It’s a lovely, cool day. I’m eating porridge, with raspberries just picked from the dewy garden. Rain later, to lessen the drought.
As some of you know, my wife, Jennie has been working for the past eight years in Asia. This trip she is teaching in Java and India. Her work is to teach the Expressive Arts Therapies and Playback Theatre as tools for supporting social change and aiding the survivors of trauma.
My role is usually to stay home and keep the fires burning, and, Windsor, the cat, fed and occupied. He is getting rather demanding in his late-middle age. (Not unlike me I suppose….) I also handle the techie duties that enable us to keep readers abreast of her travels and activities on the web. We work hard to make the tech pieces happen, building in as much redundancy as possible, then hope for the best. For some reason, tech issues have been intense on this trip. Anyway, I arose early (mostly due to Windsor’s persistence) and have finally gotten her blog updated with three new posts!
Having finished work on Jennie’s blog, I have a sense of great satisfaction. It is good to support her work, as she really makes a difference in the lives of the people she meets and teaches, and in the lives of their clients and students. John Cage, the American composer, with whom I studied briefly in 1971, used to say, “Do not try to change the world, you will only make it worse.” I found that statement vexing for a long time. Now, as I am approaching the age he was then, I think I am beginning to get it. I believe he meant the way to really make a difference in the world is to be of service in the moment, to the people one is with. Way to frequently, revolutions breed genocide, totalitarianism, greed, and misery. That’s a difficult lesson for twenty-somethings. It’s a bit easier to swallow in my sixties.
Jennie is doing here work, and I am pleased to be able to support her. Next week I leave for India to join her, and do work of my own. Hopefully, I will be able to post to the blog fairly frequently. I am immensely grateful to those who will keep the home fires burning and Windsor fed and entertained in our absence.
Dreaming the World 
Such incredible work. Both of you are a blessing and blessed. . .
Thanks, as always. I am deeply moved by, and appreciative of, your consistent encouragement and support.
As am I by yours, and the depth of your words. . .
Acceptance.
Perhaps this is something we all struggle with. Compassion often makes this a very difficult road. Yet your words ring true. Often it’s not easy to let spiritually wayward children “burn their hands on the stove”. But in the end, is there really any other way for them to learn?
On the downslope of my 40’s I too wrestle with this one. But as recent events have taught me, we all must learn to sit patiently, observe, and act only for the greatest good of others – and ONLY when called upon to do so. . .
It is challenging to know whether, how, and when to act. I like the idea of just doing our best.