My Tree... Helen's House

This is the view out one of my apartment windows. It's the largest live oak tree in Petaluma and it (like so many trees in my life during the last three years) serves as a source of spiritual piece and psychological respite. It is also the centerpiece setting for one of the most beautiful historic homes in Petaluma and will be featured in this weekend's Historic Homes Tour.

My little apartment isn't part of the show, and I will likely not be here while the masses tour the beautiful home that I am lucky enough to live so near.

There is a sense that this is a magical house. Helen Putnam was both a council member and a mayor in Petaluma long before that woman from Alaska came along to despoil the image of small town mayors, and she had a love for people and a care for the outdoors that was so deep that this little town has named both a downtown plaza and a beautiful regional park (just up the street and over the hill from me ) after her.

If you click on the above link to the Press Democrat story about the house, you will find a whole collection of photos of the truly lovely renovation job that my landlords and newfound friends have worked for ten years to complete. My little loft apartment is a bit more modest than the grandiosity of Helen's House... but it suits me just fine.

And then of course... there's the tree.

More... More... More

New stuff up this morning at Bleeding Daylight and at 40 Days... Check it out.

More to come, so check back too!

Remember!

There has been so much stupid negativity over the last two weeks (conveniently, ever since the Republcan Convention) and I will admit that I have been a part of it.

But so has Barack and his team. What started, in the primaries, as a call to action and the lead out of an inspirational juggernaut has, in the weeks since his great speech at the convention, turned into standard Democratic rudderless campaign meandering.

NO!!!!! It was the inspiration that moved us. The call to BE a people, not just expect MORE of Government. To Ask Not... but...

We still need THAT inspiration... we still need THAT leader. We still need THAT HOPE.

¡SI SE PUEDE! YES... WE... CAN!

What Would Jesus Do?

This story, my storypeople story of the day, brings up an excellent point.

What WOULD Jesus Do... not just in his circumstances meandering about Palestine 2,000 years ago, but right here today, under THESE circumstances, with THESE conditions, and THIS world? That's a reasonably interesting question. One of the first, and one of my favorite, things I learned in seminary was the principle of reading and grappling with scripture here and now, living with it in present reality and not simply accepting the stories for their ancient, and temporally-bound, content.

When you ask the question what would Jesus (or whomever you choose to emulate) do in my circumstances, you are indeed likely to come up with a new answer like the one posed above. The next question is, of course, does "NO" mean he would do the same thing he did before, or that he would do the same thing as you?

What does YOUR "magic religious 8 ball" say? Hmmmmm?

A Sneak Preview of Things To Come

My post at George Washington's Cousin which I mention below has recently been altered.

The Sarah Palin video, which includes large chunks of images and information regarding the fanatical and incendiary group of right wing "christians" that she belongs to has been removed from You Tube and is no longer available. Instead I went to the filmmaker's website and was able to find the piece hosted on another server, so I have subsequently changed the link.

This kind of thing is pretty typical procedure for Google (which owns You Tube.. AND Blogspot). It has also been increasingly typical behavior in the U.S. during these "Bush League" years.

I REALLY hate getting into these fear-mongering perspectives and propagating the kind of negativity that seems to be flying about, BUT... I am afraid that it is only a small example of what is likely to come if we do not defend our precious liberty and prevent McCain/Palin and their cadre of revisionist neo non-thinkers from taking over the government.

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." ~Benjamin Franklin