What Would Thoreau Say?

In a recent post I referenced Joanna Macy's concept of the Great Turning.  Summarized (really briefly) she suggests to become whole, and healthy again we must: 1.  Practice holding actions where we at least limit the continued damage that comes from destructive behavior such as lies being sold as truth, science being doubted, demonizing those we disagree with.   2.  Replace the destructive behavior with new, life affirming priorities, that put compassion at the forefront and help us see others in the world as companions not competitors. 3.  In the process of 1 and 2, see a major consciousness shift occur in us individually and collectively. As we look at Joanna Macy's game plan here, I wonder what steps can be taken that will offer a straight path from 'stopping the bleeding to consciousness change?'  I would like to suggest all three of these can be addressed by you and me, if each of us is intentional about environmental action and climate change mitigation .  This si

  It’s an exaggeration to say the afternoon I spent with Hank Aaron was the greatest day of my life, but those who know how crazy baseball people are, wouldn’t be shocked if they heard me say it was. To spend time with Hammerin’ Hank, alone, just him and me, ranks up there as a great day and certainly one of the greatest days in my baseball life. I was the head of marketing and fund raising for a national nonprofit based in Atlanta. We recruited Hank to our Board of Governors and since I always had the job of first visiting the recruit to talk about the board, I was beside myself when I heard one of the greatest baseball players of all time was to get one of my briefing visits. I had done a lot of these meetings, some with high-profile people. But having one of these meetings with Hank Aaron? This was a whole new ballgame (sorry) for a baseball nut like me. This was Henry Freakin’ Aaron!   I couldn’t sleep the night before and the day of the meeting I couldn’t eat or hardly funct

As one who cries easily, Wednesday’s inauguration festivities were a two box of tissues day for me. Of course, many of my tears were the result of watching the history making Vice President. How could I not be moved by watching a black/Asian woman become Vice President of the United States? But truth be known, mostly my emotions were feelings of relief that our Long National Nightmare, to copy a phrase from our past, was over. I cried as much for who was out of the government as who was coming in to the government. After watching the 45 th President slink out of town, after issuing yet another slew of pardons for crooks, cronies, embezzlers, conspiracy theorists and serial liars, I knew things would be better. But it didn’t reduce my anger. I sat watching Air Force One take off and literally said out loud, with a voice I’m not used to, ‘for god’s sake, just go!’ Unfortunately, the other emotion I felt most of the day was one of resignation to what was coming next. For now, I knew, wou

Each morning in our house, whoever gets up first, hits the coffee button to begin brewing what I had prepared the night before. Then my wife and I sit in our favorite leather chairs in the library/study surrounded by books, old desks and busts of American heroes.  A friend once described the room as 'perfect Americana,' and the hundreds (possibly as many as a thousand?) people who have found themselves in this room over the almost 12 years I have owned The Hermitage, usually comment on how comfortable and 'cozy' the room feels. As I have written before, the whole house is decorated as a mid 19th century, country cottage. (Oh, how often does my wife tell me I was born in the wrong century. I only hope she means historically and not so she wouldn't have had to meet me.) I have hesitated to write about the attempted coup last Wednesday because there have been millions of words already written by far better writers than me. Truthfully, I didn't know what I could add

Today's NY Times made reference to a story in Politico about a company that sells books by the foot or yard.  This company will put together a nice library based on color of books, subject, size etc. and ship it to you lock, stock and barrel. Originally a company built around providing walls of books for show houses or hotel lobbies, the company has exploded some 40% since the pandemic started.  Why? Because people want good backgrounds - wait for it - for their zoom calls. Yea.  Zoom calls.   We've all seen the backgrounds of the talking heads on tv.  Usually they have libraries behind them.  If they've written a book, there might be multiple copies visible; at least one of them stands upright with the cover facing the camera.  I thought those were real libraries.  Turns out they might be rent-a-libraries according to this company. Really. People are buying whole libraries just to look good on zoom. 2020, we love ya... The story got me thinking about books and my library. 

In our last post we wrote about the dog biscuits and water we leave out for our four legged friends walking through downtown.  Not only did I receive more comment on that post than any other, but many shared it with others.  It was the highest readership ever for What Would Thoreau Say? This morning, now that Bapu has returned (more below) I began to think about the relationship between animals and their owners.  Why did the story about Camo and Riley get such a reaction?  Why did people tell me of their pets or that perhaps they would now leave treats for dogs near their home?  What is it that binds us so to our pets? I think it's the unconditional love and loyalty that we get from them. In the church I served until recently as Lay Pastor, (you can find the post How the Hell Did I Become Pastor? if you scroll down on this blog) I used to say sometimes before services that in this church we celebrated the "unlimited welcome, unwavering hope and unconditional love of God "