A Winters Day

"All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray, I've been for a walk on a Winter's day. I'd be safe and warm if I was in LA" These words from the Mama's and Papa's song California Dreaming have always seemed to capture the feelings of Winter for me. I can picture the drab, lifeless sense of the season, Winter seems to bring out the darkness in people; unfortunate, because Winter is the season of renewal. It is the time when the earth turns into itself so in the spring renewal life will bloom. I think we can learn much from this cycle, if we don't turn into ourselves, to spend some time in reflection than we never grow.

I spent a few moments this weekend reading profiles of family on Facebook. One or two caught my attention and I would like to reflect on them for a moment. One of the magnificent things about our country is we each have a right to become whoever we want. So many go through their lives without understanding that. I say this because I want there to be no mistake that I am not condemning them, but because they've chosen to publish those choices they afford others a right to comment.

One of my extended family characterizes herself as a Liberal, and then goes on to state that religion breeds violence, self-rightousness, elitism, hatred and non-thinking behavior. Clearly her definition of Liberal seems to narrow the definition to only that as defined by the Democratic Party, or perhaps Nancy Pelosi. I believe a true liberal could be so much more. The Oxford dictionary defines liberal as "given freely, abundant, generous, not sparing, open-minded, not prejudiced, not strict or rigorous, for a general broadening of the mind, favoring individual liberty and political and social reform." When you define your view as liberal, you shouldn't get to contradict yourself with the close-minded, elitist, belief that ALL religion, and ALL religious beliefs are bad. Clearly your chosen path is self-limiting, as you will not consider the foundations for faith as they reflect on the pursuit of truth. Pity.

On consideration, I find a great many who have had profound impacts on our world, and who would by all definitions be considered Liberal, have not turned away from religion, but found ways to embrace the power of their faith. For example, "I am confident that God has made me the instrument of showing a better way" Mohandas K GANDI, or "It is not when I am going to meet him, but when I am turning away and leaving him alone, that I discover that God is." Henry David THOREAU. From my perspective, without faith, life will be a hopeless and bitter Winter without the hope of Spring.

For another in my extended family I offer this single thought. What is put on the world wide web, will reside somewhere for as long as mass storage exists, and probably well past your life time. I hope you can live with the canvas you are painting.