Vitae Summa Brevis Spem Nos Vetat Incohare Longam

Ernest Dowson

The brief sum of life forbids us the hope of enduring long. –Horace

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter, 
Love and desire and hate: 
I think they have no portion in us after 
We pass the gate. 

They are not long, the days of wine and roses: 
Out of a misty dream 
Our path emerges for a while, then closes 
Within a dream.

Cold Winters - Warm Hearts

When looking at a classic painting of a winter scene, it almost feels warmly romantic.  Of course there is nothing romantic about the experience of cold winter storms.  We Americans have been recently reminded of the harshness that bitter cold brings.  Nevertheless, when I look at paintings like the one below I don't think of being out in the cold, I think of home, shelter, comfortable food and loving family.  Seeing the cold scene brings to mind thoughts of protection from the storm.   It's an odd emotion in response to such a painting, but the painting does not appear to be painted to create cold emotions.  There are warm colors of brown and black with flowing waters and men working as a team. There is the shelter of the ship and the sense of adventure that comes from trying to navigate the Thames in Ice.  It's amazing to me that paintings can depict one thing,  here a winter storm, but produce emotions not experienced by being actually present in the scene.  It reminds me that if I do find myself in a harsh storm, that on the other side of the storm is the warm comfort of home and family.  I hope you enjoy Whistler's The Thames in Ice.  And I hope that no matter how cold it gets you find warm comfort in your life.

Christmas Past

Washington Irving's description of Christmas Eve:

"Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, This bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad, The nights are wholesome--then no planets strike, No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm, So hallow'd and so gracious is the time."

The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent, Washington Irving, 1819

Beautiful Video Suggesting a Simpler Life: Get Back

Lincoln has posted the following video by Eliot Rausch in which the director encourages all of us to get back to our relationships by putting down our phones and technology and relating to each other.  Enjoy.

http://vimeo.com/64641161

SIMPLICITY

I have been reading about simplicity lately.  It seems that all of the high-tech complications with which we have filled our lives are not all that healthy for us.  In the end the best things for us are those things which God has provided -- fresh air, fresh food and fresh living.  But what does that mean exactly?

The best form of living is to simply live -- to know and be known, to love and be loved, to hear and be heard, to celebrate and be celebrated -- to experience the simple elements of a sterling life.  The best food we consume are vegetables which are no more enhanced or complicated than they were thousands of years ago.  The best air is unpolluted fresh air as crisp and clean as it was when Christ walked the earth.  The further we inundate our lives with technological advancement, the more disconnected we become from the beautiful experiences that make us human.

So does that mean that we should plunge ourselves into ultra minimalist living by throwing out our computers, cars and air conditioners?   Heavans NO!    Instead we need a greater focus on a concept of elegant simplicity.  We need to incorporate technological advancements seamlessly into our lives so that  instead of altering our environment, and ourselves, the technology does its job without interfering with our ability to be human.  And we are seeing improvements in that area.  People are being encouraged to get out in nature, even if nature is the street on which you live.   Human experience is found in the butterflies and fire ants,  the elegant dog and the smelly skunk,  the squirrels and the rats.  

We are finding that meditation connects us to ourselves in simplistic ways: a walk at lunch time around the block brings experience to our minds; and gazing at a sunset is not just for hopeless dreamers but a clear sign of a fully connected soul.

As I type on my computer, I am feeling fully human knowing that my life experience isn't found in the silicone microchip or HD screen, but instead it is found in embracing all that makes us human -- happiness, glee, beauty, pain and suffering.  Indeed, the entire spectrum of the soul is necessary to bring fullness to our lives.

I encourage all to find their way to live a life of elegant simplicity, it will truly be a sterling experience.

LEATHER TANNING -- HOW THE ELEGANCE IS MADE

I recently purchased a pair of shoes from Alden of New England. I got the Norwegian Split Toe in calfskin leather.  They are by far the most expensive pair of shoes I have ever owned  ($570 including tax).  One reason that Alden shoes are so expensive is that they are made from excellent construction with the finest leather.  The leather comes from the Chicago based Tanner, Horween.  (www.horween.com).  When you look at pictures from a tannery like the one above you come to understand that the elegant leather on your feet, your watch and your car come from less than elegant beginnings.  It is truly a sausage making type operation.  But quality leather is an essential, yet costly, part of sterling products.  My car's seats are wrapped in leather from the Scottish tanner Bridge of Weir. (http://www.bowleather.co.uk).

I have learned that the best leather available is known as Shell Cordovan.  Shell Cordovan comes from the tail end of a horse and is apparently the smoothest and best leather available.  Since horses cannot be slaughtered for hides, the only Shell Cordovan available comes from horses who have died of old age, illness etc....  One horse will produce only a single pair of Shell Cordovan shoes.  Consequently, the shoes are very expensive.  I chose to pass on the Shell Cordovan's this time, given the $635 price tag.  But maybe next time.

In the mean time I will be enjoying this wonderful purchase:

HARVEST TIME

Harvest time occurs around the autumnal equinox. Between the vernal equinox in March and the Autumnal equinox in September, the Sun spends more time illuminating the day in the northern hemisphere and therefore the days between March and September are longer than the nights.  It is during this season that crops grow and become ready for harvest.  Typically around September 22 or so the Sun focuses its rays on the equator of the earth so that days and nights are relatively equal.  Soon thereafter harvest begins in the North as the nights grow longer and days grow shorter.  The first full moon after the autumnal equinox has become known as the Harvest Moon.  Perhaps the Harvest Moon got its name because that particular full moon helped to illuminate the fields as farmers worked long days into the night to bring in the harvest.

In our modern society with powered lights in the fields and harvest performed mostly by workers driving combine type machines, the Harvest Moon seems largely irrelevant.  Indeed, harvest time is relatively unimportant to our diets, as crops grown around the world are imported so that every day of the year is a celebration of the bounty of the world’s harvest at our local grocery stores.  

Nevertheless, even though thriving on global agriculture, harvest time is still celebrated in our urbanized world. This month there will be county fairs and harvest festivals across America. I notice that a great many Anglican churches in England and a few Episcopal churches in America will be celebrating their Harvest Communions this Sunday October 14. 

Alice Waters, the famous chef from Berkley, California, has created a revival of celebrating the bounty of the local harvest.  Now chefs and restaurants across America have menus that feature locally harvested, seasonal, fresh picked fruits and vegetables. 

As the days grow cold in the distant north they find themselves with freeze warnings in South Bristol, Me. Autumn, harvest time, is short there with winter following quickly on its heels. Here in New Orleans we are experiencing the crisp weather of cool fronts. And for us in the American South its festival time.