[Oe List ...] Earthrise at 80

[Ellie Stock]

Thanks, John.
Ellie :)elliestock at aol.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Epps via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net>
Cc: John Epps <jlepps39 at gmail.com>
Sent: Fri, May 17, 2019 10:13 am
Subject: [Oe List ...] Earthrise at 80

Earthrise at 80At previous decade markers, Ihave posted a series of humorous quotes that have marked my journey (Like “Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them whiledriving.”)This time, the quote is a bit longer and one we used in the LENS culturelecture taken from a Zen myth:
There was once aman who was being chased by a ferocious tiger across a field. At the edge ofthe field there was a cliff. In order to escape the jaws of the tiger, the mancaught hold of a vine and swung himself over the edge of the cliff. Danglingdown, he saw, to his dismay, there were more tigers on the ground below him!And, furthermore, two little mice were gnawing on the vine to which he clung. Heknew that at any moment he would fall to certain death. That's when he noticeda wild strawberry growing on the cliff wall. Clutching the vine with one hand,he plucked the strawberry with the other and put it in his mouth. How sweet ittastedAt 80, the tigers seem to begrowling more vigorously and the mice gnawing with renewed energy. But thestrawberries are sweeter than ever. Here’s an example:Aspen trees are abundantlyscattered through the higher elevations of Colorado, and they provide visible markingsof the season. In summertime, their tiny leaves vibrate with a shimmeringeffect that celebrates the slightest zephyr of a breeze. In the autumn, thosesame leaves provide a yellow and gold contrast to the glum and forebodingforest. In the spring, their green buds provide an aroma of freshness heraldingwonder to come.But winter is their season ofartistry. Barren of leaves with naked limbs protruding in all directions, theystand tall with trunks displaying a visual language of indecipherable script.Each trunk is unique as though possessing its own hieroglyphics. Were thelanguage audible it would be cacophonous, but in silence it is art, with eachtrunk determined to display its own message.                                                               
There are no smooth white barksamong the aspens. They all seem to have stories to tell, and their language isgraphic art.Wonder seems to be presentwherever I look; it just takes paying attention. The strawberries are sweeterthan ever._______________________________________________
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