[Oe List ...] [Earthrise] Annual Reflection

[Sherwood Shankland]

Thank you Judy for your resilient, spirit-filled stance in these turbulent
times. Sometimes the needed response is quite illusive, and daunting; the
most local community gardens, recycling, and artful expressions can
symbolically fill the vast need for social change, especially if we seek
pathways to scale up for deep impact. I keep one eye on my five grandkids,
(ages 8 to 19) to see how they are processing the news, relationships with
neighbors and with Eunice (77) and me (78). With memory issues rising, we
are trying to sharpen our priorities and stay active socially. Our
exchanges online and celebrations of life help to refresh the depth of our
long-term friendships.
So let's all stay calm, ride the Sea of Tranquility, and stay in touch.
Praying for Peace.

In gratitude and respect, Sherwood

On Wed, Aug 6, 2025, 8:36 AM Judi White via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
wrote:

> Grateful for our spiritual friendship thru the years and now🧡🧘💛
>
> On Tue, Aug 5, 2025, 6:41 PM Robertson Work via OE <
> oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
>
>> Gratitude, dear Judi, so powerful, so beautiful.
>>
>> Robertson Work
>> Books and bio <https://www.amazon.com/Robertson-Work/e/B075612GBF>    Essays
>> on Substack <https://robertsonwork.substack.com/>    Videos and articles
>> <https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/author/robertson-work/>    Interviews
>> and poetry
>> <https://www.globalheart2heart.com/a-compassionate-civilization-creating-a-new-future-now/?fbclid=IwAR2EAy4c64wCRzlzUCzVKXokqce3hePofFvzdzvCM5aDYRb9QgdFyQPUyxU>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Earthrise <earthrise-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of
>> Judi White via Earthrise <earthrise at lists.wedgeblade.net>
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 5, 2025 10:52 AM
>> *To:* Earthrise <earthrise at wedgeblade.net>; Order Ecumenical Community <
>> oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
>> *Subject:* [Earthrise] Annual Reflection
>>
>> Now celebrating  having circled the sun 81 times as an earthling. This
>> year wasbeen full with extreme encounters with life's blessings  and
>> death's door from publishing Bodhi Leaves (well received), to a sibling's
>> reunion and death ( of one of us (bringing us closer), to election of the
>> collapse of democracy (opp for practicing resilience), to occasion of
>> losing half the blood in my body (yeah, near death experience!), to Rocky
>> Mountain High retreat where 80 sang happy birthday and two of my poems were
>> read so beautifully I couldn't believe I wrote them. (best present ever).
>> This poem is all I have to offer.
>> 1 August 2025 In the Silence
>> The path lined with gray rocks of many shapes
>> Defining the way between ponderosa pines,
>> Huge boulders and gardens of fragrant heather.
>> Clouds in the sky overhead appear close enough
>> To reach up and touch
>> Their billowing build up of  tears waiting to shed.
>> The Blazing Mountain claims its nobie challenges
>> As it hides the sun's arrival on the eastern horizon
>> Casting elusive  shadows on the path,
>> As the sun makes its way to the mountain's peak,
>> Continuing its daily journey westward.
>> Shad0ws fade as the mountain blazes angrily
>> While sun spotlights the boundless resources of the Baca Grande
>> And the plateau sings out the power of [possibility
>> And wild creativity across the beauty of its landscape.
>> I, standing in the tension Between  the noble challenge of the blazing
>> mountain
>> And the vast possibility and wild creativity of baca grande,
>> Breathe deeply into path of small stones
>> Arriving  home where I am,
>> Welcoming overwhelming joyful gratitude
>> For this opportunity to be so alive and able to love ,
>> Celebrating this vow to be One with the three jewels -
>> The Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha
>> In these times of great traumatic change, (for which we were born)
>> Vowing to sustain courage to heal and be the healer of suffering.
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>>
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