FootprintsintheWind.com

We are lifting up humanity
giving it a great shaking
setting it down in the precise
same place yet all becomes
green fresh unexplored same

:- Doug.

Through the light and shadow
of my presence
we both begin to see

:- Doug.

Keep writing
Keep telling stories
Keep reaching out

:- Doug.

Strides are being made around the world for environmental peace, justice for all, and inclusiveness of all. At times people who fancy themselves leaders will get in the way. Forces for and forces opposing. Keep on.

:- Doug.

The far-sightedness is elders 300 years from now; the storytelling is how we seek a better human race.

:- Doug.

Eldering with the 300-year grandchildren is a spiritual process that mostly bypasses thought and even thinking.

:- Doug.

A contemplative lawyer
A contemplative elder
A contemplative poet

:- Doug.

I do not know what is the third level. I just know it exists. It is larger and deeper than imagination. More accepting. Here we can.

:- Doug.

Let us now
surrender
to our common between

:- Doug.

What freedom do we allow God? Fundamentalists by definition tie up God in their words and dogma. Peace churches and Quakers give God more of a playground, yet seem to have a fence. Eastern folk have loosed God even from the label God.

This is a good beginning of this thinking. Where does it lead?

Level 1 would be to use this as a cudgel to beat on folks on the brittle end. And the mushy end.

Level 2 might see this as a developmental process. It was at least mine.

Level 3 might begin to see the continuum as simply that: all valid points on a line that might in fact curve, might spiral.

:- Doug.

Own who you are.

:- Doug.

None of us is going
to come out innocent

:- Doug.

Even lawyers can feel pain.

:- Doug.

More than most, lawyers live in a litigious world. Elder caring lawyers—at least this one of them—prefer kind and gentle. We all live in a divisive age, and an age of courtroom dramas where there is black and white and lawyers who seem to be a deeper shade of black. Nevertheless, remind people to hug.

:- Doug.

If you do not blame another
and if you love this one with all you’ve got
you will not have to forgive

:- Doug.

People happen. People will sometimes tell you why they hate you. Maybe they don’t understand why. You have to find a way to forgive you. Past the rapids, the river grows swift and gentle again.

:- Doug.

You cannot control random
you can barely control your thinking

:- Doug.

Grandchildren in a high pile
tickling squealing all arms and legs
aren’t we all?

:- Doug.

Choose generously.

:- Doug.

What spiritual practices today are good kindling for the grandchildren 300 years from now?

:- Doug.

I believe there is a commonly held specific set of colors to paint a better humanity—even if we have not yet put them into one list.

:- Doug.

Into the extraordinary
here will you
choose to love
those so far
those they love?

:- Doug.

The pond is glassy and lightly shimmering. Calls to me: Hello, friend. Fresh leaves on the maple are waving greetings. Sunlight is smiling.

:- Doug.