Spring Rain

~ Tim ~ Leave a comment

Evening draws nigh. Darkness descends. Outside, a robust late spring rain cleanses, washing the landscape, the fresh trees, the city street’s, folks passing by. Fresh, cool air. I love this time of year. The evenings are tepid, neither cold nor hot. Just right. Comfortable, you know?

I haven’t written for a long, long time. What excuse can I give, should I give? I have no excuse other than confessing the frailty of my soul, the weakness of my being, my utter, bloody humanity. Yet, tonight’s writing is a good sign. Evidence, that at least a man such as I can come back from the brink. From the brink of destruction, from the brink of despair, the brink of desperation and rise from the ashes.

Something within me is singing, resonating, shining with a glimmer of hope, hope realized, come true even. Is this God? I’d like to think it so. What else, what other power outside or within, could resurrect a disintegrated spirit? If there is a God, then certainly this is it.

Being free…..

~ Tim ~ Leave a comment

Nov 12, 2013.

I have a friend. His name is Larry. Larry sends me texts late at night. Last nights stated, “I’m going to die drinking. I hate my life….”.

One small voice shouts forth along this media-chain that we call the Internet. Today’s debate in the world….the new world trade centre in New York is 300 feet taller than any other in the US….beating out Chicago’s Sear’s Centre by that much. Today’s crisis…the Philippines storm disaster. Millions in desperate need.

Larry has a family. Two older teenagers still living at home. When they sleep, he drinks, a lot. He tops the night off with a small joint. Larry has tried everything to help him stop drinking. Yet, like so many — way more than we know, he is caught in the demons grip….the grip of alcohol addiction. I am as well. I live alone. It’s easy for me to get away with.

My mission in life? To find a way to help people like Larry, and myself. God grant me the wisdom, before alcohol takes Larry, before it takes ME. God bless Larry….and everyone caught in the demons grasp.

I BELIEVE….that I will find a way for me and Larry and many others to BE FREE. This is my quest and perhaps my destiny.

Sea of Humanity

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Let us suppose we are all connected through consciousness. There are enough philosophies and modern day scientific theories out there that suggest that we are. Assuming those are or at least might be, true, then in a very real way, the people around us are aspects of ourselves. If we are all “one mind” then it follows that everyONE is in essence, ourselves. How we treat others then becomes a reflection of how we treat ourselves. And how we treat ourselves in turn is how we are treating others.

For example, most everyone is afraid of death, of dying. One of the ways we can soothe ourselves, altruistically, is to soothe others, to be a good friend, to be a happy face, to be a good listener. We are all in this together. Compassion is knowing this and reaching out. In so doing, we are helping ourselves as well — helping ourSELF, the whole sea of humanity.

 

Pigs and Apples

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A tractor salesman drives up to a farm and is startled to see the farmer lifting a large pig up to the branch of an apple tree. As the salesman watches in amazement, the pig bites a large apple off the branch, whereupon the farmer gently puts the animal down and picks up another pig, who in turn gobbles up his own apple from the tree. This goes on for quite a few pigs, until the salesman can no  longer restrain himself.

“Excuse me,” he says to the farmer, “but wouldn’t it be easier to pick all the apples yourself and let the pigs eat them off the ground?”

“Might be,” says the farmer as he reaches for yet another pig. “But what’s the advantage?”

“For one thing,” says the salesman, “it would save a lot of time”.

“Could be,” says the farmer. “But what’s time to a pig?”

It IS time….

~ Tim ~ Leave a comment

Indeed, it is time to write again. Why? Have my circumstances changed? A little.

I’ve been re-exploring my philosophical roots and interest with Krishnamurti. For some reason, as I am re-reading some of his writings, this time I realize that I may have it…the understanding even without the reading. K would assert that “time” has nothing to do with understanding, with seeing the fact, the truth. I totally agree. However, for whatever reason, time seems to have seasoned me, or perhaps weeded and tilled the garden so that the fresh sprouts of truth can be finally seen!?

Whatever it is, it is good. What I know now more than ever, is that “Truth” is as K asserted so many times; “A pathless land”. Many philosophically minded people love to profess that “There are many paths to the one, ultimate truth”. I disagree. All “path’s” lead to a destination. Truth does not lay at the end of any path. Truth, simply IS. It doesn’t take TIME to discover, to find, to walk the path, to it. There is no path to Truth. Truth simply is WHAT IS….and that is all. That fact can be seen in a split-second. Few can, but that really is the truth of it……

I welcome your input.
Blessings to you all.

 

 

 

About Time

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No, this posting is not about “Time”. Rather, it’s about time that I posted something new.

I think that a man is only as good as the other men, or women, or God’s input is to make them so.

Today, I received the input of an amazing un-sung artist, in so many ways. His name is Clif Dawson. His web-site is here: www.clifdawson.ca. There, you can see his amazing artwork from flutes to planes! I asked his permission to quote him on his definition/description of “Art”. It’s here: I’m giving him a separate page on my site because I think that he is right-on. Please click here to view it.

Purpose for Living?

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I’m wondering if it is necessary that we have a “Purpose for Living”? Whoever said that we must? Our inner thoughts and musings have caused us to conclude that we must, as in must have some ultimate purpose to our lives, individually and collectively. Biologically, we know that our fundamental purpose is to perpetuate our species, to reproduce, quoting the bible, to “be fruitful and multiply”. That much we do know. So does there really need to be any other “purpose” to our lives other than that? I am doubting it.

Humans, as apposed to other animals, however, have been—shall I say “blessed” or “cursed” (?) with having a different (I won’t dare say “higher”) level of consciousness, a conscious awareness of ourselves and our environment. Other animals appear to be limited to an environmental awareness, making them “choicelessly aware” of their environment and that’s it. We, however, appear to be also aware of ourselves as separate individual entities or ego’s with choice—and lots of it. Eastern philosophy and religion has tried to convince us that our awareness of being separate individual entities is an illusion and that our goal—our purpose—in life ought to be to “see the illusion” and join the animals in becoming “choicelessly aware” of just our environment, free of the ego and thereby free of life’s suffering.

Historically, it appears that there have been a few individuals who have achieved the choiceless, ego-free type of consciousness we are discussing. Colossal religions, like Buddhism, have been built up to support helping others to achieve the same type of consciousness. Ken Wilber has convincingly told us that this type of “higher” consciousness is an inevitable outcome of our species consciousness evolution. Those who have it today are “witnesses” of life being aware of itself, and that is our ultimate purpose. Could be!

In the meantime, however, is it possible for the rest of us, the 99.99% rest of the unfortunate sea of humanity still patiently or unknowingly awaiting our consciousness- evolution to realize their (our) purpose for living and to live full, satisfying, meaningful and happy lives? I’m not talking about Utopia. Rather, living simple, meaningful and happy lives—at least most of the time. I think that, YES, it is possible! Dare I say that it SHOULD be? Saying it should be opens a huge cauldron of cultural values that can be challenge and criticised, so for now I will choose to not say that we “should” be able to enjoy life while we await our consciousness evolution (if that’s the case) but I really do think that we SHOULD! But how? How indeed! Well, I intend to find out! MY purpose for living is herein defined. YOUR assistance in this quest will be welcome and truly appreciated.

AA ramblings.

~ Tim ~ 5 Comments

At an AA meeting today. An old guy rambled on, just like he does every day. He sits close to the front so he’ll be asked to speak. I sit at the back to avoid it. But the guy next to me, after 5 minutes of complaining about being “back home” (from Mexico) says in a humph that “No-one at AA should be allowed to speak until they have at least 30 days sober. This guy has been coming here for 25 years and hasn’t gone for more than a week”.

I humph back my agreement, which is why I’m sitting way back at the Alano Club’s everyday 2PM meeting, so I won’t be seen or asked to speak. How can I? I’m going without even a day’s worth of absitence. Not yet. But I think this guy has it right. His name is Jim, a huge hand attached to an equally large body, suntanned—he shakes and say’s HELLO. After Mr. Rambler is finished rambling he gets up and say’s, “Well, this is a meeting I won’t be talking about for day’s to come!” then sticks out his hand and say’s goodbye. I join his shadow about 30 seconds later. We both leave the meeting at the half time, aka “smoke break”. Him for a smoke and easy leave of absence. Me, so that I won’t be tempted to stop off at the ol’ watering-hole for a drink before 5. Mission successful.

“Another day in paradise”, I almost said to someone later, but stopped myself, thinking, ruminating quickly; “What’s paradise for me might not be paradise for him”. Nevertheless, to me to live another day IS paradise, a gift, especially while I am still drinking. Yesterday I was screaming down the highway at ridiculous speeds (totally sober–not 5 yet!) to catch the 3:15 ferry-ride back to the mainland, back to my home and love. A stearing-wheel gripping ride back to my paradise. Indeed. Thank God, I made it, so that I can now, just as I have today, live and enjoy yet another day in it.

I swore that I would never write after drinking, but in the last few days have realized that then I might leave this paradise without being heard from again. Now, I feel that I owe it to myself and my loved ones to keep talking, regardless. At least an incenses ashes are still traces of the flame.