Roots

I read a quote somewhere that said in so many words that when you think back fondly of your hometown, that it is your childhood you miss, not the place. Obviously this person did not grow up in Neal, Kansas. I was pseudo day-dreaming as I listened to the Blitzen Trapper song "Furr" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmBgxP56R1I&ob=av2n which made me yearn for some sort of Walden Pond. As I left consiousness and floated above my own body I got the feeling of total and absolute oneness. Ha sorry. No but really what came to me was that I grew up in one big Walden Pond. What did Walden have that is so attractive? Let us explore the qualities. Solitude- This one is almost too easy If you do not believe me please look at google maps and type in Neal, KS. If one wants to get away from people you do not need to hardly leave Neal, there is something like 35 people living there, give or take 5-10. If you take a mile bike ride in any direction you come to places where only neanderthals and coyotes have ever been. Next Walden had inclusion into nature. Some of my fondest memories are spending entire days on Homer Creek just fishin, throwing rocks, make believing, sleeping, and exploring. I never remember it being too hot or too humid to go out and about on "my river". Thanks extra weight and A.C. Next, W.P. had a sense of escape. Now I know this is close to solitude and leaning too much towards escape rather than solitude is not good but let me try and clarify what my mind thinks. Ha. Solitude is extended time to be alone both physicaly and mentally. It is time for self-reflection and introspection, for pondering metaphysics and theology. Escape is something to be used sparingly and shortly. There are times when one is over stressed or just plain angry. You do not want to, and maybe should not, go and think or meditate on things so what you need is something to vent your pent up feelings or to break away from something weighing on you. You escape. I could always head to my river and escape. No judgements, scoldings, pressing needs or fear. I could yell at the trees, throw logs in the water or just lay in the grass and veg out. (pardon the pun) What is great about escapes is that they can evolve so easily into sanctuary and solitude. One should hardly ever act when in high emotion or deep depression. Once you have gotten a little more even keeled meditation is what should come next. In this way you can plug back into your life with others.

I love that I am from such a simple and mystical place. I was not born there but I spent most of my life there so far. When I visit the ma and pa time slows down and creeps along with the languidly of a lazy heifer in a bluestem pasture. (that is a cow I believe) Don't worry if you have never heard that term, it's just stuff we cow folk of Neal, America use. I feel badly sharing this with you and know that most people in the world will never experience the Neal Valley.  If you ever get the urge to wade in Rocky Ford or fish for perch in Bert and Jan's creek, I'm sure my parents will give you a tour in their now famous Go-kart. Yes, they are in the Neal 4th of July Parade.

 Getting there will be the hard part, I think the Yates Center Municipal Airport is open if you can fly in nothing bigger than this.

P.S.

The picture at the top is not the house I grew up in. It is one of the fine buildings on "main street". I believe it is supposed to be haunted.

No letter cursing please, the library is supposed to be partially quiet

I recently purchased Lewis Carroll's set of tales, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass so I have decided to explore words beginning with the letter "F".

Friendship. I just spent a week sleeping on my two best friends dream inducing sofa. I was up in Des Moines taking part in Official Hogwarts business but in addition to that I ate succulent ribs cooked by Jake, phenomenal fajitas from Tim and Kelly, played more Tiger Woods 2004 golf than is good for anyone, shopped at the second best book store in America with Molly (first in price though, if you have not gone to Half Price Books in Des Moines and you love books, well you should go.), played childish yet immensely fun pool games such as dodge the torpedo, catch the torpedo, baseball, breath holding and arm spin contests. This is really probably not interesting to you at all but my point is if you are unemployed and have a week or so to go hang out with close friends then you definitely should because nothing helps your soul so much as people around you who love you and you love. As much as I like Simon and Garfunkel  we are not meant to be alone ala Genesis 2:18, our nature as creatures is too need affection in some way and to be truly full, give affection in some way. As much as I love and in some ways understand the teachings and writings of the Desert Fathers, I will say where they fall short is the lack of emphasis they put on the joy we are supposed to take in each other. The point here is that I am blessed beyond belief in the friendships I have in reality across America.

Next word, Fallen.

Sat in on a Bible/devotional study with my friend and his father in law and discussed the idea of sin/redemption/Christ etc.. and I was reminded to what I constantly need reminded of, we are fallen and despicable and need the absolute grace of Christ for Life. What makes this so terrible when I do not meditate on this fact is that not only do I suffer myself, I cannot approach anything in my life, be it a job, relationships, witness, philosophy or what have you, in any sort of a correct way. Once we have the saving grace working out the constant salvation is terribly hard but nothing in this world matters if we stop doing it as Solomon tragically found out. So I guess I will have to continue to keep standing up. So the idea of fallen leads into a pair of words that come from the understanding of that word, failure and fresh. C.S. Lewis said that the Creator takes much joy in the fact that we get up and keep going. I do not want to fail or fall but if and when I do we are graced with fresh starts. Friendships and faith are ever so vital in stepping into our fresh starts after our failures, even though we are so fallen.

Well I feel as if I am rambleing so goodnight. Oh yes and I stayed with the Flinkmans whilst in Des Moines and that starts with F as well.