May 25, 2022

01

Angel Oak 06 11/04/2013 Oil Paint Rendered — Angel Oak Park, Johns Island, South Carolina
We are here to make the best of it.
To bring our best forth to meet it--
to meet what meets us
in each situation as it arises,
without caring what our chances are.

How we meet the moment
is the only thing that matters.

If the moment walks all over us
and leaves us flattened
like some cartoon coyote
steam-rolled on a desert highway,
we have to pop back into shape
and get ready for the next moment.

Don't be afraid.
Don't even hesitate.
Just walk right into the moment,
moment after moment,
and give it your best,
again.

Treat every moment seriously
without taking it serious.
We give our best to the occasion at hand,
and give our best to the next occasion,
and all the ones after that,
without worrying one bit about the outcomes
of any of them.

Give it your best
and let the outcome be the outcome,
without allowing it to distract you
from the next moment
that is already crashing into your life.

Make the best of it
with the best you have to offer,
and get ready for the next one.

We develop a rhythm after a while,
and don't even bother 
with remembering wins and losses,
and quit keeping score. 

Just get up and go into what's waiting,
like Sisyphus with his stone
ready for the next hill.

–0–

02

Goodale 10/25/2019 11 Oil Paint Rendered — Adams Mill Pond, Goodale State Park, Camden, South Carolina
Things play themselves out
as the backlash/rebound builds
and revolt/revolution explodes
to swing the pendulum back from
its far extreme
and people can breathe again
for a while,
then, Woops!
here it comes the other way.

Back and forth throughout time.

Nothing is wrong with 
the still point of the turning world
except for being boring
to those with a yen for action,
and an aversion to stillness and silence,
who refuse to empty themselves of that
and just be present for good
in the lives of others.

The yogis and the swammis,
the sages and gurus
have yet to erupt in violence
and destroy all they can of civil-ization,
so it can be done.

And needs to be. 

Why not?

–0–

03

American Crow 06/20/2018 Oil Paint Rendered
When we have no power
and no control,
we are left with witnessing against
those with power and control.

Nobody ever witnesses for--
in favor of--power and control.
Only against it.
Tells you all you need to know
about power and control
and those who wield it.

After all, what is the point 
of having power and control
if you aren't going to use it
in behalf of your own interests
and preferences?

We use power and control to advance
our own interests and preferences
at the expense of everyone else.

That's the name of the game.

Leaving everyone else with capitulation
or witnessing against power and control.

I take up the cause of bearing witness
against those who live to make life
hell for everybody else.

I'm talking about Republicans--
the wealthiest and most powerful Republicans,
though those without wealth and power
are to be called out as well
for supporting and voting for
the wealthiest and most powerful,
and for dreaming of taking their own place
among the wealthy and powerful Republicans
in destroying what is good in the world
and making wealth and power for its own sake
the only good forever and always.

A pox on Republicans! 
A curse on Republicans!
Republicans are the bane of the earth!

In Favor of Guns
and Against Abortion!!!
Make sense of that if you will!
Guns are for killing--
for nothing but killing.
Guns are retroactive abortions in the waiting.

Republicans force women
to carry their pregnancy to term
and then allow children 
to be killed by gun bearing Junior Republicans
in elementary schools across the nation,
and in grocery stores,
and in churches...
The list is endless.

Republicans are against anything 
that serves the good of the people
at the expense of the wealthy and powerful.
What is good for corporate profits
is the only good.

May Republicans bear the weight of their 
callous disregard for the well-being
of the people in infamy 
for all eternity!

Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything.

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