On Born in America

 First, for reference https://www.npr.org/2019/03/26/706566556/bruce-springsteen-born-in-the-usa-american-anthem 

We serve better our ideals when we label what is right and wrong, even knowing we could be wrong in what we think is right is wrong. Moreover, it includes more than just right and wrong labels, which we sadly have taken to bludgeoning any attempt to meaningful discussion.  It includes a pattern that permits and indeed encourages a discussion of the labels.  

Democracy is that pattern. It survives with an insubordinate (but kind) curiosity of what, why, when, how, and where of a people. Oh sweet love of mine.  Learning to learn what works.  Learning to learn what doesn’t. It survives on respect for what each of us offer to that learning.  It survives on recognition  for what the learner gave, got, or was given, in a learning to learn project that celebrates a Birthday today.

Happy Fourth!  

On place and time

 First, there was the need to receive some information which would assist in making a decision. The information had a place and a time, or so it was said. It is a place that has these labels, it is a time that reveals in the natural course from pattern to pattern.  Labels to places, as pattern to time. 

On waiting till someone is in the room

 First,

Person 1: Do want to hear a crazy idea? 

Person2: Yeah. But wait till mom is in the room.  Otherwise you’ll need to repeat yourself. 

On are we going in the right direction

 First, I wasn’t sure if I could say for sure I had heard correctly.  I recall -

Person 1: Are we headed in the right direction?

Person 2: I think so (slight pause),  we weren’t given any option..

Person 1: Yeah there was just this one path

The sound of the conversation rising and falling as the walkers neared then passed me.

A thought, an expression of questioning, which was such a pleasure to hear. The sign of a healthy habit of questioning.  Yes, a soft chuckle at the notion, (why ask if there was really one path), and a thunderous thankfulness for the thought.  People thinking about the path they are on. People asking questions about the path they are on.  People responding to the question.

This banter of friends was heard at Minute Man National Historical Park. The freedom of speech we have in this nation is the envy of many, and the curse of some. Because we have the freedom to question and the freedom to answer. 

The light, then the thunder of liberty’s bell.  Ask questions, provide answers, repeat as needed.

On maintaining

 First, it might not have been the very first time, but I recall this time better than the past. Or perhaps I understood what my universe meant to the doctor at that time. “You’re maintaining.”, the doctor says.

Maintaining is what you are when your doctor says so.  I am not complaining, I am maintaining. What a joy!

Maintaining is what you are when your choices are risk adjusted in the face of present knowledge and modeling. Present knowledge can be divisive, the modeling too. One group can know one thing to be and another group a different one. The maintenance of state to permit a common good can look rosy or bleak. 

When I was a younger man there was cosmetic dentistry now there is legacy dentistry.  At least I still got some dentistry in my life! 

On this now

 First, on this now, let me remember the past and what I do not need to do. Smile at the thought what were my burdens already are past. And yet remember the ones I still gladly have. This small wonder, as a hummingbird is at the flower. Pick up, receive the day as it rolls and hearts to heads and back again taking the blessing for what it is. 

Of my past burdens, which now are yours, can I say now how sorry I am for all the work that did not get done?  And what good would that do but ease my conscience? It would tell you, yes I know the sack of woe you now have. And yet today, finally perhaps I see another process at play and my need to offer my apologies fades like night when the light of a new day breaks. 

Of my past burdens, which before me were someone else’s. That is they were your burdens, you can have them back now.  And I do appreciate you letting me borrow them for a while.  I have learned so much, and I do hope I was able to share what I learned with you. It may have been lost in the whorl of what.  There was so much going on.  I know I was busy.  As to the usefulness of it, I do understand that it seemed useful to me, but not to the organization.  And therefore back to the organization go the burdens that I carried.

On Emerson and self-reliance

 First, Emerson’s self-reliance is a piece of writing where the writer is really attempting to get the reader to stop reading the writing. From the first paragraph you are repeatedly told to just depend upon your self.  Quite tempting to just close the pages and not read it.

There are reasons to keep reading the essay. One whole measure of thought is the knowledge that you are here today - engaged to the day and what it brings and what it takes if you are self-reliant. This is your reveal, measured by another day, a moment, to be yourself and see the universe through your eyes. Your eyes given you by the universe that you are a select member.  To be at wonder as you receive  the particulars of the processes that surround and make the frame of your being, 

And yet, there are processes and the information they produce that at times I will see what others say. I will surrender to the expertise of others. I will be happy to have your special understanding assist with the present. In so doing I put my faith in your effort