Monthly Archives: July 2016

Friends

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What constitutes being a friend? If it means covering each other’s back then these guys are friends. If it means spending lots of time together then these guys are friends. If it means liking and doing the same stuff together then these guys are friends. If it means having disagreements, but loving one another anyway, then, most likely, these guys are friends. And, if it means sacrificing oneself on behalf of the other then these guys would probably do that which makes them very good friends.

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These stallions appear to be best friends, if I can say that about horses. They rest together, graze together, stand together and trot together. These two are never apart regardless of the season. I count myself fortunate to observe them regularly. Occasionally, I’ll stop.

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When they run to greet me, if for no other reason than out of curiosity, a smile forms on my face as I witness their exuberance.

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They are a friendly and handsome pair, and always appear to be in fine shape.

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As I witness the brotherhood that exists between these two equines, I stop for a moment and consider my friends, past and present. I also consider what kind of a friend I am and have been. To be sure, I have disappointed more than a few souls. And, I have been disappointed and hurt as a result of others who I considered close friends. There is a proverb which states, “One who has many unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”. I know that friend, and want to be like Him.

 

We’re All Ears !

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Have you heard, or perhaps ever stated, “I’m all ears” or in this case, “We’re all ears”? Of course the quip is really a response to someone telling him or her that you are waiting expectantly to hear what he or she has to say. Quite often gossip is associated with this verbal interchange. I doubt my two bovine buddies are interested in what I have to say, although they did move closer to me as I approached them. Curiosity, I suppose, although I like to think of myself as being approachable. Most of us do!

The sun was setting behind these calves as they became living silhouettes. I couldn’t resist taking the shot, and wondering what they thought of me as I studied their faces.

What do animals really think when they look at humans in a neutral environment? For dog and cat lovers, staring at each other is as common as interacting with children or reading a good mystery. Some folk say animals don’t think…or feel emotion, but I beg to differ. They take in a lot more than we imagine, as scientific studies have shown. And, even if there were no scientific proof, real life experiences where man and animal respond to one another like human to human is undeniable in many instances. So, to my silhouetted friends, I simply say, “Thanks for the opportunity to talk with you”. I hope you got more out of our time together than I did.

I Can See Clearly Now

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Clarity can be described in a multitude of ways, but for this post I want to focus on the idea of how we view and live our lives. In light of the unusual political presidential drama, the continuing attacks by terrorist groups and the racial tensions which seem to envelop our nation, I wish to take a step back and look at these situations from an objective perspective-at least that is my hope.

Above and below are two photographs of the same field with hay rolls and green vegetation. Obviously, the focus is either near or far, clear or blurry. Similar to how we see  life much of the time. Certainly, one can pretend to be totally objective in viewing and interpreting our realm of existence and the part we play, but we are only kidding ourselves if we believe we always view life and situations with the utmost clarity.

My hope is this, as Jimmy Cliff sang in 1993: ” I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. I can see bright (bright) Bright sun shinning day. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) Bright sunshiny day.”

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Color

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In physics, white and black are not colors because they have no specific wavelength. In art, white is the absence of color while black is the presence of all color. Yet, in science (other than physics) white is color and black is not. Henceforth, color is defined in various ways, depending on perspective and criteria.

Carson is white with black eyes and nose. And, when he digs in the mud he looks something like an Oreo cookie. In this photo, the grass is green, the flower barrow a rusty brown, the trees shades of brown-gray and green, and the sky blue and white due to clouds.

Would it make any difference if Carson were black and the grass white? What if his eyes and nose were blue and the sky yellow? Imagine the trees being shades of red and orange, and the sky purple. Actually, the later actually occurs at different times of the year and in various regions of the world. It is a beautiful thing.

Does it really matter what color objects are, whether they be animals, nature or people? No. Then why do we get so bent out of shape when colors and people are concerned? Should we? No. Is this post too simplistic as we are faced with issues of color which are millennia old? No. No. No. What is too simplistic is all the complex rhetoric and reasoning behind the issue with color. People say it is complicated, but at the very core of this issue, the problem with color is not complex. It is just ugly. Too many people’s hearts are tainted with prejudice and hate. Simple, but tragic.

Provision

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“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”        Matthew 6:28-30

ICONIC

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Should you live in or visit Kansas City, a must see venue is The Roasterie, a Kansas City coffee factory with a great retail coffee shop. The company’s symbol is a DC-3 airliner which symbolizes the unique air-roasting of their coffee, the best delivery system possible, and their worldwide supply network. The owner purchased this DC-3 and had it mounted above his coffee facility at 27th & SW Boulevard.

More about the iconic DC-3, though. Douglas Aircraft began design on the transport in 1934 and the first commercial airplane was delivered to American Airlines in 1936. At that time two options were available: a fourteen person sleeper and a twenty-one seat version.  Within a few years more than thirty airlines ordered and flew this aircraft. By 1939 more than 90% of airline passengers were flying on DC-2s or DC-3s. Additionally, there were 455 commercial transports built and 10,174 transports were produced for the military during WWII.

The aircraft was tough, flexible, easy to fly and is the stuff of legends. Needless to say, this bird brought a major change to the airline industry and her affect is still felt around the world. She is a graceful bird to view. There are still many flying today…six decades after the first one became commercially available!

Relax outdoors with a fresh cup of coffee, and make sure you look up the next time you hear the sound of a twin engine plane crossing the sky…it may just be a DC-3.