splinters...

i was raised in the Bible Belt of California.... (and huh-hoh! lemme just say, for those who doubt the existence of such a place... we're a big ole state, capable of housing any manner of masses, viewpoints & counterpoints.. for better or worse.) ....... and much like the Autistic tends to think in Images.. so the Bible-reared soul (myself at least)has a tendency to engage the world in a stream of vaguely dogmatic, mytho-poetic verse....... one line that comes to mind,again & again... particularly in moments when i am attempting to initiate some change.. act as harbinger in my own daily life.. ( say, errr, daily blogging or taking up running..) a line begins to chime in my mind... "pick up your cross daily..." a token of advice to christ's followers stating, basically.. come on people... get on board. you say you want to live the spiritual life.. walk the spiritual path.. (substitute in here that of the artist, writer, yogi, painter, athlete, avid dog-walker... whatever you choose...) .... it's a daily deal, this life that you've chosen.. rain or shine, come hail or sleet, in sickness or health... you know the tune. ... it speaks to the notion that Love... is a form of action.. committed daily, in ways both big & small... that the world is slowly (but most surely) built in this fashion ... by the daily acts of devotion we take along the path.. as if you could build an altar in your mind's eye (or in your living room perhaps..) that greets you cloyingly each morning with a smile and a query: What have you done for me lately???? for love (or anything for that matter) without action is Dead. ... moot... a sample in a hallmark card... pointless.. inert... in order to live this life, i am reminded, one must inevitably get a little bit dirty... pick up the cross, although it most assuredly contains splinters and wreaks of pine.... strap on your boots, your pen, your ballet slippers - whatever be good for the walkin'.... and follow me... ...... cuz this little girl believing as she does that just the right amount of ART can surely save the WORLD... (most likely 'twere the gospel tale to be re-written by moi, the good lord would prob'ly come down from heaven wielding naught but his guitar and a handful of oil pastels...) ...... and so it is with this daily jingle making its' rounds in my mind that i pick up my pen (or trusty laptop, as it were)...with nothing much more to glean than just that.... and begin (again) this daily business of building the world... aNeW.