Monday, October 20, 2008

Lost in Thought

Mexican petunia buds


Back again for fall!


Dwarf pom bloom


I've been out in my garden non stop for about a month... too engaged in the act of gardening to even think about writing. I'm back now, though the questions that were racing around in my mind haven't been answered in full.
I go to the garden to breathe. To squat and be near the earth and to find that meandering span of time that is both meditative and blissful. I don't know about you but I've been gardening like mad trying to find some peace of mind concerning the direction of our country and how or why we come to our convicted belief systems. My friend Don sent me a link to a lecture on TED, http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html
which was well thought out and while I was perusing their site,found another interesting article by PHd John Francis. John Francis gained fame from his vow of silence and walk around America while working his way through school in Environmental sciences. The article was fascinating and as stories like these do, it started me wondering about civic duty and environmental responsibility.
Of course that wraps back around to the election and so goes the cycle.
He's a very humble man who has admitted to not being able to articulate some of his biggest decisions because they are passion driven. It's that level of passion that I think stands in my way of full understanding.


I was raised to not talk about politics or religion...it's rude and you never know who you are going to offend. The problem with that is that if you don't talk how do you come to an understanding about what your fellow man is going through and how do you learn the sincere language of peace? I'm talking Diplomatic Peace, yet maintain your passion and individuality?

While the political landscape has been reshaping my grey matter, I forgot to live in the moment and threw out my back. Stuck in bed, I've been watching the political shows and getting more and more worried about the nature of our two party system and the growing rift between the two that seems to be separating at such a rapid pace that the middle class is falling into the space between.


I've stuck my foot in my mouth numerous times when folks stop to chat while I'm gardening. I walk away wondering how? How did they come to their decisions when we both live in the same world. So, I garden on. I'm counting down the days to the election. I'm trying to avoid the TV...I'm suspending hope and my garden is the sole recipient in this internal struggle. The flowers bloom on, and will no matter what.

My own recycled junque blooms:)


Happy Gardening!