INTERESTING TIMES

It's not an infectious disease, its' a cultural phenomenon.  Here on Kauai the decorations are everywhere.  There are blow up santas at every commercial destination, and lit trees in the windows of homes, and bright lights on signs and rooflines.  Island television is full of Christmas music and men wearing santa hats.  There are Christian churches scattered over the island--the missionaries have been quite successful.  The biggest Catholic church has a giant crucifix framed by palm trees.    There are just a few alternatives--a couple of Buddhist temples and an LDS church in Kapa'a that was established in 1933.  (According to some folks from SLC that we met, there's a "Mormon pipeline" by which a great many Hawaiian recruits end up settled in Utah.  I wonder how long it takes them to realize their mistake.)  The music in grocery stores is Hawaiian-style Christmas songs---to the tune of "I wish every day was Christmas because then peace and love would fill the world", and one about the grinch, and other songs unfamiliar to my ears.  I want to know why it has to be Christmas to be peaceful and loving.

Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the attendant of truth.
Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of discovery.
A belief which may not be questioned binds us to error, for there is incompleteness and imperfection in every belief.
Let no one fear for the truth, that doubt may consume it; for doubt is a testing of belief.
For truth, if it be truth, arises from each testing stronger, more secure.
Those that would silence doubt are filled with fear; their houses are built on shifting sands.
But those who fear not doubt, and know its use, are founded on rock.
They shall walk in the light of growing knowledge.
Therefore let us not fear doubt, but let us rejoice in its help.
It is to the wise as a staff to the blind; doubt is the attendant of truth.

--Responsive reading by Robert T. Weston in Singing the Living Tradition

I have enough money in the bank now to buy enough beans and rice for twenty-five years. To the end (sometimes longed for). Why not kidnap Suzy and sneak off to the life of a semi-hermit? A tempting, constantly tempting idea. ......Peace. Simplicity. Order, ceremony and ritual. Voluntary poverty. An end to clutter and this vulgar, stifling, crushing burden of things.
--Edward Abbey

Josette Luvmour on Human Development
NATURAL LEARNING RHYTHMS
Professional Relationships with Child and Family that Vitalize Optimal Well-Being
www.luvmourconsulting.com
slide show copyrighted 1993, today's date 10/12/09
SHE OFFERS ONLINE COURSES FOR CE ON NLR
Her Fave: dance of mutual development between adult and child
was the subject of her doctorate, on processes of adult development, end of Nov
www.encompassfamilies.org
My impression of this woman: great resource, anyone with difficult situations in parenting would find her assistance invaluable.
( notes )

Listen here:
http://www.buddhanet.net/audio-chant.htm