometimes determination is the only thing that keeps you moving forward.  It is something that happens in the mind -- a decision -- that no matter the obstacle, you will continue.  It isn't always rational.  It may be that the thing we are bent on accomplishing is of little or, no consequence and when we have completed the task there is no value in the chore, but only in the fact we drove ourselves to do it.

That is my thought this morning as I write.  I don't know that what is said here makes a difference to anyone, or anything, but it is something I have set for myself to do each day.  Some days, like this one, I struggle to find a subject about which to share but, there are other days when the words seem to flow easily.

I think that in every task we face, there is often a point at which we must make the decision to push on, no matter how we "feel" and no matter how much success we have experienced in what we are doing.  It is something that I faced almost daily in jobs that involved selling a product or service.  After several rejections, the next call can sometimes seem pointless.  I had to remind myself that it was a "numbers game" in which only a percentage of contacts would result in a sale, therefore, it wasn't about facing rejection again, it was about finding that small percentage who would say yes to my offering.

I suspect my writing is the same in that there are times when my words resonate with the reader and have a positive impact and there are times when they are simply words on a page.  I have to remind myself why I am writing -- I write to hone my craft.

Whatever it is that you do, always remind yourself of the reasons that you do it and push ahead; push through the obstacles and the days when it seems pointless.  Determine to continue forward no matter how you feel or, how others respond to your efforts.  Do it for your own growth.  Do it because whether you know it or, not, you have been called to do it at this point in your life.  Keep putting one foot in front of the other and find joy in what you do.