walking the rail
is a game
that lasts
a short time
until the
unnatural
tame
balance
on the line
gives us up
Image: A combination of two photographs. One was taken at a railroad crossing just south of New Athens, Illinois. The other is an older photograph of a quilt that I used at the house in Oregon. The tracks represent the journey of schedules and rules that man makes. The quilt represents the comfort that exists off the track.
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Every time i went to the dining hall for a meal, i would sit with someone i had not sat with before to be able to meet more of the people who were attending. My roommate and i would walk to meals together and then split up. It was something we did without any conversation about it. Our relationship was very easy and comfortable. On the last night we did actually sit together though.
Later on Saturday evening, i made my way to the studios thinking that it would be nice to hang out there awhile. No one was there, i went in and spent some time opening the cabinets, looking at all the supplies. After that i cleaned up around the sink a bit washing some brushes out. I spotted a pile of cd’s, so i put on some music. It was relaxing just puttering around. I found some pastels and some paper, and found a space to play, and did a little piece about a vessel and light, and then cleaned up what i had gotten out. I was going to turn off the music when a younger man came in for a few minutes and then left. I was pretty much done, washed my hands, took my paper, and turned out the lights. The studios are on the far side of the Cody center, and i decided to go through the center on my way back. Going into the entry, i put the pastel on one of the stone wall shelves. The wall is made of stone and there are a few stones that are part of the wall but stick out a bit like a shelf. Leaving the pastel there was one more little art surprise to add to all the others, that had appeared over the weekend, before going home in the morning.
As i headed out the other side of the Cody center i saw the lights of the fireplace area through the trees and could hear some music and voices. I had not joined in on the late night gathering yet, so this was my last chance. I started up the path about five steps and the lights in the trees around me went out. I couldn’t see my feet, i couldn’t even see my hands. It was really dark. I thought…well maybe if I’m careful i can make it down the path. Two steps and i ran into a big rock. At that point i started to consider plan B. I turned around and there were still lights on in the entry area of the Cody center so i carefully made my way back there and went in.
Then it came to me…sticky tack! When i was looking for the sticky tack on Saturday i opened every drawer and looked all around the office. I remembered seeing matches in a drawer and a candle in a little vase on a desk in the office. The door was unlocked, so i went in and got them, brought them out and lit the candle. I started for the path and the light was in my eyes, so i held the candle up above my head and could see down the path just far enough to take about three steps. Perfecto. I walked down the path thinking…this is not my light, but, it is my light. Ah…this is shining my light, that is not me. This is seeing just far enough to take a couple of steps. This is holding up the light that i am given…my Light that is Jesus.
I followed the path to the clearing, joined the group, put the candle on the table and enjoyed the company and music, until it was time for me to hit the hay. It was good.
And that’s the rest of the story.
I left Laity, to travel back to Oregon, refreshed and with new thoughts.
Thanks to all who planned and worked and cooked and made beds and were just plain caring.
✜
.On Saturday, Bruce Herman spoke again in the great hall. He had a lot of good stuff to say, and i took a few notes. The thing is he did say something about letting our light shine. And though it wasn’t the main part of his talk, it stuck with me, and i thought it kind of strange. I mean, i’ve heard this so many times before, and it never really made much of an impact, and even this time i thought i an odd thing to say. After all Jesus is the light that shines, if anything shines from in me. David Dark also spoke and said something about letting go of the tension and letting light shine along with some other things like our particular voice and gift and way of paying attention. And there was a video on Harrison Higgins.
Later, I met a woman and was telling her of my interest in getting some ideas of things to do with with high school kids or at the community center, and she told me that i should talk to her husband, Rick, because he was a teacher. Later on i found him sitting alone and we had a great conversation. After awhile, Ivy joined in. After talking, the three of us walked to Rick’s car to help him take his art to the Cody Center. There were others in the center also setting up their art for display. I didn’t bring any with me on the flight so i watched.
While we were there, Rick was wondering if there was any sticky tack around to hang something on the wall. I looked in drawers, and found a lot of little things but, no sticky tack; i also looked around another room that looked like an office, and in a tub of stuff on a shelf, and found some blue tape, but still no sticky tack. He eventually used something or another and got the paper hung up.
There was a good turn-out of art to see. Also, all the other gathering and making of art from sticks and stones, feathers and seeds…etc…were popping up all over the place, inside and out. Every time i walked around i saw more little surprises that others had made. That part was really fun to do as well as see.
✜
to be continued…
#5 from the list of seven changes
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talk face to face instead of using a device
I wrote this one because i have become dependent on the devices. And i know that i’m not the only one. I think that i have this sure and instant connection to another person. And it’s pretty easy to believe this, until the person is not here anymore and all i have left is a name on my cell phone, or a picture on facebook.
Another reason is because i find myself distracted from those around me. But, if i’m speaking to people face to face, then the people around me and the people that i am with get first dibs. The phone and computer will be second in line to the face to face.
It’s great to have the convenience of the devices. But, convenience should not turn into continually having priority on my attention.
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✜
people,
we need to care about what we do
whatever we do
caring about it
like Love
flowing out of our heart
a sweet song
pouring out from the mouth
electric current
escaping from our finger tips
our eyes speaking like soft sea waves
Love shining out of our pores like sweat
on a hot mississippi day
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The Beautiful Due
Artful Words to Inspire Everyday Living
Daily short takes from an Appalachian hollow
A LITTLE SOMETHIN' 