Remembering Nooka #08 – a Home away from home …(08/15/2018) Even though Nooka was \"my dog\" -- almost as much as I was \"her human\" -- I did spend the majority of her life away from the farm (mostly working & living in Germany) and thus away from her ... Nooka had other friends, of course -- my mother, my stepfather, several employees of my stepfather's company who worked nearby -- and yet Nooka was exceptionally social (even for a dog) and regularly pined for humaninteraction; so much so that by all indications she went looking for the same throughoutthe neighborhood; indeed so much so that she then finally found the same in the form of my folks' neighbors -- Russell & Maria ... By all indications, whenever Nooka was feeling lonely she would -- for many days of more than a few years -- set out and walk all the way to Russell & Maria's house, where she not only made herself at home, but was also welcomed there as though she was truly Home. Below is a picture of her hanging out on Russell & Maria's front porch, and I place it here to simply say THANK YOU to these lovely people who so humbly and so fully accepted Nooka into their Family -- even though she technically \"belonged\" elsewhere.51
Remembering Nooka #09 – euthanizing Euthanasia …(08/15/2018) It was 2 years ago today that Nooka passed away, and yet hers was not a natural death -- for Nooka was euthanized. She had been tragically hit by a car a few days priorand was indeed in pain and not doing very well. Despite this I had been assured a few days prior to her death that she was doing much better and might very well pull through. I expressed my clear-cut wishes that she NOT be \"put out of her misery\" -- that if she didn't improve I would fly home immediately to be by her side and provide whatever comfort I could while she passed onward. And yet my parents decided to “puther down” anyway -- telling me after it was done that they had done so; meekly claiming that it was the \"most merciful\" thing to do. This belief, of course, is and always will be absolute rubbish. In honor of her tragic passing -- and in atonement for not being able to give her the noble death she more thandeserved -- I write this final tribute as an expose of a little known Truth -- namely: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A JUSTIFIABLE \"MERCY KILLING.\" That's right -- at least when it comes to animals (who, unlike us humans, cannot clearly enunciate their potential wishes to live on or die) -- if we are going to be honest with ourselves, we humans always ultimately euthanize our suffering animal companions not to alleviate their suffering, but rather to ease our own. For in truth the very last thing any suffering animal wants is to die. No, what they want (quite obviously, if we are truly paying any real attention) is for us to help ease their suffering and for us to be present with them while we do so -- either while they heal or while they pass onward. And even though it is probablyuncomfortable for many of you to hear, doesn'tthis Truth simply make common sense? We saywe deeply Love our animal Friends, and that iswhy we euthanize them. We say they are likemembers of our own families, and that is whywe kill them -- in order to \"be compassionate\"and \"ease their suffering\" ... Really?!?!? If anyhuman member of your family was suffering andcouldn't speak -- if he or she was in very cleardistress but could not communicate his or herwishes -- would any of you euthanize them inorder to \"ease their suffering\"? Would any ofyou choose to kill a son or a daughter or a parentor a cousin if they were in great -- even terminal-- pain and couldn't communicate their wishes52
regarding the same? Would any of you actually err on the side of believing that those loved ones wanted to die rather than be soothed or comforted? Would any of you actually think it would be a good idea to euthanize those family members instead of providing them with pain relief and your loving presence? OF COURSE NOT! Well, if you truly LOVE your animal companions, then you do indeed LOVE them like family. And if you do indeed LOVE them like family, then you will never ever ever ever choose to euthanize them – period! In essence, it's time to kill the killing, my Friends ... It's time to set aside our own subconscious convenience and our own inbred sense of arrogance whenever an animal Friend is suffering. Because a few things are certain – A) our animal Friends most certainly do NOT want to be euthanized (certainly not by the ones they love the most), and B) we ourselves most certainly do not know when it is the best time for them to die. What we can do in those moments is provide them with pain relief ... What we can do in those times is provide them with our caring presence ... What we can do is bewith them and show them LOVE while they pass onward in their own way and in their own time. Please allow this Truth to reach your Hearts, and then please let it finally be so.53
A far more bold Bravery …(09/01/2018)54
To become The ONE …(09/03/2018)55
A right way to Reckless …(09/05/2018)56
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To Be what We Are …(09/06/2018)58
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Burning down the Walls …(08/31/2020)60
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To get it by not getting it …(09/01/2020)62
A most discerning Judgment …(09/06/2020)63
Being never dismayed …(09/05/2020)64
How to Love like Jesus …(09/07/2020)65
The borders of Love & Peace …(09/08/2020)66
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An enlightening Deprecation …(09/09/2020)68
Joy in the Good & Noble …(09/17/2020)69
The Wisdom of the Wise …(09/14/2020)70
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Nothing short of the Cosmos …(09/23/2020)72
Oh, to be Human(e) …(10/06/2020)73
Where we're all Headed …(10/12/2020)74
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Knowing our Guides & Demons …(10/13/2020)76
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To LIVE is to Dance …(10/18/2020)78
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Making it real & special …(10/19/2020)80
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Juggling our way through Living …(10/21/2020)82
This morning, I found myself juggling so many tasks — tasks that are all designed to help others in some way — tasks that I feel are all Important to “get done.” Well, I stopped long enough today to realize that you probably know exactly what I am talkingabout — I stopped long enough to realize that maybe this “too much to do” syndrome is an innate part of our human programming. Maybe we are designed to “do — Do — DO” because our primitive brains believe that “doing anything productive” is what keeps us alive — is what protects us from imminent danger — is what prepares us to survive if it ever “hits the fan” — or is simply what a “responsible person” does.And yet today I woke up to another Truth — one that I think also applies to everyone just as well as it does to me – namely: It is OK to pause and look around!I recently read this quote which helped me to put it all in perspective: “Juggling is dropping things…………in style” (unknown) In other words, everything is NOT going to get done fully to your satisfaction – ever. Some things will have to be “dropped”. And it is OK for you to do the dropping, as long as you do so Purpose-fully. It is OK tolet the “to do” list sit for awhile and just BE — just consciously soak up the amazing Beauty that surrounds you in every moment of your life.To get the full effect of what I’m talking about, you will have to do so right now— so go ahead: stop what you are currently doing, get up and go outside (or look out a window), and take a deep breath while you let the Beauty of your Life soak in … Stick to this conscious “Appreciation-break” for a few moments, and remember to smile while doing so. And while you do so, gently refuse to worry (or even think about) about your “to do” list — After all, it’s still right there where you left it, and everything of any true importance will still get done when it needs to get done.What is truly Important is that we regularly Appreciate our lives while they are flying by …… because we will quite certainly never pass this way again!And then, as you then head back into your life – as youreturn to your life's seemingly never-ending juggling act,remember these two tips – #One: “The trick to juggling isdetermining which balls are made of rubber and which aremade of glass.” (unknown), and #Two: almost everything onyour to do list is “made of rubber”, & every encounter with every sentient being you encounter is “made of glass”!83
How to Love your GOD …(10/22/2020)84
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Ever full & always Now …(10/23/2020)86
A warning to the Wise …(10/26/2020)87
The one & only Learning …(10/27/2020)88
We were made for IT …(11/07/2020)89
What real Forgiveness means …(11/08/2020)90
… and how real Forgiveness looks (11/08/2020)91
All the Good (Wo)Men …(11/10/2020)92
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Loving those most in Need …(11/12/2020)94
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Filling all the Emptiness …(11/13/2020)96
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A more than perfect Pyramid …(11/15/2020)98
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To bend all the Unbendables …(11/18/2020)100