In Need of a Beach

In my mind I hear the rhythm of the waves as they wash up on a sandy shore.  The breeze is light, yet heavy with the moisture of the waters over which it is passing.  Raucous gulls ride the currents in the early morning beams of sunshine peeking through low clouds on the horizon that mute the colors of the dawn into purples and pinks and oranges that diffuse into each other.  Pelicans skim the edges of the breakers as they roll inward, seeking the silvery shapes that dart just below the surface.

I resist the urge to wander along the firm, moist edge where the water surges onto the beach.  I might seek the shells and sand dollars that have washed up during the night but instead, I sit and breath deeply of the salt air in the coolness of the morning.  The lapping, rolling, surging, washing, renewing waters lull me into tranquility.

With a jolt I awake to the needs of the day and climb out of bed to once again face the routine.  I think the ocean is calling....

Losing Track of Time

Do you ever lose track of time?  Is there some activity that engages you so completely that you forget lunch or, supper or, even that you need to sleep?  What is that activity that engrosses you so completely you forget where you are?

For some people it is work.  I have worked with a couple of people through the years who would become fixated with solving some problem and would literally work around the clock to come up with an answer.  They were computer programmers.

I recall more than once coming into work to find them asleep with their head on their arms at their desk where they had worked all night to complete some project.  I told them to wake up and go home and get some rest.  Their behavior was driven by multiple factors including:  1) a desire to resolve a problem for a customer, 2) a desire to solve a problem simply to prove they could and 3) a focus on the problem so intent that the passage of time and bodily needs became irrelevant.

I think there are lessons for all of us in such behavior.  1)  We need to find the things about which we are passionate.  2)  We need to hone our desire to meet customer needs.  3)  We need to realize that we can overcome any obstacle if we will zero in on finding solutions.  4)  We need to learn to focus.

I'm usually pretty good with #2 and #3, but fail at #1 and #4.  How about you?  What makes you lose track of time?

Be Happy or Change

It seems that most people are bothered by silence
(I like silence.)
And feel the need to fill it with conversation
(I don't have that compulsion.)
That is often completely meaningless.
(I prefer meaning.)
They rattle on and on about things that have no bearing
(I don't like rattles.)
On anything and often about which they know little.
(I prefer to learn.)
Frequently they complain about the things around them
(I don't like complainers.)
And criticize someones behavior without stopping to think
(I want to understand.)
Why they are doing things that way or, why their method
(I don't like assumptions.)
Is what it is and not the way they would have done it.
(I like diversity in thought.)
Is it simply because they don't like themselves
(If you don't like it change it.)
And are uncomfortable with their own company?
(I'm happy with who I am.)

Serial Implausibility

Have you ever watched the television show, "Scorpion?"  It is about a group of geniuses who are called in whenever there is an insolvable problem somewhere in the world.  Through their super-analytic powers, they always come up with solutions.  The show is definitely a bit corny, but I enjoy watching it.

One of the things about the show that can sometimes be annoying, but is a basic premise of the show, is that in every episode there is a continuous series of implausible events that occur.  Each time it seems the team has overcome one disaster, another one pops up to prevent a final solution.  I call it "serial implausibility."

The show always depicts the social awkwardness of the characters in a way that is identifiable in an extreme way.  Each one has obvious flaws that contribute to the odd situations.  The show always points to each individuals efforts to recognize and work to overcome those personal shortcomings.  Even geniuses have struggles.

There are several lessons in the show that I definitely like:  1)  No matter how difficult the situation seems, there is a solution.  2)  No matter how many times you get knocked down, if you will get up and try again you can overcome adversity.  3)  Nobody is perfect and we all struggle with flaws and failings.  4)  Working together as a team is important -- even for geniuses.

The show is a great series of lessons in how to be successful.

I really didn't set out to make this about a television show, I intended to make it about overcoming struggles.  No matter how many setbacks pop up, keep on pursuing your goal.  Success comes only through overcoming the challenges.  Without challenge there is no victory.  Think about that one for a minute.  If you don't struggle to reach your dreams they are a gift, not a victory.  Keep on struggling and may you be victorious -- over yourself and any adversity you face.

Milk, Misinformation and Memorial Day

Sometimes you overhear comments that just make you shake your head.  I heard something a couple of days ago that lodged in my mind simply because it was intended to be a condemnation of specific behavior.  It bugged me because it was such a meaningless statement but, meant to be definitive.  The comment was intended to condemn the drinking of milk by adults.  It was, "Man is the only animal that drinks milk after weaning."

I opened my mouth to retort back, but then closed it again because I knew the conversation from that point would not be a good one.  If I had done so, this might be what I would have said:

That isn't technically correct.  I have observed grown cattle nursing other cows.  It isn't common, but they are opportunistic, just like every other animal.  But, it really doesn't matter, because many grown ups drink milk, just like they behave in other ways that no other animal behaves.  Some examples are:  1)  Humans also cook their food.  I don't know of any other animal that does that.  2)  Humans also take multiple food stuffs, mix them together through the "magic" of chemistry and change them into fabulous dishes like pancakes, sauces, casseroles, or other delicious things.  I don't think any other animals do that.  3)  Only around 2% of humans in the United States raise and harvest the food consumed by 100% of the population.  Ants and a few other insects also utilize a division of labor in the collection (notice that I said collection) of food and its transport, but most animals do not raise their own food -- in fact I don't know of any that do.  4)  There are a few animals that utilize tools of some fashion, but man is the only animal that uses tools to make even more complex tools that increase their power to accomplish work.  Some examples would be automobiles, tractors, airplanes, computers, etc.  Should I go on?

The groups that are opposed to the use of animals for food in any fashion constantly seed society with misleading phrases like the one above.  The trouble is that people don't stop and think about them, they just latch on to the ones that resonate personally and propagate them in ways that are negative.  In this case, the person saying it may be lactose intolerant, or simply doesn't like milk.  It doesn't really matter, it is the negativity that grates on me.

What makes me sad though, is that mankind, the creative animal that is both opportunistic and yet foresighted enough to conserve resources in a sustainable fashion, is also gullible enough to fall for deception.  It is confirmation there is a God out there that keeps us from destroying ourselves, and that God certainly isn't man himself.

Okay, I'm done with my rant.  Enjoy your Memorial Day, but keep in mind why we have this holiday on which we honor those who gave the supreme sacrifice that we might enjoy the freedom we have -- even if that freedom means some will use it to promulgate propaganda.

Coffee Thinking

Coffee warms you up;
Have you ever noticed that?
I'm sure you have
If you are one of us that drink it.

On a cold day that's a good thing
But, on a day that's hot and humid
It still warms you up
And you find that you are sweating.

Old timers have told me
They drink coffee to cool off
On a hot summer day
Because the sweat acts as air conditioning.

I suppose that makes sense
In a climate with a breeze
But, in this hot and humid place
I live in now it doesn't.

Some people can drink coffee
All day long and it doesn't
Seem to affect them, but
I have to quit before about 3:00

Otherwise, I can't get to sleep
And I lie awake with my mind
Buzzing with thoughts
Because of the caffeine.

I know that I'm addicted,
Or maybe it's just a habit
That causes me to want it
Every single day when I awake.

It only takes a couple of cups
And then the craving is satisfied
But, there are other times
When I drink more than two.

A cup of coffee in hand
Just seems to fit certain times
And perhaps it is a comfort
That helps me to think....

Reading, Experience and Reality

One of the things that frustrates me most about aging is that I can't read for very long at a time because my eyes get to bothering me.  I suspect it is at least partially because I spend too many hours looking at a computer screen -- either large or hand-held -- and they are already strained.

It is growing clear to me that I will never be able to read all the books I want to read before I am gone from this earth.  I hope one of the things available in heaven is a library of all the world's literature and that we will be able to read in the original language.  I guess that really won't be necessary since our knowledge will be perfected and much of what we think we know will likely be completely incorrect.

That's another thing that is somewhat frustrating.  As I age, I realize there are many things I thought I knew about which my thinking was incorrect.  The longer I live and am exposed to different experiences, the more I realize that my limited experience limited my understanding.  What were once certainties are now often surrounded by doubt.

Part of that changed understanding is from reading the books I mentioned.  More of it is a result of meeting and talking to people who have had different experiences than have I.  It is amazing to me how we each see things differently and react differently to the things that happen in our life.  Is reality actually a function of perception?  I ask that because reality to each of us is different and it is based in our perceptions.

I sometimes wonder if we are living in some artificially induced reality that we perceive as existence when instead, the universe is something totally different and we are being manipulated in our beliefs and perceptions by some unseen force that has us plugged into a mind-manipulating apparatus -- much like in the movie "The Matrix."  Doesn't it sometimes seem like what is happening around is completely unreal at times?  How do you explain deja vu?  How is it that we sometimes feel connections to people who are hundreds of miles away and are thinking about them  just before they call?

It's no wonder I doubt what I think I know -- it is easier to think clearly without clutter.  Maybe I shouldn't read so much??

Why We Are What We Are

Sometimes I think about the past
And all that I've been through;
The ups and downs, the good and bad,
Things I have done and didn't do.

I wonder at the path I took
That brought me to this place
And think if I had chosen differently
How it might have changed the race.

Then I realize it's not about
The things that I have done,
It's about the people I have met
And the victories I have won

For God has set the path for us
While we are here on earth
Based on the things we need to learn
As we grow from our new birth

As followers of the mighty Son
Who came to give us life
That we might live forever
Once we leave this world of strife.

Filling the Bucket

"In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus."

-- Negro Spiritual of unknown origin likely composed by a slave

Some days songs just pop into my head.  I suspect most people experience it.  This morning the Jeremy Camp version of "Give Me Jesus" is rolling through my head on continuous loop.  I wonder sometimes what sets off such things?

I suspect it is current circumstance and needs that rise out of the heart that drive it.  I believe God supplies us with answers to those things which challenge us.  If we will feed ourselves with His Word and with songs generated from that Word, He will provide them as needed -- they will rise up out of seeming "nothingness" to provide comfort and peace.

Take time each day to feed your Spirit so that when needed, there will be plenty to draw upon.

No "Selfies" Needed

Sometimes it's the small things
That ease the path for others --
Providing meaning
For existence;

To serve
Rather than to be served;

Inverted thinking;
Contra-worldliness;
Outward looking;
Building bridges;

No "selfies" needed.

Abuse of Power and Gamesmanship

I am concerned about many things going on in our government, but one that stands out to me is the attempts by the U.S. Congress to force certain behavior by the Executive through the use of summons and subpoenas.  It seems to be a tactic designed solely to disrupt the ability of the Executive to function.

The Constitution is clear on the division of powers between the various branches of government.  It seems Congress has co-opted judiciary power in order to disrupt the executive power.  I would think it appropriate for Congressional Committees to request the appearance of executive officers in order to provide information relevant to their purposes, but to demand appearance is strictly for the purpose of political gamesmanship.  That very gamesmanship is reason for the executive officers to resist or, refuse testimony.  It is nothing but abuse of power.

The system of government as outlined under the Constitution provides for a balance of function so that no specific group obtains inordinate power over the others and ergo over the people.  The Democrats in the House are seeking to concentrate power in their hands that is harmful to the overall function of government and threatens the very fabric of our nation.  I hope the executive continues to resist.

At least part of the blame lies with the previous administration that demonstrated willful disregard for due process through misuse of the investigative agency designed to protect the public.  It showed that power could be accreted through unlawful means by utilizing the very agency meant to prevent it.  Now, political leaders in the House are using a similar strategy.  Let's hope the Supreme Court, which is where these issues ultimately will land, demonstrates the wisdom of the founders in the balance between branches.

In the meantime, we face what can only be described as a failed government -- not just the Executive and not just the Legislative, but the entirety of government.  It's no wonder some of the more radical ideas are catching traction.  The public is fed up with what we have.

Nightlife

Dancing in the moonlight,
High up in the trees
Rustling leaves are twirling
On the gentle breeze.

A whippoorwill is calling
As he dashes through the night
Chasing after insects
Who flee in frantic flight.

Stars are twinkling brightly
Far above it all;
In the distant pasture
Sounds the coyote's mournful call.

There is a constant noise
Of insects and of frogs
And somewhere in the woods
Is the sound of wild hogs.

Nighttime brings the creatures out
Who've spent the day asleep
Where underneath the darkness
A vigil they do keep

For those who do the hunting
Or, for those who are the prey
There in the inky blackness
Hidden from the light of day.

Anchored to the Immovable

At times it is easy to forget the things that provide an anchor.  We allow ourselves to be tossed about by events and circumstances rather than to "catch hold" of something stronger that will allow us to ride out the storms.  That is the purpose of an anchor -- to hold us to something that is immovable that will be unaffected by the storms that rage.

There are many kinds of storms that affect us.  Yesterday was one of those days when we knew thunderstorms were coming from the west.  We knew far in advance that they were likely to bring severe weather and so we prepared.  Fortunately, the severe storms missed us, but the point is they were the type for which we could prepare because of advance warning.  Often, storms pop up quickly, with little advance warning and they can bring hail and wind or, even a tornado.  They often catch us unaware.

Weather is one type of storm, but the kind that truly impact us are the ones that challenge us in other ways.  It could be illness, job loss, death of a family member, or many of the other things that create difficulties for us on journey through life.  Sometimes we can prepare for such things but, at other times they happen without warning.  Those seem to be the kind that are most troubling.

I was reminded of this aspect of life this morning as I looked at one of my favorite passages in the Bible:  James 1:2-7

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you many be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

God has given us the tools to ride out the storm.  Faith is our anchor that ties us to the immovable.  I pray this morning that your faith is in the Truth which is Jesus.

A Sultry Morning

This morning as I step outside
The air is wet and thick,
Presaging what the forecast calls
A high risk of thunderstorms
With some likely severe.
It is days like this
That make me miss
The open plains where
A light breeze sweeps away
The heaviness of moisture-laden
Air.

The animals in silence
Pant heavily as they seek
The slightest breeze to relieve
Their misery
Of trapped heat that never
Dissipates into the
Laden molecules which
Are already at body temperature.
Relief will come later with
Rising winds, pelting rain and
Hail.

Snakes and Slug Slime

In a way, I am a little bit like James Harriott.  If you aren't familiar with him, he was a British Veterinarian and author of children's books.  Our children and grandchildren are great fans.

Somehow, I associate him with the words "all creatures great and small" which I think was the title of one of his books even though I believe the source of them was a children's song learned long ago in Sunday School.  In saying that I am a bit like him, I refer to the fact that I am intrigued by animals -- creatures -- of almost any kind.  That doesn't necessarily mean that I want them as companions or as pets, but that I am interested in their construction, their function and their place in the overall scheme of things.  After all, everything on this earth serves a purpose and every virus, bacteria, insect, plant and animal has a role to play.

What brings this to mind is a post from yesterday on Facebook in which a friend discovered a small garter snake trapped in a glue trap inside the bathroom at their home.  Snakes are interesting to me although I have never been one to pick them up and let them wind around my arm as my bride is willing to do.  I don't fear them, I just have no desire to interact with them on such a personal level.  I think finding one in the bathroom goes a bit beyond invasion of personal space.

Since moving to this part of Texas we have become acquainted with a number of creatures that were not a part of growing up in drier climes.  The one that specifically comes to mind is the common garden slug.  They come out at night and leave slime trails on our back porch.  In the daylight, after the slime has dried, you can see their trails shine as they reflect the light.  They especially follow the mortared seam where the concrete of the porch abuts the bricks of the house.  Over time, through repeated nights of traveling the same path, the thin layer of dried slime builds to form a thorough coating over the mortar and concrete that makes it look as though it has been varnished.  They sometimes will climb on the windows as well, leaving a tracery of paths across the glass that is only apparent when the light hits it just right.  I am not a fan of them if for no other reason than the mess they make with their slime trails.  They do, however, make good bait.

My "to do" list gets a new addition -- scrubbing the back porch.  I probably should wait until the sliming season is past.

I wonder what the purpose of a slug might be....

Restless Reminders

We are surrounded by traces of the past.  Of course, some are better than others at throwing out those things that tend to accumulate over time, but still, if you look closely, things creep into our life that find a semi-permanent place somewhere around us.

Examples might be a coffee mug picked up on a trip to a museum, or a book purchased in another state, or perhaps it is something much smaller such as an ink pen picked up at a trade show.  Over time, some of these things will be weeded out only to be replaced by other things.  These are what make for a "Sherlock Holmes" snapshot of who we are because they quickly build context for the places we have been and the things we have done.

Our inner life is filled with similar "tracks" that have been left behind by experience.  Each and every thing that we do affects us, sometimes in subtle ways, so that we carry within our minds and bodies a history of our life.  It might be the influence of a teacher many, many years ago, or it could be a fight with the neighbor kid when you were growing up.  It could be a trip you took to another state, or country, but still, whatever it is that we have done has had an effect.

When I see rows of perfectly spaced grain sorghum growing in fields, I think of a trip to Niger where the farmers planted millet by hand in roughly spaced rows in the red soils of the Sahel.  Their tools were primitive hoes as compared to the massive machinery used in this country.  When I see a new metal barn I think of the old Quonset barn on my grandfather's farm, or the massive wooden structures of the Midwest or, the black tobacco drying barns of Kentucky.  My mind connects those things into a patchwork of experience.  That experience affects my attitude and my behavior toward others.  It helps me to understand a little better than if I had never been exposed to those things.

Both the external and internal "tracks" that surround and fill me are largely the result of travel.  Not everyone has the opportunity to travel, but for those who do, I would highly encourage it.  It helps us to better understand and relate to others.  It is easy to believe that our way of thinking is correct when our exposure to other thought and experience is limited.

Maybe I'm getting a bit restless.  I'm ready for something new. 

World News and Connections

This is one of those mornings in which my mind is "subject hopping" rather than focusing in on anything specific.  It makes it difficult to write because the...

I noticed several articles about computer glitches or, viruses, or other issues related to the use of the pervasive technology that surrounds us as I read the news earlier this morning.  It seems that the more complex things get, the more opportunities there are for individuals to exploit weaknesses within them....

I don't know what the ultimate results of the tariff war with China will be, but the current stalemate is certainly taking a toll on the stock market.  It's interesting to me how reactive the markets can be to such things.  Usually, the impact is considerably less than the market anticipates....

Cattle markets have taken a deep dive lately as far as Futures prices are concerned.  There should be some opportunities if you are in the stocker or cattle feeding business, but if you are selling your calf crop it may not be to your advantage.  I still think they are high relative to the opportunity based on the Futures, but there will be plenty of buyers at these price levels....

The rhetoric out of Iran continues to escalate and has precipitated the stripping of non-essential personnel from the U.S. presence in neighboring Iraq.  It is prudent, however, I think calling the warships in the Gulf "targets" rather than some less provocative term is a sign that it is mostly rhetoric as opposed to threat....

There are a number of novels under the Tom Clancy brand that refer to issues in the South China Sea and how conflicting claims to that area of the ocean could lead to an escalation of inter-power violence.  Coupled with the tariff war, we should be concerned....

...things bouncing around in my head aren't necessarily connected yet all of them are related.  One of the first economic problems one must solve when starting out on the study of said subject is something along the lines of, "What is the impact of a rise in the price of eggs in China on the cattle market in the U.S.?"  There is no clear answer, but an argument could be made for any one of many scenarios.  The point is that small things can have a global impact as the repercussions ripple through the world economy.  Maybe all these disparate subjects are connected after all.

Oz and Attitude

This morning the story of the Wizard of Oz comes to my mind.  It is the story of a scarecrow without a brain, a tin woodsman without a heart, a lion without courage and a little girl who just wants to go home.  I'm certain that everyone reading this is familiar with the movie made from the books by L. Frank Baum.

What triggered my thoughts in this direction are two-fold:  1) I have been reading the Oz books and 2) an article in BBC News this morning about hay fever.  The first is obviously linked, but the second a bit more obscure.  It has to do with the human body and how it reacts to the things around us.  It is an amazing vessel that contains this life-essence we recognize as self.

In time, through the "wisdom" of the great and powerful wizard, the characters in the Oz stories all learn that the power to overcome their shortcoming lies within.  With the aid of simple devices that give them confidence, each is able to fill their perceived need.  Ultimately it comes down to perception.

Perception is important in our lives.  We don't often think about how we perceive the things around us, but experts in marketing are fully aware of that impact.  There is a marketing concept that is stated, "perception is reality."  If we choose to believe something, it becomes real to us.  This is a dangerous, yet important factor in human character because it can work to our good or, to our detriment.

I believe the capacity for perception affecting our life is an important aspect of faith.  We either allow perception to accept or, to reject the presence of the Deity.  We can choose to interpret experience in ways that attribute certain events to God's intervention or, to mere chance, or even other convoluted cause-and-effect events.  I choose faith in a real God who loves us and intervened to provide a pathway into His presence via His Son, Jesus.

The ability we possess for allowing perception to influence and enforce our beliefs is important in other ways.  If we fill our mind with positive thoughts, we tend to be more positive; if our thoughts are negative we express that outlook in our interactions with others.  The primary impetus for the scarecrow, tin woodsman and the lion to overcome their perceived inadequacies was to become convinced that they had done so.  Dorothy's challenge was slightly different in that it was tied to the trauma-induced dream state she had entered into as a result of a knock on the head.  However, she awakened to reality when she believed that she could do so.

I believe we each can overcome our shortcomings by first recognizing them as such and then working to convince ourselves that we can conquer them.  We must learn to focus on the positive and suppress the negative.  I wonder now if I can convince myself that I don't really have hay fever and it will go away....

Links and Learning

The publisher of the trade publication for which I write sometimes refers to me as her "Renaissance Man."  It is a flattering appellation and one with which many are not familiar.  It refers primarily to something more specifically described as polymathy.

Polymathy generally refers to familiarity with various subjects ranging across a wide variety of disciplines (my definition).  It is a generalist, to put in the simplest of terms.  You might say that it means a "jack of all trades and master of none."

That probably is a good description of my personality, or to put it differently, "one of these days I will figure out what I want to be when I grow up."  Either I haven't figured it out yet, or I haven't grown up -- I don't know which; I continue to be interested in a wide variety of subjects.

One area of study common to those who exhibit polymathy in which I have failed is that of mastering multiple languages.  I struggle with basic Texican, let alone other languages.  I have long had the desire to learn other languages -- that counts doesn't it?  In my mind I can easily place myself in situations in which out of the depths come the proper words and syntax when placed in situations requiring fluency in another language, but the reality is much different.  I recently had the opportunity to interact with a group from Russia and found it difficult to master even a handful of words.

Polymathy, as a path for learning, is one that has endured many fluctuations through the years.  Recent history has pushed it to irrelevance as this age of specialization has forced depth of knowledge as opposed to breadth.  Some have recognized that breadth is necessary at times in order to "connect the dots" between various disciplines so that solutions don't "fall through the cracks" for lack of communication between different fields of study, but it is not commonly pushed within the halls of academia.  "Connecting dots" is, in my opinion, the role of management -- seeing the relationships between things and then making certain resources and systems are available to ensure the dots are connected.  Maybe that's why I sometimes exhibit traits of polymathy -- I have spent most of my career in management.  Specialists get the work done, but management is responsible for heading them down the correct path in order to accomplish the overall goal of the organization.

If you have any interest in understanding what is encompassed by polymathy you might consider the Wikipedia article linked here.  I thought it was interesting, but I tend to think many things are interesting....

Happy Mother's Day!

It's Mother's Day,
A special time
We set aside each year,
To honor those
Who gave us life
That we hold so dear.

And then there is
The certain one
With whom we walk through life
Who gave us children
Here on earth,
I'm speaking of my wife.

Then following in
Her mother's path
A daughter, special too,
Who now has children
Of her own
That we love so true.

God gave women
Here on earth
A precious role to play
And it is good
To honor them
On this, their special day.

Thank you to all of the mother's in our life.

Birds and Trees and Rain

I'm listening to a mourning dove outside my window this morning.  Every morning I am greeted by the sound of the birds.  Sometimes it's the screech of a bluejay, or the song of a cardinal.  Usually it is the many sparrows that inhabit the trees surrounding our house.  I enjoy hearing them, but this morning that dove is getting on my nerves.

One of the bird calls that I really enjoy is that of an owl.  We have several owls that inhabit the woods on our place.  Their deep "who-whoo-who-whooo" is a sound that is distinct and infrequent.  They are shy and will usually fly away at the approach of any two-legged critters.  You might see a flash between the trees as they soar from the top of one of the forest giants to another, high up in the canopy.  It is amazing to me how they maneuver between the branches without running into a limb.  In my mind I see a cartoonish vision of an owl flying "whap" into a tree.  That would be me.

Today would be a great day for a walk in the woods.  The problem is that it is supposed to rain most of the day and even if it quit, I doubt I could cross the creek.  I suspect it is running fairly full as it has been for weeks now.  It is cooler today and with the dampness it would be easy to walk quietly through the trees which increases the likelihood of seeing some denizen unaware of my approach.  It is days like this in which it is easier to slip up on a deer, hog or, possibly a coyote.  For some reason I find a perverse pleasure in getting close to one before it realizes my presence and jumps with a start before dashing off into some thicket.

I suppose it is the sound of the dove that continues even now that prompts me to think of walking in the woods.  I have always enjoyed those treks alone, communing with nature.  I think we were meant for such.  I can't imagine being cooped up in a city where such opportunities don't exist.  Kids need that experience.  Take your kids or, grand kids to a state park.  Enjoy the outdoors.  Let them meet the natural world and learn to love it.

A Worrisome Trend

Last night I read "The Manifesto of the Communist Party."  I read it years ago, but it had been a long, long time.  I was somewhat amazed at how many of the ideas promoted by the document have found their way into current theory of government.  Everything from public education to policies that promote the breakup of the traditional family unit.

Within the document are a few "gems" that are thought provoking.  It discusses the evolution of societal arrangement through time from tribalism, to feudalism to more modern theories of political and economic systems that we enjoy today.  It promoted communism as the next logical step in that evolution.

The argument presented within the document is that all such economic and political systems are designed to keep power concentrated in the hands of the few and the productivity of nations on the backs of the many.  It purports to resolve that issue by moving that power, through revolution, into the hands of the government by taking the resources of the nation out of the hands of the individual and placing them into the hands of "all citizens" through governmental control.  It is confiscation of wealth by those who hold political power, pure and simple.

In theory, there is merit to the concept -- especially to those who have been without wealth and power.  The trouble is that it doesn't solve the concentration of that power into the hands of a few -- it merely changes their face to that of government officials instead of private individuals.

The current trend toward automation is concerning to me.  It further exacerbates the issue of concentration of power into the hands of a few -- no matter under what political/economic system you consider, or favor.  It will become more and more difficult for a subset of the population to find employment in an automated economy.  Not everyone is suited to become computer programmers, or practitioners of other technology-based jobs.  The entry-level jobs are the very ones being replaced by technology.  These would include store clerks, fast-food workers, janitorial services, etc. -- i.e. low-skilled labor.

How do we deal with the loss of those jobs?  In my mind I see the classic science-fiction scenario of an underground economy of those who fall outside the system and live in the sewers and decaying factories of cities.  It isn't a pretty picture....

Sunshine and Allergies

Clear skies this morning,
Brightest of blue,
It is so good to finally see you!

It has been a wet Spring which followed a wet Fall.  Our ground is saturated and there is water standing in any low place.  When I drive across the pasture it sounds like I am driving through water!

I really don't mean to complain about the rain.  It has been wonderful after the dry spell we had last summer.  The grasses and clovers have grown like crazy and the cattle are all slick and fat.  Hopefully, it will be a good summer with enough rain to keep the pastures green and growing.

The crazy growth of everything this Spring has been hard on me, though.  When I walk out the back door the pollen from all the trees, grasses and weeds literally coats everything that I see.  It is as though someone dusted everything with a fine, yellowish-green powder.  I'm definitely doing my part to support the antihistamine and facial tissue manufacturers.  It's almost as bad as running a shredder through a patch of blooming careless weeds on a tractor without a cab (something I did growing up).

I've fought allergies all of my life.  It just seems normal to me, but it has never been much fun.  In some ways I envy those who don't have to deal with such on a daily basis.  I actually don't understand how anyone would not have allergies to air full of pollen.  Genetics is an interesting thing....

The sun shining down
On this brand new day
Inviting the birds to come out and play.

Drifting Mind, Drifting Herds

The period just after the Civil War is one of my favorite in American history.  It was a time of rapid westward expansion into the sparsely settled Plains and mountain fastnesses of the young and growing country.  It was the time of great herds moving northward from the brushy wildness of Texas to the nearest rail head.  Sometimes my mind thinks on what it would be like to be upon those great drives....

Tired from weeks upon the trail

The steers stood slowly.

Colorful hides contrasted with the green lushness

Of early Spring grasses

That drew them ever northward

To the markets that awaited

At the end of the trail.

Squeaking leather signaled

That the horsemen were mounting

For another day of monotonous,

Plodding steps upon the sod

As ever forward moved

This mobile feast toward the rails

Which would carry them eastward

To their demise

And resurection

As sustenance for the growing,

Thriving,

Westward advancing

Civilization.

Observing Wildlife

If I had known more about the various career opportunities when I was in High School, I probably would have pursued a degree in Wildlife Biology, or something similar, upon graduation.  I had a very limited knowledge of such possibilities in the small town in which I grew up and my only exposure to anything along that path was to game wardens.  I didn't really want to be in law enforcement at the time so, I headed down a different road.

I have always enjoyed observing and learning about the behavior of wildlife.  I remember as a kid, Texas Parks & Wildlife published what I recall as single-page profiles of wildlife in the state.  It would have a photograph of the animal and describe habitat, behavior and how to identify tracks, etc.  I used to love studying those.  I seem to remember one that was covered with tracks and how to identify an animal from those tracks.

Many times, weekends would find me traipsing around the pastures of my granddad's place out on Runningwater Draw.  I would often be carrying a shotgun, or rifle, or be focused on finding an arrowhead or, potsherd.  Always, though, I would be looking for animals.  It didn't matter if it was a lizard, a dung beetle or, a coyote, I wanted to see wildlife.  Plants also interested me.  It didn't have to be animals.  Blooming yucca (which we called beargrass) or, various other growing things always found me bent down, looking at the leaves and the blooms.

I remember Grandpa telling me that with few exceptions, if a cow would eat it, so could I.  This is generally a good rule-of-thumb as long as the cattle have plenty to eat.  When forage is sparse, they will sometimes eat plants that should be avoided.

I still enjoy watching for and observing wildlife.  The other day we saw a young bobcat beside the road as we were headed out to our place in the country.  Yesterday, as I was returning to town, I saw a Crested Caracara.  It was scavenging road kill on the edge of the road.  It seemed relatively unafraid and flew to a nearby fence post as I drove by.  I paused and took its photo.

Anticipation and Preparation

Some weeks start with anticipation and other weeks seem to start with dread.  For some reason, this morning as I sit down to write, I have a sense of anticipation for the week.  It "feels" like there are good things ahead that are calling to me -- drawing me forward.

One of the things I have to do this week is finalize a presentation that I am to make on Friday morning for a cattlemen's meeting.  I have a version of the slides completed but, I am not satisfied with the flow of the presentation so, I have been thinking through ways to revise it.  I plan to completely re-do it today.  I may be able to utilize some of the existing slides, but I intend to dramatically change the way the material is presented.

The venue for the program will be an arena setting.  The group will be fairly large, so the space was needed.  There are 5 of us on the program with a rountable discussion at the end.  It is definitely not my favorite setting for a program; I prefer smaller groups with more interaction.  I like to pose questions throughout a presentation and make it interactive.  It becomes a guided discussion in some ways, with utilization of slides to take the group through the material.  The large size of the group on Friday will mean primarily a lecture-type format.

People learn in different ways.  Most people are hands-on learners.  The ideal way to teach (in my non-professional opinion) is to have students "do" the thing they are expected to learn.  The second best way is to use strong visual aids.  The mind is better at capturing images than at interpreting words.  The least effective way is a lecture without visuals.

As I mentioned, I prefer to utilize questions throughout a presentation in order to gain participation from the audience.  It is easier to get people to grasp the material if their mind is engaged on multiple levels.  Asking questions causes them to think about the subject on a deeper level.  It helps to disengage that part of the mind which is focused on other things and re-focuses it on the subject at hand.  If you then add in the visual layer you can further "tune" the thoughts into a direction in which you want to proceed.  The words are an additional layer of information that shouldn't be "reading the slides" but, should act as a supplement to the visual aids that focus thinking.

The goal is to focus the learners minds on the subject.  If not fully engaged, the mind will drift to other things that are constantly vying for attention.  It may be things left undone, or it could be anticipated actions or events yet to occur. 

There is also the danger of lulling the audience to sleep.  The best way to prevent that is to include visually disruptive slides -- something that "shocks" the brain into awareness of thought.  We can only absorb "dense" material in small doses.  In order to increase the amount that can be absorbed, it should be punctuated by natural points of "pause" such as a visual joke.  A cartoon is often a great way to "disrupt" a presentation in a way that lightens the mood and provide the visual "jolt" to the audience.

It is probably obvious where my mind is focused this morning....

Winning, Losing and Controversy

Growing up, one of the things I enjoyed was playing games.  I especially like games played with cards or, dominoes.  I think games are important for youngsters as part of preparation for life.  In the adult world of tactics and strategy -- especially in business -- there is a strong similarity to playing games.

One of the things necessary in a game that is not strictly one of chance, is to not reveal your cards or, dominoes to your opponent.  Simultaneously, you are attempting to discern what cards, or dominoes your opponent is holding based on the way they play.  Knowledge of the strength and weaknesses of your opponents hand is often the difference between winning and losing.

Games of strategy and tactics are often most played by those who do not excel at games of physical prowess.  Rarely do you see exceptional athletes who are great at chess and just as rarely are great chess players good athletes.  In athletics, physical talent, strength and quickness are requisite for winning although positions of leadership -- such as quarterback in American football -- often require strong intellectual faculties as well as athletic ability.

Our military is filled with individuals whose strengths were in the physical endeavors of sports as youth.  Business is filled with those who were strong at less physical games such as cards.  There are exceptions to both, of course, but it seems that our proclivity to games is a natural inclination to participate in activities that prepare us for broader pursuits in the realm of adulthood.

Winning and losing are a part of playing games.  How one responds to both occurrences is important.  Attitude is extremely important in every endeavor.  Winning with grace affects relationships and therefore the outcome of future events.  Overcoming loss with the will to "try again" is required to continue on the path of improvement.

Sometimes events conspire to rob one of a win, or at other times, to steal the joy of the win.  The controversial call in yesterday's running of the Kentucky Derby will be discussed for many years.  The question of whether the interference was deliberate or, inadvertent will be the subject of conversation for days of those who were highly interested in the race.

I have to admit that I didn't watch the race, but the interference call makes it interesting to me.  There have been a number of calls in the last year or, so that affected the outcome of sporting events.  They include a couple of football games, a tennis match and I don't recall what else, but I'm certain there were more.

Any time human judgment comes into determining the outcome, there will be controversy.  Sometimes it is honest mistake and at others there may be something less honorable involved.  Either way, each interested person will respond with approbation or, condemnation or, perhaps in rare instance, neutrality.  When the stakes are high, neutrality is unlikely.

I suspect, in the case of yesterday's race, the best athlete was disqualified.  We will never know.

May The Fourth Be With You

Today is considered by many to be "Star Wars" day -- May the Fourth (force) be with you!  Being a Star Wars fan, I like that idea.  Being someone who is intrigued with the mind, I also am intrigued by "the force" as described in Star Wars.  Don't you sometimes sense that if you think something hard enough it will happen?

A number of times through the years I have experienced something that caused me to think that our mind is capable of much more than we are aware.  Have you ever been thinking of someone and your phone rings and it is that person calling?  I've seen explanations about such occurrences being either 1) coincidence or, 2) concurrent exposure to a shared connection -- such as seeing the same commercial on television to which you have common historical memory association.  I don't buy either one of those explanations.

I also find George Lucas' "midichlorians" intriguing.  In Star Wars, they are the source of the force.  They are symbiotic beings that reside within all living organisms.  The number of them in any one individual is correlated to their ability to "use the force" -- the higher the number, the greater their ability.  In our world, we have an organelle within each of our cells called a mitochondria.  It is considered the "power pack" of life.  It is like a miniature factory which builds molecules and supplies energy to operate the cell's various functions.  Unlike midichlorians, the number of them isn't the determinant of the "power in the force" but, mitochondria can be more efficient power generators in some rather than others such as those with high athletic ability.

I somehow find the idea that we are all "connected" to be something to embrace.  Life is precious; human life especially so.  No other life form in our present experience has achieved so much -- even to the point of space exploration.  Perhaps someday humanity will truly reach the stars and intergalactic travel will become a reality.  The power of many minds working together will make that happen -- much as "the force" connects all life in the Star Wars world.  I likely won't live to see that day, but some of my descendants might.  I hope so.

We all have "a force" to which we can connect if only we will do so.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6).  I pray that you will be filled with the Life Force that is inexhaustible -- Jesus.  May His force be in you.

Sometimes

In stillness,
God is.

In silence,
God speaks.

In patience,
God moves.

In hearts,
God loves.

Sometimes
We must be patient;
Silently waiting
In stillness,
Allowing God to work
In our hearts
To change us
Into what He
Would have us to be.

Mornings, Media and Politics

I think all of us have a basic morning routine that we go through.  We become habituated to a particular sequence of events each day that serve to get our day off to a consistent, if not always good, start.  We are creatures of habit.

Writing a post each day is part of my morning routine.  It occurs after I have consumed the first cup of coffee, checked e-mail, read the news and worked a couple of puzzles on my phone.  It is a first step in transitioning from "waking up" to the work day.  It helps me to engage my mind.

You might think reading the news would engage my mind, but most days, there isn't much worthwhile to get it going.  It seems to be the same old things, just with slight variations.  The things that make the biggest headlines typically aren't the things that matter most or, have the greatest impact on our lives -- unless there is a major catastrophic event.  Instead, the media "entertains" their readers with things they think will increase readership and therefore draw advertising revenue.  It is sad when entertainers often draw the headlines for things as mundane as their comments about the President.

There truly are many things going on in the world that are important.  The media gods have just chosen to ignore them because the "dumbed down" population which comprises their customer base has been conditioned not to think, but merely to be entertained.  An "entertained" population is malleable -- able to be manipulated.

The "People's House" -- i.e. the U.S. House of Representatives -- seems to reflect both the "dumbing down" of the general population and the exercise of power in ways that are, quite frankly, embarrassing.  (Just witness the McCarthyesque treatment of AG Barr by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the demands imposed by the House Judiciary Committee)  People from other countries find the behavior of our elected representatives to be both appalling and laughable.  It is disheartening to realize that this land of opportunity and "freedom" is rapidly imploding.

How bad must it become before the people are "awakened" to how they are being duped and manipulated?  There are a few good people sprinkled throughout the government and the media, but it seems their number is shrinking.  The good ones can't seem to get elected, or promoted because they don't "toe the line" when it comes to those in positions of power.

It's kind of depressing....

May Day - Not For Me

Today, May Day, is celebrated in many different ways throughout the world.  I've always been a bit confused about May Day and as I did some research into it, I understand why.  It isn't a uniformly celebrated holiday and its orientation varies widely depending on the country.

The earliest origins of May Day were celebrations honoring the Roman Goddess of Flowers, Flora.  Also, at that time, was the celebration of Maiouma which occurred every 3 years as a festival honoring Dionysus and Aphrodite.  It was known for its licentiousness and took place throughout the night with banquets and orgies.

Through the centuries, various countries and regions have held celebrations more-or-less coinciding with the 1st of May that were focused more on the transition of the seasons into summer.  Other things were sprinkled in which honored various local traditions.

In the late 19th Century, the Communist Party International decided to celebrate International Workers Day on May 1 to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in which a labor protest in Chicago ended in a bloodbath after someone threw a bomb at the police who were trying to break up the protest.  The result was 7 police officers and 4 civilians dead with dozens more wounded.  The protest was an attempt to get an 8-hour workday established as the norm.  The event served to unify labor into a more cohesive force on the American industrial scene.

Today, May Day in the U.S. has both "green" elements (those related to the beginning of summer) and "red" elements (those related to the Communist International Workers Day).  In either case, it isn't something I care to celebrate.  I suspect though, with he growth in influence of communists within the Democratic Party and their current emphasis on the end-of-the-world scenario they pose in relation to global warming, (at least 2 candidates have put a time limit on a worldwide government response to combat it) I wouldn't be surprised to see a growing number of May Day celebrations that include both red and green aspects.  It just seems to fit.  One more reason for me to dislike the term....