I’ve checked two different, authoritative, sources, The Bible, and A People’s History of the United States, and each concurs quite a bit with the other about the fact that humans seem to have been screw ups pretty much from the word go until today. That makes it easier for me to be less concerned about the prospect of knowing how to do the right thing all the time. It even diminishes my concerns about whether the upcoming election will determine the fate of democracy, the human race, BIPOC folks, women, nonbinary people etc. It may or may not, but only in combination with a bunch of other factors, some of which we may not even be aware of.
When I was a youngster, last millennium time, Disney released a film that included a song that’s keeps coming back to me every decade or so. The song’s title, It's Whatcha Do With Whatcha Got, pretty much says what I’m focusing on these days. [Full disclosure: I keep thinking, incorrectly, the song is from Song of the South instead of from So Dear to My Heart.]
As I’ve been rereading Agnrta Nyholm Winqvist's book on wabi sabi, I’m reminded of the principles that:
- Nothing lasts forever
- Nothing is perfect
- Nothing is ever finished
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| Long Time Coming and a Long Time Gone cover |
To add some interesting perspective to these principles, see if you can lay your hands on a copy of Richard Farina's Long Time Coming and a Long Time Gone and read some of his "Little Nothing" poems.
I’m slowly coming to a conclusion that there are those who are benefiting by keeping US upset and at each others throats and the best way to combat that is with a positive attitude and outlook. The great and wonderful Leonard Cohen seems to support such a perspective with the lyrics of
The birds, they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Ah, the wars
They will be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
We asked for signs
The signs were sent:
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see
I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
And they're going to hear from me
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
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Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.
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