Memorial Day

...the light is clear inside Peggy's house.  A dear friend who simple appeared one day in our lives in the strangest of places and ways.  Inside a mall.  Under a tent.  Images of dogs n cats with little sayings simple and profound.  Profundity i have learned arises from most simple roots.  And here i am, a commanding view of the orderly clutter of a dear friends house.  The light is clear.  The space is quiet. Wind competes with ice box noise to accompany the occasional bird song.  The movement of the fan illuminates the dancing of the light.

i am here to photograph Iris.  "Iris Bob" has been learning how to grow Iris' and letting me learn how to    photograph them for nigh on to 15 yrs now, and i'd be dearly remiss if i did not post a link www.iris4u.com so all  the masses can visit.  So far, it's been an interesting visit.  So far, i remain lost in last years image of Iris' and have not moved on.  i have faith that i will.  i have less faith that the truck will start each time it needs too and, i think, there is some lesson to be learned - some teaching to absorb knowing conditions are such that it's a coin toss whether or not the truck will start or leave me stranded and dependent on the good heart of others.  So do I trust that an angel will appear when needed?  Do I trust in a strange city having faith when i hold out my alms bowl someone will respond from the generosity and kindness of their heart, and help me ease my way home?  Do I trust really that all IS and ALL will be alright?

So far, the truck turns right over and purrs like Ellie, my friend's cat and the light remains clear.

 Each day is an opportunity to learn, to grow, to be present as some new part of our life unfolds, and the gift is the spaciousness of Mind to observe it. A gift which only seems to grow each day.  Yesterday, (the truck was perfect) and i came to see how much i was clutching the past - the way(s) i saw and photographed the last time i photographed Iris.  This year, i am using chance elements of time and movement much more so than ever before.  Continuing to explore image possibilities in imagination and trying to work out the details as i go.  Yet.  Still i cling to the crutch of the past much as we all cling to the concept that "the truck will always start," as we cling to all the "ways [things] we were," pushing away what is lest we let go and see something new.  This is a process.  An immersion process.  Time taken will be time well spent.  i trust this to be so.  i have faith it shall be.  And still, always, it seems one has to go through all the old motions, run through all the familiar routines, till the mind runs it course for the "moment" and becomes still.  Still for 1/25th of a second.

Yesterday was memorable.  While preparing to play a woman remarked to me: "you must have simply a wonderful time doing that!"  At first taken aback, i recovered and replied: "i have delightful times doing this - times of great joy!" It was good say that and it was good for her to ask it.  Words can be magic.  Weaving spells and incantations.  Most put us to sleep.  A few wake us up. 

And another, a man who at first seemed to be a pest but awoke in me the desire to reach out too and to teach.  To share some of the light, some of the amazement, some of yes, that delightfulness i notice as i practice the seven factors of enlightenment each time i photograph.  He listened.  He learned that he could see with new eyes truths which formally had been well hidden in plain sight.

doc rob