Saturday, September 8, 2012

A Visit from Snake

I was sitting in the woods on a log writing. I was so in the joy of writing I didn’t even see the snake coming. When finally something caught my eye I looked up and saw a three foot long, black snake about four feet out in front of me and moving very quickly in my direction. There really wasn’t much for me to do so I just stayed completely still to see what he would do. I figured he would sense me and veer off. I was wrong. Apparently I was good at being still and I’m not afraid of snakes so I was decided to simply enjoy the experience. As I watched he just kept coming straight toward me. Soon he arrived about four or five inches to the right of my right foot. I figured that when he reached the log I was sitting on, he would go under it or turn off to his left where there weren’t any obstacles like my feet. Apparently my ability to figure was way off today! Instead of turning any direction at all, he came straight up onto the log! He finally stopped at the top as if he was sitting down for a little visit, with his head swaying only a couple inches from my thigh.

I had been watching him out of the corner of my eye this whole time so I wouldn’t have to turn my head and startle him. I knew he wasn’t a poisonous snake so I wasn’t scared and I new if I didn’t startle him he wouldn’t strike at me (even non-poisonous snakes will bite if they feel threatened). As he sat there next to me for a moment I just took a deep breath and watched him with my peripheral vision with curiosity. That is when he finally sensed me. I could just barely glimpse him turn his head in my direction. I can only assume he flicked that little forked tongue out and picked up a trace of me and the bug spray on my leg. It was of the herbal variety but I guess it was not to his liking because he promptly turned back around, went back down the log and slithered off in the direction from which he had come. I laughed as I watched him go from sheer joy at his visit. What a strange and wondrous moment it was!

That was not the first time I’ve had the joy of the company of the creatures of the woods simply by being still enough in their environment for them to venture by, and it’s not the only interesting encounter I’ve had with a snake. However, it was a delightful reminder of what treasures can be found by simply being in the joy of the moment and being enveloped in the wonder of the spectacular array of life we share this planet with. Thank you my friend snake for the visit and the reminder!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Campaign Pledge 2012

It’s an election year here in the US. Unless you’ve been living in a cave you already know that I suppose. With the political conventions that have happened over the past couple weeks there have been an awful lot of politicians making an awful lot of pledges and accusations and smug jokes at the other party’s expense and a whole lot of blaming. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, in the rhetoric and go along with whichever point of view you ascribe to. In fact that’s just exactly what they hope you will do, go along with them to wherever they’re going.

Here’s the thing, I don’t want to go along. I want to create. 

Now, I can clearly see that there are plenty of people out there already who are willing to take the role of politician, lobbyist, pundit, and certainly Facebook political commentator. That left me asking myself last night, “Well then, what is mine to do to help create this new world?” The answer was quite clear.

So here is my pledge to you my fellow Americans (and fellow souls of Earth): Until this presidential election is over I will not focus on one candidate or another, nor one party or another. I will not focus on rhetoric or statements of blame. I will focus on the vision of a peaceful country. I will focus on the vision of a compassionate country. I will focus on the vision of a tolerant country where we practice the golden rule of do unto others as you would have done unto you. I will focus on a country where we can discuss and disagree in love and understanding. I will focus on a country where all people are treated equally, where all people have equal opportunity, equal education, equal rights. I will focus on a country that sets an example of fairness and that holds a vision of a world that reflects all these qualities. I will focus on the country I know is possible, that I know most people who live here want. I will focus on the world I know already exists in so many hearts.

I will focus on these things because I know that in holding that vision the leader who aligns with it will naturally be called forth, whoever that leader is.

The only way to create this world of love and peace, compassion and kindness is to do it together. So I would invite you to do the same. The more people who hold a clear vision of the world we want to create, the sooner we will manifest that vision. I have felt it, I have seen it, I know it is already there waiting to be called forth, just as a leader who holds that same vision is also ready. Join me now, and in each moment of your day, in holding the vision of a world that is a worthy gift to all the children of this country and this earth.