I do find it interesting that I have managed to post 21 posts in a row. Today is the 21st of January, and this is my 21st post. The last few posts have generated a great number of views and a number of interesting comments. Thanks to all of you for your input.
On that side, things are going great. There seems to be no problem finding something to post about.
The other day I received an e-mail from a friend of mine who I’ve not seen face-to-face in a few years. In it, she says that she starts off her day reading my blog, which she likes to read because I seem to have it all together. When I read this, I laughed aloud because certainly I’m a walking midlife cliche right now. No, I don’t have a woman on the side or a new car, but my emotions are in tatters most of the time and I find it hard to focus on much of anything. The photo to the right, though taken sometime in early October would be a good representation of those feelings when they manifest. Notice the huge, ominous clouds and the tiny, lonely figure walking the beach.
When it seems particularly gray, I do something like I did today. I picked up one of my Tao books and turned to a random page and there always seems to be the message that I need to see. So, I did it this evening and found this:
Misfortune is what fortune depends on
Fortune is where misfortune hides beneath
Tao Te Ching chapter 58
Of late, while the words have been able to flow, the camera refuses to speak. It remains mute, waiting for me to breathe life into it, into myself. I’ve taken some photos here and there but they were, shall we say, uninspired. Hmm, I’ve heard that word before … somewhere … I just can’t put my finger on it. 
Looking back at this photo I can remember that those clouds were there but for an extremely brief moment, the prevailing breezes won out, the clouds moved on, and it was sunny again, or at the very least, the clouds hung around and made for a great light show when combined with the sunset.
And so it shall be with me. The clouds will roll in and then roll out. Balance in all things. Tomorrow, I have some free time in the evening, let’s see what the morrow will bring! Sputtering is no cause for alarm, it’s just growth in progress.
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6 Responses to “Sputtering”
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Your ability to float outside yourself and observe things at a distance humbles me.
Believe me, many times I’m not floating, but sputtering, sinking, and gasping. Fortunately, there are a very few moments of clarity, but it takes lots of bumping around to find it. It gets tiring, though.
Our clouds seem to follow the law of nature and our moods in general. Think of the film Independence day. Yes it’s a great piece of that word you were looking for, but think of the scene when that space ship came in and parked right above the head of the World. That’s how it feels over here, and I bet even Tao would suffer in this unbalanced environment.
That image is really nice, not only technical speaking but as a scene from life. The person on the beach is really alone and stands so tiny against that great and also dramatic sky. As life can be, sometimes.
Thankfully there is wind! Sometimes a hardy gale force wind is a good thing. It helps to keep things moving!
Like this image a lot Paul, as to the rest might be over thinking and analyzing life to much. Everyday starts a new history. I believe one of the more famous quotes from a master went.
What did you do before enlightenment?
Chopped wood and carried water.
What did you do after enlightenment?
Chopped wood and carried water.
The perspective you bring to anything is the only real control a person has. Other than that it is just a life.
Another good post and another fine image. Life does seem to keep changing every day, that’s what’s kool about it. It also seems that when others think we have it all together it’s only because there was a moment of clarity (the slider moves to the right) when at other times things are blurry (the slider moves to the left.) It makes for good images and good words that reach others. You have that ability to reach others, so you do it. I like that about you!