Us Versus Them

(Image copyright L Wilson, 2009)

I randomly came across this article on msnbc.com. It describes "innumeracy" or a lack of knowledge of basic mathematics. The author claims this is a primary reason of the recent economic troubles...people honestly not understanding the adjustable rate mortgage or the pitfalls of having 30% APR on a credit card.

I'm not writing to debate the causes of America's economic troubles. Nor am I writing to discuss whether Americans are mathematically knowledgeable as a whole.

It was the comment section at the end that truly sparked my interest.

As with many other online news sources, people can leave comments that are basically left to self-moderation (save for threatening or "inappropriate" language). This almost always leads to a debate (or argument) between several readers. The debate very frequently veers from the topic of the article, turning instead into personal attacks.

This was where a red flag was raised, at least in my eyes.

The "Us Versus Them" mentality.

"We" can do basic math and can't believe "They" can't even calculate a tip.
"We" aren't that good at math, but "They" aren't teaching it right.
"We" know what's best - "They" are "big stupid lumbering morons".
"We" may be ignorant but could still kick "Their" butts.

Get the idea?

In actuality,

We are all afraid.
We are all powerful.
We are all ignorant, some in mathematics, some in other areas.
We are all wiser than we think we are.

Every single member of "Them" is in some way an "Us".

It would be far more beneficial to look for how we are all, well, US then trying to fight THEM. Celebrate differences, that we aren't all identical (how boring!), that we have issues to debate and explore, that we have such a broad range of life to recognize in other humans, animals, stones, etc. Never forget, though, that we are all in this together.

I See You

Holiday connections had temporarily suspended my blogging. From connecting to the road, to my family, to my children, my husband, my mother, my siblings, and to the pervasive spirit - I was a bit busy. As I'm sure we all are. I thank all those who continued to blog over the past few days...please know I've been reading & thoroughly enjoying them.

I went last night with my husband to see Avatar. We generally aren't movie go-ers (though the fact that both children now sit through a whole one may change that) and I am not a typical sci-fi person. However, we were kid-free for a night (thanks grandma!), and we'd seen a preview for the 3D version of Avatar at another movie and knew it had to be on our list of to-do's.






(Image credit here)



I simply cannot express my amazement.

It is sticking with me like very few others do. Not only is it a beautiful movie, as my husband expressed, with fanciful plants and worlds & graceful movements, but the message(s) are awakening something within me.

I dreamed in Pandora last night. I worked out this morning imagining running through the beautiful forests. It may be a bit odd, but it is working.

For those who have not seen the movie - first, I highly recommend that you do. While I cannot promise you'll like it (as we all have different tastes) - you may find a message in it that will speak to you or, at the very least, be treated to a sensory feast. Second, I will try to not throw in any spoilers here.

I see you. The Navi use this phrase alongside their beliefs in a pervasive energy, one that connects them to all living beings and their ancestors. Similar to "Namaste", it is a combination of words that is running through my mind.

I see you.

Do you see me?

Take a breath, suspend beliefs for one moment, and see me...and you...and the light energy radiating from your computer screen in front of you...and the breeze out the window, gentle or fierce, carrying the breath of one you may never meet and those your love who have long since passed. See that we are one. That a frown towards a fellow human traveller is a stomp on our own heart, that a careless waste of energy today is a deliberate pull of energy from our grandchildren, that a simple kind word in the morning can spread through many to save a life in the evening.

Take a breath, and realize that you are only one person. See that is all you are - and that is everything. We cannot take on the pain of everyone, of our whole being, but we can take responsibility for it. Awaken to what is.

I, like many others, are forgoing New Year's resolutions in the recognition that they rarely come to fruition. However, there is an obvious swirl in the energy pool as thoughts swim towards change, possibility, fresh starts, awakening from a winter's rest into growth. If nothing else, these thoughts and casual conversations ("So what are YOUR resolutions??") create a change in how I (and others) feel during our days.

I embrace this energy. I put out the intention to keep playing with this energy, like a kitten with a ball of yarn, to keep spinning it. I put out the intention to not forget that calling that a "simple" movie inspired within me. I put out the intention to start today - not waiting until January 1st - to live connected, peacefully, energetically, and aware.

Happy Awakening.

Winter Solstice

Silence without sleep.

Around my home (in this hemisphere), it is the longest night of the year. It is nature asking us to rest, to go within, to swim and drink in the darkness. It is a hard thing for us to do, we busy creatures, thriving on success through action. Yet it is of no use to fight nature. Our body may survive but our soul quickly dies without inner rest.

It is a balance we must keep - to find a peace, a rest - without going to sleep. Allow the eyes to close and dreams to come but keep the fire burning. This inner retreat that nature requests of us is so that we may recharge, learn and discover what lies beyond that which spring and summer may cover over, fertilize the soil that honest growth may occur as the days grow longer. If we sleep through it, allow the fire to die out, growth that will come with the sun will simply be dry and quick to death.

I wish for myself and for you a peaceful retreat into the self, a restful and insightful evening, and a wakening tomorrow from your deepest sleep.


***A Poem from Rumi***
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the door sill
Where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.

***

Namaste. (The divine within me recognizes and honors the divine within you)

How A Gingerbread House Is Supposed To Look

After weeks of begging from my son, we finally bought a gingerbread house kit. I figured since we were "cheating" with the kit, the process would be fairly easy.

This is how the box showed the finish product:



After:

1) Purchasing the countless other ingredients instructed in small print on the box (cornstarch, powdered sugar, etc) (even though the big print states "Everything's Included!")

2) Reading the instructions to learn the afore-mentioned ingredients are really not needed,

3) Discovering the instructions said it takes one hour for the icing for the walls to dry & two hours for the roof icing to dry, thus

4) Disappointing our son because there are only so many hours after school therefore evening number one was just spent in "construction",

5) Re-moistening the icing (which hardens within minutes) because "gingerbread-house-night-number-2!!" turned into "horrible-day-at-school-thus-punishment-in-the-room",

6) Taking at least 45 minutes cutting little gum drops in half, green, gummy, leaf-shaped candies into something that is supposed to resemble "evergreen leaves", and a little red bow out of a flattened red gum drop,

7) Giving up on trying to flatten gum drops into "rectangular window shapes" because gummies don't stay flat...they ooze back into their original shape no matter how much pressure you apply with a rolling pin or how many curse words are said,

8) Finally sitting down to decorate the house on night #3 with both kids only to discover that the icing simply won't come out of the decorating tube (& adding water only makes it easier for it to squirt out of the back of the tube & onto the floor & the dog),

9) Releasing into what is, scooping the icing out of the bowl with my hands, glopping it onto the gingerbread house & letting the kids have at it with applying whatever candy they want in whatever format they want....

We discovered the fun in making a gingerbread house and revealed what a gingerbread house should look like:




Perfect.

Finding Beauty

Location: White River Gardens, Indianapolis IN (next to Indianapolis Zoo)

The indoor greenhouse is beautifully decorated for the holidays. Tucked in one corner is this small fountain and pond.

We'd been over at the zoo, cheery but quite cold. Stepping into the greenhouse we were greeted by very warm, moist air. As if settling into a warm bed, we dreamily wandered around.

This mystical sight unfolded before me as if I was supposed to be there, as if I were being welcomed home. The gentle sound of the water dropping into its source, the twinkling lights reminding me of tiny fairies and making me giggle.

If only for this moment I was totally in a blissful peace. It is this feeling I wish for you.