I never would have dreamed....

....six years ago today, that I'd be sitting here in Texas, thinking back on that night in Washington, when I said yes to the Best Question Ever....

Wow...and that I'd have been awakened in the Best Possible Way and open my eyes to see the most beautiful yellow Texas roses, a gift from the Man who's a Gift from the gods...

Boyhowdy, Honey.....XOXOXO

Happy Will You Marry Me Day!!!

Shawn

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Public Prayer the American Way

On the National Day of Prayer this year, once again, we stood with the Interfaith Council folks downtown to intone Buddhism's exquisitely potent prayer. Besides the obvious faith-based reasons for doing this (prayers for the sake of one's nation are an integral Buddhist tradition), we had patriotic motives. In showing up for the annual duty/privilege, my friends of diverse faith and I put into practice that enlightened civil covenant called constitutional religious liberty.

Before a few progressives stood up for equality in 2005, the NDOP observance in this steeple-studded Texas town epitomized a troubling erosion of appreciation for the very opening terms of the Bill of Rights, known as the "establishment clause," whereby government promises not to lend advantage to any one religion. Because those prior events were held on the City Hall steps and lawn and were starkly sectarian, they represented a distinct enough violation -- local government heartily encouraged the one religion and snubbed all others.

Our beautiful Interfaith ceremony has been exemplary and a major improvement over the protocols of a self-ordained "National Day of Prayer Task Force" chaired by church lady Shirley Dobson. The exclusion of Jews and even Catholics is something their web site is haughtily unapologetic about, and thus they give themselves away. Theirs is not an "official" role, or even a lawful one, in the National Day of Prayer.

Speaking of reprehensible, Governor Rick Perry continues to rally the zealous on and on towards a constitution-stomping orgy of pandering scheduled for August 06 at a Houston stadium. He eyes the White House as an "apolitical" Christian, whence his chilling conviction that "(a)s a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us…"

This after Perry recently figured prominently in wrangling dubious judicial clearance for one of those small-town insurrections where they stage some sort of utterly inappropriate public school prayer. Down in Castroville, for a sublime moment there, our good-haired boy surpassed Palin herself as an avatar of confusion.

The irony in it is, of course, that the Christian commencement prayer and sentiment would have been perfectly fine under the Bill of Rights if only other creeds were shown the same respect during the same ceremony. Set aside a full 20 minutes or so and announce weeks ahead of time that any student wishing to compose and give a brief message of faith or philosophy for commencement is encouraged to do so. Then the graduation event would be consonant with the constitution and the American way. An Atheist student might very well speak for a bit about the superiority of reason, etc.

It's just that all faith options must be accorded respect. We can do this either by having no religion at the event or by welcoming any and all religions. Frankly, I don't see what is so hard to understand about this.

But the "no establishment" part is what people like Shirley Dobson and Rick Perry keep forgetting, or pretending to forget. They are like the racists of our grandparents' time, like the "male chauvinists" who used to stand in a woman's way, or like the Boy Scouts of America, fervently reassuring and protecting a culture of prejudice.

They don't know (or they pretend not to know) that freedom without equality is phony freedom, hollow and unstable. The founders of the nation saw this in a vision and specially inscribed equality on the freedom of worship. Something so complete and perfect must be an emanation of the Dharma or wonderful law of the universe!

As it plays out in society, the "no establishment" provision has been disappointing only to those who have a problem conceding equal rights to their neighbors. Obviously, a proscription against unjust domineering by one religion is hardest on those who had in mind to do just that.


SGTex

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To be natural...

.... is such a very difficult pose to keep up. ~Oscar Wilde

"Au naturale" isn't just everyone's best look...as people, or in garden world, for that matter. To allow one's garden to naturalize sometimes takes a certain willingness to let it be and wait for the results, which turn out quite nice, at times.

My mother was one who always had a certain willingness to let something grow and bloom to the maximum beauty, yet she was also known to "deadhead" the roses or azaleas around town, lol. In her own garden things went wild in a crazily-controlled sort of way, and her yard usually turned into a showplace... She was kinda that way with people, too....Well, other people, not me, (wry smile, here).

To allow oneself or others to be natural doesn't always come easily (or naturally, lol). It's not easy to flourish outside of one's own familiar territory (just ask me), but hopefully in the end, all will turn out just beautifully....

I don't know exactly what I'm wanting to say here, as SGTex just put Pink Floyd's "Fearless" playing and that's melting away my thoughts pleasantly........

Ta for now~
Shawn

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Nature holds all the answers...

.... go outside and ask some questions - open your heart and listen to the response! ~Amethyst Wyldfyre

I'm planning on doing just that tonight, with a big, beautiful full moon over Texas.....

Enjoy yours~
Shawn

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I wish I'd said that....

Shawn
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The most tangible of all visible mysteries...

...fire. ~Leigh Hunt

Staring into the fire....it's mesmerizing. One can do it while sitting around it with your best of friends, talking and toasting marshmallows and drinking. It's hard to beat that.

Then again, I like to think about the fire SGTex builds in the back yard when he's grilling our dinner. Everything is delicious and it's a happy time together. Have you ever noticed how wonderful it smells when one of the neighbors has the grill going? I'm hoping that the effect ours has on them is as pleasant as when it's the other way around.

The fire also made me think about the "If you play with fire, you're sure to get burned" principle. It's important to explore new thoughts and ideas and take certain risks in life, but one must be prepared for things to heat up, to the point of burning, sometimes.... And it might not be a good idea to ignore the proverb "Fire in the heart sends smoke into the head." Take that however you will.

This picture got me to thinking in all directions, and our friend J was kind enough to share it with us. I think it's a remembrance of a very good time for her, and I have a feeling she has many more good times to come....

Love~n~Light

Shawn

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