*Earthrise at 80* At previous decade markers, I have posted a series of humorous quotes that have marked my journey (Like *“**Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while driving.”*) This time, the quote is a bit longer and one we used in the LENS culture lecture taken from a Zen myth: *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* 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: 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. 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. [image: image.png] [image: image.png] There are no smooth white barks among the aspens. They all seem to have stories to tell, and their language is graphic art. Wonder seems to be present wherever I look; it just takes paying attention. The strawberries are sweeter than ever.
