Ripple

Ripple
Originally uploaded by Intervisions.

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung,
Would you hear my voice come thru the music,
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It�s a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken,
Perhaps they�re better left unsung.
I don�t know, don�t really care
Let there be songs to fill the air.

Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty,
If your cup is full may it be again,
Let it be known there is a fountain,
That was not made by the hands of men.

There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
And if you go no one may follow,
That path is for your steps alone.

Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.

But if you fall you fall alone,
If you should stand then who'�s to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home.

Robert Hunter

I wondered whether it would seem insensitive to print these lyrics after the Tsunami, but I think this beautiful, spiritual, calming Grateful Dead song is a fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives and loved ones. I started the large emanating heart of many colors, before the Tsunami, as part of the series of hearts and it was about the ever-expanding nature of out hearts and souls.

What we put out there into the world takes on a life of its own, blogging intensifies that effect significantly. At dinner tonight the conversation turned to possible repercussion. It's amazingly easy to publish yourself these days and begin that ripple. So, I will try to put loving, healing, inspiring stuff out there, in my blog, in my life... see where it leads. It all starts at the center.

The song is very Zen, with it's contradictory images and counterpoints. Most people know of Zen through its koans, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?", or "If a tree falls in the forest, does anyone hear?" The purpose of the koans is to snap people into consciousness by causing contradiction and confusion to their linear, logical minds. But, where Zen can be somewhat impersonal, Hunter's lyrics are warm and caring like Buddah. That was Jerry - don't look to me for answers, I can sing you a song and make you long for God, but you're gonna need to row there yourself.

Again, sort of a syncronicity with the previous post about the open water, sometimes the wave is gonna take you where it takes you... all you can do is float, maybe swim, try to grab onto something stable. And God may not always provide you with that tree to hang onto, but God will always provide you with the peace to face your fate, if you take the time to listen.

Alan Watts, the great translator of Eastern philosophy to the Western audience, used many water analogies, saying that each of our souls is like a drop of water to the sea. The droplet is separate, until it falls back into the ocean and then it is a droplet no more but part of the sea. He said, "As the ocean waves, the world peoples".

We are seeing disaster of Biblical proportion here. Think maybe someone/thing is trying to get our attention? If so, what is the message? Are we meddling with forces of nature? Have we strayed too far from God? Are we the infidels? Is it the exploitational Capitalists who rape the planet for profit, the rigid fundamentalists who kill in the name of God, the violence and greed within each of us... what? Give us a clue.

No matter the cause or possible meaning, the lesson to take is essentially a high-tech one. If sensors and proper warning systems had been in place probably most of those lives could have been saved.