Praying for Pipelines

September 08, 2008

You know what saddens me about this clip? The underlying concept that God must be powerless without us reciting a laundry list of Me-First "To Do" items to a God who is supposed to be all-powerful and omniscient. Whatever happened to the humble and loving request, Thy will be done? In my wildest dreams, I would never purport to know THE WILL of GOD, but I have an inkling there's a good chance he'd be more in favor of bringing windmills and solar energy to Alaska than drilling for gas.

I do think a dialogue needs to be entered into about Palin, and just because she's a woman and a Christian does not mean that looking closely at her and doing our own vetting is politically incorrect or sexist. We've seen a lot of hasty jumping to conclusions by everyday citizens, politicians, and journalists alike, and hasty decision-making is precisely what upsets me about McCain with the Palin decision. I think it's best not to jump to conclusions, choose our sources of information wisely, and listen carefully.

Speaking of listening... watch the clip below and really consider the fact she might be president someday AND thinks the Iraq war is "God's will". I beseech the Republicans to be open to the idea that God really is love, and if you REALLY can't 100% subscribe to that idea, then to stop calling yourself a Christian. Jesus may have turned over the money changer's tables in the temple, but the scriptures make no mention of him being physically violent. When Jesus spoke of bringing a sword, he was speaking symbolically of piercing our egos, not of physical attacks and global confrontation. If McCain keels over in 2-3 years and President Palin is in the pulpit, what will she say to Iran or Iraq? Will our feisty, gun-slinging Alaskan devoutly proclaim she's privy to God's will, and decide to escalate? This is very serious, and in many respects, Palin represents zero change from the present administration. George Bush has refused to listen to anyone who disagrees with him too, and look at where that got us.

I"m deeply concerned by Palin's mockery of Obama's community leadership. Our nation is made up of communities, and on a macro level, our country is one BIG community. Come on, bloggers, this is the internet – we're a part of a GLOBAL community! Washington is suffering from a chronic case of community amnesia – who then, I ask, is the best candidate to cure it? Will a biting and sarcastic lipstick-wearing pit bull bring "change" to America? Will the Republican elite embrace the concept of all beings being equal? What we need are leaders who can speak the truth forcefully, but with respect and dignity.

Feel free to express your opinion. With what I've seen to date on September 8, 2008, the Republican ticket has offered little to impress me.

Posted by vincent at 09:31 PM | Please share your heart's comments (2)

Gender Card Hypocrisy

September 06, 2008

Jon Stewart manages to poke fun and present some interesting
and laughable evidence of hypocrisy in politics. (Finally, something
to laugh about.)

Every politician's claims should be closely scrutinized – especially
if they're saying exactly what you want to hear. I won't tell anyone
how they should vote, but I do passionately suggest we all do
our homework.

As my friend McBride always says,
They're politicians, what do you expect?

Posted by vincent at 02:58 PM | Please share your heart's comments (1)

Stand Up to Cancer

September 05, 2008

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One of my neighbors is a nurse who works at NIH for a research program to find a cure for skin cancer. I don't know how she maintains such a positive outlook while working with stage 4 melanoma patients – perhaps it's because she's adopted the attitude reflected in the t-shirt I found her wearing a month ago which was made in honor of one of her patients. Alarmingly, many of the people in the research study are in their 20's and 30's, and it isn't uncommon for melanoma to show up in places that aren't routinely exposed to the sun. It's a terrible disease – one which ravages the body, but cannot destroy the soul.

Tonight there is a special on the tele called Stand Up to Cancer. It's a collaborative effort and will air across the three major channels at 8pm this evening. We're all touched by this disease and frightened by it. I just hope the phrase, "War on Cancer" isn't spoken. The soul can not wage war. In order to heal and cure, peace is the only way.

Posted by vincent at 08:49 AM | Please share your heart's comments (6)

Saturday Projections

September 04, 2008

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I've been so busy the last few weeks, I didn't even know a hurricane was headed my way. On the way out to take a quick hike this evening, a notice was pinned to the apartment building's front door advising residents to stock up on water and non-perishable food to last 3-5 days. This happened about 5 years ago when Isabella hit the DC area. At the time, I was staying with my Dad across the river in Virginia. Nothing comes close to living through a hurricane. A micro burst slammed down on the house and a huge tulip tree toppled across a neighbor's yard into ours breaking the kitchen windows and tearing the power line from the house. I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz – wouldn't have been surprised in the least if an emerald-faced witch had flown by my window on a broomstick! We ended up being without power for 6 days, during which time I learned how much I really appreciate a hot shower every morning - not to mention the value of a flashlight with working batteries.

So I'm stocked up with bottle water, non-perishables, candles and batteries and crossing my fingers the power will go out (and it always goes out in my neighborhood) for just a few hours so I can stay on top of my deadlines!

Hope all of you are safe and well. If I weren't so slammed with work, I'd be pontificating on the election... probably just as well, eh?

ADENDUM: I said I was praying the power WOULD go out so I could get work done. I think that was a Freudian slip... without power, I can't get a lick of work done. Oops!

Posted by vincent at 08:53 PM | Please share your heart's comments (2)

Silver

August 22, 2008

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Silver ~ Canon 30d

Everything has a silver lining – if you're alive, if you have your breath, if you can remember you are a human being, not a human doing.

It's been a month of "being" for me – the longest break I've taken from blogging, I do believe – and I'm experiencing a complete absence of grasping or worrying about that. What is the most important thing in my life? Well, of course, it's the most important thing. If it seems as though I'm speaking in riddles, I'm not. The most important thing is whatever you are faced with at this moment, and my moments this month have been filled with my mother, the meditation group I help facilitate, with taking care of my body... exercising 4-5 hours a week, with cooking healthy food, spending quality time with Olympus the Cat, and taking the time to carefully consider the direction of Banjo Bunny E-cards. Icing on the cake? Before I had the chance to get anxious over work flow, not one, but three new projects sailed across my desk last week which will keep me busy for the next 3 weeks or so.

I'm blessed. I've been quiet, and quietude has been a wonderful companion – a silver lining wrapped all the way around my peaceful and lazy summer.

Posted by vincent at 11:21 AM | Please share your heart's comments (5)

Telephone Wire

August 08, 2008

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Wire ~ Canon 30d

This image was shot while storm clouds rolled in during the retreat I was on in West Virginia in late June. Many pictures were shot and are sitting on my external drive, but they've not made it up here. I'm really taking it easy this summer. Work comes and goes, but I'm not too anxious about it these days. My mom was here for a week and a half and we had a wonderful time together. My energies are being focused on blossoming friendships and learning to be friendly with my circumstances, no matter what they might look like. So, I'm in the midst of a retreat from blogging, and it's just the way it is.

The image above echoes the last 24 hours ~ dark clouds looming over a technological wire. My main computer (desktop) has threatened to give up the ghost on me, and I've been diligently backing files up while trying to coax it back to life. As I write this, I'm reinstalling the system, which means the drudgery of reinstating multiple settings and serial numbers await me over the weekend. I'd rather run toward my life with open arms than disdain it's less than stellar moments. In spite of my frustration, I'm thinking this "disaster" is a way to improve my ability to allow and accept.

This too shall pass.

Posted by vincent at 08:26 AM | Please share your heart's comments (3)

Arousing Lovingkindness ~ Plant the Seed

August 01, 2008

My mom is visiting me this week so I'm taking a blogging break. We're having a relaxing time together, beating the DC heat and spending some time watching the Eckart Tolle/Oprah video podcasts from his new book, A New Earth. They're great!

I appreciate this video because it's about metta, or lovingkindness, which has been the focal point of the meditation group I've facilitated for just over a year now. It's true... lovingkindness is something we cultivate within us. Give it a try, and watch the seed of compassion grow within your heart.

namaste.

Posted by vincent at 06:01 PM | Please share your heart's comments (4)

Crying Fowl – Foghorn Leghorn

July 23, 2008

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Foghorn ~ Canon 30d

Okay, he may not be anthropomorphic, but nonetheless, he certainly looks like a white Leghorn rooster to me. You should have heard this dude while I was attending a meditation retreat last month. Not only did he crow in the morning, he crowed ALL morning and through early afternoon as well. At times, it sounded as though both he and The Perfect Rooster (2 entries ago) were doing a rendition of Dueling Roosters, followed by much spasmodic clucking by the gaggle of hens. You'd think there was a military coup going on.

I'll probably write a bit more about this fella. He had a personality to match the Looney Tunes character who personified him.

Posted by vincent at 07:57 PM | Please share your heart's comments (0)

The Perfect Rooster

July 22, 2008

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Handsome Bird ~ Canon 30d

I'm pretty sure they don't come more beautiful than this. The variety of colors, lines and textures in this image really make me smile. And what about the chicken wire? I love that too because it adds yet another layer of repeated pattern.

I shot this fella on the first day of the retreat. There were many chickens and an organic garden just yards from the center from which we consumed fresh eggs and greens every day. wow!

Posted by vincent at 02:58 PM | Please share your heart's comments (2)

Privatizing Profits & Socializing Losses –
Holding the Financial System Accountable

July 21, 2008

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"I urge you to read this, sign it and tell as many people as you can to do likewise. Very few people understand the risk that this country faces and the result the current path of events will have on the lives of their children. This is extremely important, perhaps the most important thing in the history of this county.... Rob."

I received this email from my friend in Cape Cod, who does a huge amount of research into the state of the stock market and financial system. He urged me to sign a petition demanding congress stop the bailouts. Outrage had already motivated me to find the petition last night after watching the exchange between Senator Bunning and the Treasury Secretary on the news – listen to mp3 below.

It's time we, the citizens of the United States of America, wake up and STOP the privatization of profits and socialization of losses in this country. When your mutual funds take a hit on the stock market, does the government come to your rescue? Does anyone absorb your debt and shield your losses? NO! If we close our eyes and sink deeper into our lazy armchairs of complacence, we will be as much to blame for the dismal future awaiting this country. With each of these unjust bailouts, we teach the corporations and banks they can be as greedy and cavalier as they want – we, the taxpayers will ALWAYS be there to bail them out. Where is the leadership and accountability? Where are the voices crying FOUL on behalf of hard-working, honest citizens?

Please listen to this mp3, and if you come to the same conclusion I did, then sign the petition by clicking here, contact your congressman and senator, and forward these links to everyone you come in contact with. We cannot fix a broken system by giving the people who have damaged it even more power. Slow your own life down long enough to really see this picture.


Posted by vincent at 09:10 AM | Please share your heart's comments (1)

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