Spring 2013 - dogwoods and my bluff

Early music anyone?

Got to play Geoff Roehm's tenor Viol da Gamba at his workshop.  Makes me want to start a Renaissance band.  The gamba is tuned exactly like a lute.  Reminds me of my days at FSU in our Early Music Ensemble.

Spring scenes on the mountain

Hiking along Lost Cove and in the Franklin Marion Forest, wild azaleas, waterfalls, and a mountain lake at sunset.   A crisp spring day for a walk on the good Earth.

Wildflower hike

Celebrated Monday with a hike of the Shakerag with Don and John.
Red and purple trillium were around.  Not quite as prolific as the Collins Gulf, but nice.
Beautiful day.  The professors at Greens View...

Spring is in full swing, trees are about 50% filled in here in sunny Champion Cove.

Sleeping with the windows open downstairs and feeling the cool mountain breezes, hearing the rushing of the creek below, makes morning a pretty wonderful experience.  Do not want to leave the bed too soon.

2:40 am

Music

“The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.”

― Johann Sebastian Bach

Revelations from the woods

Belief.

Last night I talked with a super talented young musician who was the victim of a car-jacking.  He was shot in the neck and for a while, didn't know whether he would live or die.   He said, at times like that, 'your true colors appear.'   He said he was a Christian and his belief carried him through it.  He said he never felt closer to God.  His manner was admirable.  Graceful and humble; and his musicianship - expressive and impressive, especially for such a young guy.

Not being traditionally religious, I thought about this a lot in my alone time - a great time to process.  (Alone time in abundance is rare for most people.   Married people and parents can't relate to this, as they have really never been alone for any extended period in their lives.  Maybe it's the abundance of alone time that makes such social interaction all the more valuable and vivid, as well as serving as a great opportunity for real reflection).

Positive thinking, kindness, love and religion are all the same vibration.   Positive thinking in the powers of the universe - it is in us all.  Critical thinking is important to a point, but sometimes to release preconceived notions can make for a better understanding, more diversity of experience, better human relations and respect.  Trying to change people by disparaging them for their beliefs is such a waste of energy, that is why politics suck. I do believe in standing up for what I believe in but I haven't had the energy lately to be involved with politics.  Sometimes, religion loses it's way and becomes divisive as well.

I used to use the irritating rhetorical question, "Is that what you believe?" ... all the time.   Glad those days are over.  Belief is such a loaded concept.  It often doesn't make for a very useful construct in human relations.  Being a skeptic by nature has not helped me in that regard.  I'm ready to leave that behind because 'doubting' is 'a religion' - in and of itself, and not a good one.  It can alienate people and be divisive.  It is limiting and conservative.  It's puts people unnecessarily on guard.  Who am I to judge something that is beyond my experience?  The goal is love and kindness in any human relationship and there is sometimes a rub with belief and skepticism.   Even healthy skepticism doesn't need to be demeaning.  Polite inquiry should rule the day, not sarcastic challenges.

That is why politics is such a bust and so little cooperation takes place.   Opponents beliefs are often used to demean them.   It's not black and white. There is only the diversity of experience and cultures.

I find myself attracted to the good.  I feel like I want to share some music.  I hope to play in church sometime.

Life is good.  I'm happy to be able to learn something new whenever I can.  I'm really enjoying learning  new music.

Windy and 68º on the bluff today with winds gusting to 27 mph.

Wildflower season in the Cumberland 2013

I've not seen Dutchman's Breeches as prolific on the Shakerag Trail as I did on Monday.   Great day for a hike.   Trilliums are just about to pop and yellow Trout Lilies were abound.

With a healing foot, I'm glad I can hike, albeit cautiously, in the Cumberland during this wildflower season.   It's been a lifestyle change from being a competitive athlete... instead of grabbing my spikes when I get up, I now grab my guitar.  Looking forward to playing my Handel Suite at the Trails and Trillium reception, and meeting David Haskell.

Trout Lily

Dutchman's Breeches