<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div>So true! <div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Marianna<br class=""><div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On May 17, 2019, at 12:03 PM, Ellie Stock via OE <<a href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" class="">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class="">
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<div class="">Thanks, John.</div>
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<div class="">Ellie :)</div>
<div class=""><a href="mailto:elliestock@aol.com" class="">elliestock@aol.com</a> </div>
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<br class=""></div></div></blockquote><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class=""><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 10pt;" class="">-----Original Message-----<br class="">
From: John Epps via OE <<a href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" class="">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>><br class="">
To: Order Ecumenical Community <<a href="mailto:oe@wedgeblade.net" class="">oe@wedgeblade.net</a>><br class="">
Cc: John Epps <<a href="mailto:jlepps39@gmail.com" class="">jlepps39@gmail.com</a>><br class="">
Sent: Fri, May 17, 2019 10:13 am<br class="">
Subject: [Oe List ...] Earthrise at 80<br class="">
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<div align="center" class="yiv5766557805MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;"><b class=""><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%;" class="">Earthrise at 80</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv5766557805MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">At previous decade markers, I
have posted a series of humorous quotes that have marked my journey (Like<i class=""> </i><i class="">“</i><i class=""><span style="" class="">Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while
driving.”</span></i><span style="" class="">)</span>
This time, the quote is a bit longer and one we used in the LENS culture
lecture taken from a Zen myth:<br class="">
<span style="font-size:12pt;" class=""><i class="">There was once a
man who was being chased by a ferocious tiger across a field. At the edge of
the field there was a cliff. In order to escape the jaws of the tiger, the man
caught hold of a vine and swung himself over the edge of the cliff. Dangling
down, 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. He
knew that at any moment he would fall to certain death. That's when he noticed
a 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 it
tasted</i></span></div>
<div class="yiv5766557805MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style="font-size:12pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt;" class="">At 80, the tigers seem to be
growling more vigorously and the mice gnawing with renewed energy. But the
strawberries are sweeter than ever. Here’s an example:</span></div>
<div class="yiv5766557805MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">Aspen trees are abundantly
scattered through the higher elevations of Colorado, and they provide visible markings
of the season. In summertime, their tiny leaves vibrate with a shimmering
effect that celebrates the slightest zephyr of a breeze. In the autumn, those
same leaves provide a yellow and gold contrast to the glum and foreboding
forest. In the spring, their green buds provide an aroma of freshness heralding
wonder to come.</div>
<div class="yiv5766557805MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">But winter is their season of
artistry. Barren of leaves with naked limbs protruding in all directions, they
stand tall with trunks displaying a visual language of indecipherable script.
Each trunk is unique as though possessing its own hieroglyphics. Were the
language audible it would be cacophonous, but in silence it is art, with each
trunk determined to display its own message. </div>
<div class="yiv5766557805MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;"> </div>
<div class=""><span id="cid:fD4ZZs6oFyxmt38tSy5W"><image.png></span> <span id="cid:0vxwBsZiwPNRqDigNZQ4"><image.png></span> </div>
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</div>
<div class="yiv5766557805MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">There are no smooth white barks
among the aspens. They all seem to have stories to tell, and their language is
graphic art.</div>
<div class="yiv5766557805MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">Wonder seems to be present
wherever I look; it just takes paying attention. The strawberries are sweeter
than ever.</div>
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