France and Courage

Just back from France, I am writing a quick post, of which I will go into detail at a later time. 

As always, my stay in France was inspiring (I swear that I have lived there in a past life or two). 

One of the highlights of my trip was to light a candle before mass and taking communion in Notre Dame. 

The candle was lit before St. Joan of Arc's beautiful statue and dedicated altar residing in Notre Dame. She is one of the patron saints of France and a role model for us all.

Jean de Arc's story is one of conviction, courage and action. 

A mere child, she led more than one successful battle in the name of her beloved country before she was burned at the stake by the British. She died at the tender age of 19.

From Napoleon to Charles de Gaulle, St. Joan was highly revered and upheld as a hero of her beloved country.

Let us all seek and be given courage by grace during difficult times.

In Love, Truth and Beauty.

Photo courtesy of Chandra Eswaran

Some Musings about The Tribe

Happy Spring, Gentle Reader! 

Spring roared in to my homestead on the wings of thunder, lightning and fierce winds.

Truthfully, I was scared of the wind.

The night before the storm, I was fortunate to watch "Mongol", a film from 2007, directed by Sergei Bodrov. I have wanted to see this film since 2008, but fate kept delaying my experience. Looking back, I now see that the viewing of "Mongol" was right on time.

Apparently, according to the film, all Mongols are afraid of thunderstorms. The storms are interpreted as a sign that the Great God, Tengri, is angry with the people.

Of course, I have been thinking a lot about this film, which is billed as a 'semi-historical' account of Genghis Khan. 

 I have a fascination with the nomadic tribes and Genghis Khan in particular.

The past few months have brought news of several family members deaths. Both sides of my paternal and maternal immediate families are now officially passed from this "veil of tears". 

My Father's family was particularly close knit. Each member of that family put family first. 

As I grew older, and my Dad was facing his own mortality, I recognized that he did not belong to me. He belonged to God, his own family and us - in that order.

This closeness of family which became more difficult to sustain after WWII, was really the key to my Father's life. 

There is strength in the whole, which is comprised of individuals. 

Much benefit is derived from not straying from your Tribe.

My generation has largely lost that sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves. Personally, I speculate this may be one reason so many of us feel isolated and depressed.

Perhaps we should take a page from "The Secret Life of the Mongols"?

Genghis Khan sought to unite all of the disparate, feuding tribes into one great nation with very simple laws. 

He succeeded in creating a united Empire, but - at what cost?

Genghis Khan believed in protection of women and children (family) and staunch loyalty, but his campaigns in the guise of unity brought about some of the worst slaughter and carnage the world has endured.

Is violence necessary for the greater good?

Nature itself is violent.

Find your tribe. Be loyal. Protect those that are not as fortunate as you.

Peace.

Genghis Khan

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Life is like the weather ....

Most of the United States is experiencing wild temperature swings and irregular weather. It is not unusual for there to be days on end of freezing temps, snow and then rain, followed by unseasonably warm days. Where I live, 40 degree temperature swings are becoming customary during this winter season.

For several reasons, I am a sensitive sort, tending towards melancholy, which can be quite debilitating. 

There was a string of gray, overcast, pouring-down-rain days a little while ago and I was literally forcing myself to get out of the cocoon of my bed. Sleeping is my escape of choice when the world appears to be harsh. While not an optimum 'choice' of 'lifestyle', I can think of worse escapes.

Lightning Sequence

Eventually the weather changed to bright, sunny, mild days upon days. I spent many fortunate afternoons walking about in this beauty - the birds were singing (a little early for the Cardinals' mating songs, but they were singing their hearts out and it was splendid), a few trees were budding out, there was abundant greenery and blue skies galore.

 The thought occurred to me that the ups and downs of life are like the weather. Now, this is not the most profound thought, but for some reason it struck a deep and resounding chord inside my spirit.

When the glorious days of sun and beauty appear, I need to enjoy them to the fullest! No time like the present, as my beloved Dad used to remind me.

When life seems overwhelming or problems appear to close in, I should simply wait .... either circumstances or my attitude will change.

I still maintain that most of the time, things 'go right', but most humans only seem to notice when things 'go wrong'.

Here is to change and being grateful for the good times! I need to be grateful for the bad times as well. Strife tests my strength, teaches me courage and provides a dramatic contrast for the abundance of good in my life.

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

The Winter Solstice

I want to take this opportunity to send each and every one of you best wishes for the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and therefore the longest night in the Western world. 

Perennially, winter is the time of year that our homes are strewn with strands of glittering lights, candles, tinsel and evergreen branches or trees.
This cheery tradition originates in a time lost through the ages.
Light and darkness ultimately represent the cycle of life and death. All things in nature have a rest period, a dormancy, sleep, rest, a 'death', so that the circle of life remains unbroken.

On the night of the Winter Solstice, December 21st, we light our candles as a reminder of the presence of light even in darkness.

Yule Candles

May you have a festive Yule, a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, joyous Holidays and a winter season filled with the warmth of love, the wisdom of truth and life-affirming beauty.

Happy Birthday, Keith Richards!

....and Happy Anniversary! 

Patti Hansen and Keith Richards

Thank you, Keith, for making the most of a thoroughly misspent youth (except the boy scouts).

Congratulations on pulling off many seemingly impossible feats.
We love you.

Tell Patti that we love her too!

In Honor of my Dad and Pearl Harbor

 Or, how I came to be born in southern Indiana .....

 

The P-47

Attitude Adjustment

When my alarm sounded yesterday, I was greeted by a drizzly, bleak Monday. 

My very first thought of the day was "ugh", which was immediately followed by a mental 'to do' list that made me not want to get out of bed.

As cranky, wrong-minded thinking took over my mind, I was reminded that at the precise moment of my alarm's sounding, a woman I know was making her way to chemotherapy.

Inspiration

I closed my eyes and imagined that I was facing Stage IV cancer, radiation, chemotherapy and all of the attendant suffering.

My small, unnecessary grumblings became miniscule trifles in an instant.

May I continue to be mindful of others. 

May I know compassion. 

May I always hold gratitude in my heart.

May I never take for granted the embarrassment of riches and blessings that have literally fallen into my lap. 

May I always be of service to others.

Thank YOU for reading.