Invocation

Are you there, Muse? It’s me, Warren. I straggled out of bed before light to see if we could have a chat. They say showing up is half the battle, but I think it’s more like three quarters, because I know for a fact that you’re not going to show up unless I do. So here I am, and here we go, right?

It’s kind of fascinating that people are OK with invoking the Muse or Mother Nature or the Spirit of Gaea but get uncomfortable with the idea of God, who could be all of the above. Maybe it’s their idea of who God is, or how the concept of God has been co-opted over the years, seeing as they’re just fine with the idea of Someone or Something supernatural and bigger than us.

I had more than one dream last night that I was sure I’d remember this morning because they were so vivid and interesting. More water under the spilled milk, um, more crying over the bridge — hmmm, looks like I need my morning dose of caffeine.

That which has dissipated into the ether likely will return someday, disguised as something new. I find myself finding old blog posts where I said something I thought I’d thought for the first time just recently. I guess it’s a variation on “There’s nothing new under the sun”: There’s nothing new in my latest thoughts.

(The Muse and I had a marvelous conversation after this. I promise to share it someday.)

How to be safe and free at the same time

You have been told to stay safe. You have pushed back because you value freedom more. I am here to suggest that safe AND free is an option.

You are free to take what steps you deem appropriate to be as safe as possible. Educate yourself and take the necessary steps.

The choice is yours. Or should be.

If someone orders you, you may be safe but you’re not free. If you are not educated and aware of the potential danger, you may be free but not safe.

Only by taking responsibility for your own safety can you hope to be safe and free.

That little anxious feeling when you consider that it’s all in your own hands? That’s not fear. That’s the beginning of exhilaration. That’s freedom.

Autumn sunshine and the promise of snow

The sun is back today. Yesterday was Gray close your eyes and rest in the gloom, and today is slowly building into Look at all the glory come and run in the light — although now the green is starting to fade to yellow and red in anticipation of future brown.

On days like today, everything looks like potential, although deadlines are hinted in the approaching fall colors. Many of the tasks at hand ought to be done before it’s too cold to be outside comfortably for long – and so we’re talking a couple of months to do them – others must be completed before the work involves tramping and digging through snow.

It’s hard to imagine snow on a day like this – just as in a few months it will be hard to imagine green and flowers and a warm breeze from the south and ice cream melting in our hands. It’s the circle of seasons, time marching on and opportunities rising and being missed all in a row.

Let today be the one (or one of many) where opportunity is seized and grappled into life.