Going Inkless

     At a certain point early on, a child begins to understand that things happen for reasons.  Before that point, the whole world is magical.  Things just work.  The example I was given of this stage of perception was that young child opening the cabinet each morning and the cereal is just there.  No concept of where it had come from, the store or the farm.  No concept that it might not be there one day.  It just is.      Gradually, understanding comes.  We begin to see the paths that lead to the ends.  As we grow, knowledge of consequences enables us to solve problems or reach our goals.  Still, there is some blindness in each of us.      As adults, we know the fact that everything has an origin.  Whether that was a natural process or human intervention, what is  exists because of what was .   Awareness  of the fact usually requires concious thought that we don't often en...

There is a certain amount of security and comfort in doing things the hard way. That may seem counter intuitive , but it's true. Nobody likes trouble, and humankind is known for going to great lengths to make their lives easier. The easy way has its obvious attractions: less work, fewer problems, quicker rewards. Still, troubles will come your way unbidden from time to time, regardless of your choosing the easy road. Every person must deal with hardships at some point. Occasionally choosing to rough it prepares you for the unexpected and gives you peace of mind knowing that you are capable of handling those troubles. There is often satisfaction in taking on a difficult goal and working to the solution. People do puzzles and read mysteries for just that reason. Human beings need to be challenged to be happy. Yet, I'm still faced with quizzical looks when I choose a tougher path. Several years ago, I spent a week of vacation building a large terraced planter in the f...

If you know me personally, you've probably heard the contents of this essay before. It's something I come around to every so often, a thought that both consoles and humbles. The world is round. We see circles and spheres everywhere, glimpse the roundness in the subtle curve of the horizon. The wheel of the year turns through the seasons and into the next year without stopping. Day rises out of night and descends there again. The moon waxes and wanes only to grow full again. On a more personal level, we experience this roundness in going out and coming home, inhaling and exhaling, and a thousand other round trips we make in our daily lives. This isn't a new idea. Philosophers and mystics, musicians and even farmers have recognized the wheels that turn the universe and tuned their lives to the cycles. All things come back where they started and move round again. Likewise, the tides of luck, relationships, energy, all obey this cosmic rule. It's tempting to see t...