June 1, 2020 Recently I came upon a prophetic passage regarding the worrisome future of America, which was conveyed ninety-nine years ago (June 10, 1921) in a letter to the head of a Baha’i organization in this country. In it the writer quotes ‘Abdu’l-Baha, who was at the time the head of the world wide … Continue reading Are we nearing the destruction of America?
Author: Rising Over the Smoke
Rising Over the Smoke is me looking for larger patterns, hidden meanings in what goes on all around us. The world gets more conflicted and confused from one year to the next, or so it seems. Some days life feels fresh, open, energized, connected, others more nuanced, confused, distanced, lethargic. To me writing is a way of exploring my place, and perhaps that of others.
I am Baha’i, thus my thoughts are affected by my faith. Beliefs include independent investigation of truth, equality of men and women, the essential harmony between science and religion, that there is one God from whom all the world’s religions spring, that we diverse humans are all of one family. The Baha’i Faith is unlike other existing world religions as it does not claim to be the only “true” path or religion. The Baha’i Faith acknowledges all sacred traditions and religions as equal.
Friday for Favorite Things
Having fun here on a Friday afternoon... Not my image but I do like it 1. Favorite Harry Potter Movie: The first, because there you have all the rest to look forward to. 2. Favorite String Instrument: Ukulele, which I am learning to play. It’s therapeutic, since my hands have nerve damage from decades of walking … Continue reading Friday for Favorite Things
Earth Day 50 reflections
Here we are and it’s Earth Day 50 this time, so unlike a single one of the previous forty nine observances. Circumstances for me as this Earth Day rolls around involve sharing a home in California's Central Valley with my daughter, her husband and their almost nine-month-old son — my first grandchild and a … Continue reading Earth Day 50 reflections
Ties binding us
Note: None of this is political. No more than simply living is political. I try to think according to the words of a great spiritual master, 'Abdu'l-Baha Abbas: "Walk the spiritual path with practical feet". Behind our house in California’s hot, hot Central Valley sits a long wooden fence, above which wave a number of American … Continue reading Ties binding us
Of dogs… and then there was one
Elf the Corgi is now an only dog. Throughout yesterday and the day before she and her human, Emily, sat with their faithful companion of eight years, Opus the Dachshund-Terrier, in his final hours. He passed at home, in his crate, about 4:30 in the afternoon of April 17, aged fourteen years. There was a … Continue reading Of dogs… and then there was one
In which a hummingbird tribe sends me a message
Around Thanksgiving fall really started to put in an appearance here. Trees along neighborhood streets in Madera, California put on their scarlet and deep red tones, some went brilliant gold. I wish I could give you the names of these lovely beings, but alas, my knowledge of the numerous imported trees around the region is … Continue reading In which a hummingbird tribe sends me a message
Of light and darkness
Lately a sense of inertia has come over me. Days are so much shorter than they were even a month ago, so much colder than they were in high summer heat here in California's Central Valley. Each day I get a vivid show of how Earth turns its northern hemisphere away from the sun … Continue reading Of light and darkness
Changing seasons, out and in
This is the final blog that I will write on this faithful small MacBook, for which I traded in my last iMac two and a half years ago. Another state, another life, a different, much smaller notebook to make the transition away from New Mexico with me. It's a peek at other goodbyes, as well. … Continue reading Changing seasons, out and in
Home sweet home, revisited
There is a surreal feeling I should be getting when setting about selecting another place to live. Perhaps I should mention that I am the sort of impatient person who gets daunted by too many choices, loathes going into large stores and generally gets a big headache when forced to spend more than twenty … Continue reading Home sweet home, revisited
Yosemite Bear is hiding again
Some of Yosemite's wildlife have been getting awfully comfortable during the tourist-free period they have been experiencing. Bears in particular made free with fruit in the park's apple trees. The national park closed to the public for many days while over a thousand firefighters wrestled down a monster wildfire close to the park, two good, … Continue reading Yosemite Bear is hiding again
