YOU ARE LIGHT!

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Sometimes I stumble across things that are so complete, so perfect, that I need to do very little, if anything, with them. This image is one example of that. For me that’s kinda like life. Sometimes if you’re looking for something you can walk right by it and never see it. But if you’re available for something to reveal itself to you – you will find a beauty and harmony beyond anything you can imagine. Of course we often get distracted and sidetracked by the lampshade or the light fixture. We focus on appearances instead of the function. And quite often if we just focus on appearances we will walk on by and lose out on any benefit.

Of course there is another side to this wonderful coin. In addition to receiving we also have the opportunity to reveal the light within to others in our lives, our actions, and thoughts – regardless of our appearances. We can be the light. Or as Jesus said in Matthew, “You are the light of the world”. You and I are the light. WE ARE LIGHT! Don’t say you’re not good enough or that you don’t “fit the mold”. You are perfect just the way you are – so let your light shine. Peace and have an absolutely GREAT weekend.

Here’s a song from one of my favorite musicals, GODSPELL

hmmm

FRAMED BENCH VIEW

Playing with multiple layers.

resolving the crisis of perception is a choice

A little bit of philosophy and how my worldview impacts my photography/creativity. For those that may be bored by this – I apologize in advance.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the crisis of perception in our world. How do we resolve it? Is it a matter of getting others to think and act exactly as we do? Must they follow the same political models as we do? Must they have the same religious values as we do? Of course you probably notice that the focus in these questions is on others. But I wonder if that’s the big mistake. I wonder if we too often look at the world in dualistic terms of “good” and “evil” (often enhanced by the media). I wonder if we should not examine our own perceptions and question them instead; Looking to “see” our world and others differently from what we’ve done in the past. One of my favorite teachings from Jesus of Nazareth, (a cornerstone of his thinking) was

“The Kingdom of Heaven/God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

He repeated this often to the people he interacted with in his life. He often used the words “near you” and it doesn’t get any nearer than when it’s within you. If we know, accept and believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is within us (you and me) how does that change our perceptions of the world we are living in? I know many people who are waiting for Kingdom of Heaven to come and replace the world as we know it. But I don’t believe that will happen. It can’t happen if the kingdom is already here and within you and me. I believe that, because of this, two people can experience the same reality in completely opposite ways. I’m not saying bad things don’t happen – because as we all know “SHIT HAPPENS!”. But our perception and how we react to the crap that happens in our lives will be different. Another wise man – Albert Einstein – said,

“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.”

I think part of the problem in our world is that people are constantly trying to resolve the problems with the same type of thinking that created those problems in the first place. This leads to regulation, law suits, damages, wars, etc. Let me use a couple of my own images as an example. The image is titled CONCRETE RELATIONS. The photo is detail from a concrete stairway in a parking deck. This first image shows how a lot people see the reality of their world; gritty, grimy, runny and ugly like a wound or sore that needs healed. Their response will most likely be to change the reality by cleaning up the area and slapping a fresh coat of paint on it to make it look “pretty” (i.e. acceptable) again.
CONCRETE RELATIONS – original

Now here’s the same reality the way I see it. I actually see beauty in the exact same reality. I choose to see the beauty. I try to show it to others in a way that will help them appreciate the beauty and look at their world a little differently. I don’t see it as something that must to be changed but something that offers so much potential and has value in itself as it currently is. The slow decay adds wonderful textures and tones to something that would otherwise be bland. That’s life for me.
CONCRETE RELATIONS – final

So my question is this: What if everything just IS and not necessarily good or evil? How do you see your reality? What are your perceptions? Would you like to change your perceptions? You CAN do it. Hell, if I can do it anyone can. Think of how the world would be different, politically, religiously and socially if more people lived with this changed perception. I’ll be curious to read other people’s thoughts on this matter. A cool site to check out is http://www.scienceandnonduality.com
Music today courtesy of Sister Hazel – CHANGE YOUR MIND

and U2 – BEAUTIFUL DAY

REDEMPTION CITY

TRAVEL AS EQUALS – OR NOT AT ALL

This post is simply to announce an album by one of my favorite musicians of all time – Joseph Arthur. He was born right here in Akron, OH. He has been living in New York City for many years since art and music has become his career. He was originally discovered by Peter Gabriel and issued his first album on Peter Gabriel’s REALWORLD RECORDS label. Starting in 2003 he began releasing his own recordings on smaller independent labels. Joseph Arthur has kindly decided to make his new album, titled REDEMPTION CITY, available as a free download on his website. He recently appeared on David Letterman 1/19/12 to play the first “single” from this album. The song is titled “Travel As Equals”. Here’s the official video for the song. Enjoy and if you like his music check out his website at http://www.josepharthur.com/ to download the free double album.

Theme & Variations

THEME

VARIATION I

VARIATION II

It seems appropriate to include a performance of Satie’s Gymnopedies. Have a great week everyone.

dreaming of a nuclear free world

NU CLEAR DAYDREAM

A friend of mine recently commented that they would love to see a change away from Nuclear Energy. There is a renewed movement afoot regarding this issue. And while I support it I can’t help but wonder what we replace it with. Do we return to dirty coal and black lung? Do we go to wind even though this is highly irregular? Do we go with solar? Go we go with Natural Gas? I think there are dangers with everything. And of course I wonder if the biggest dangers isn’t consumerism itself. Haven’t all these energy problems been created as a result of unchecked rampant consumerism that demands energy for all it’s technology? Isn’t part of the danger from incompatibility of multiple energy sources competing for the same thing market? For example in the natural gas industry there is a practice called “fracking” where rock in the earth’s crust is fractured to release the natural gas that is trapped there. What are the long-term consequences of this? Will this increase the number of earthquakes? With increased earthquakes are there greater dangers to the nuclear energy industry that may cause radiation leaks? Will there be an increase in regulated construction standards that will promise greater safety? Will these new standards be feasible to make energy a marketable commodity or will it be so expensive that it becomes unfeasible?

I don’t have any answers about this – just questions? I’m not running away from the problems. I’m just looking for a nu clear day.

Here is a favorite artist and musician of mine – Joseph Arthur with THIS IS STILL MY WORLD. Enjoy. I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

an industrial weekend

ANGLING FOR YIN AND YANG

STEAM RISING