Celebrating freedom in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - photographed August 31, 2008.

Splashing and jumping in the water – meditating in the woods – hiking together in the ...
Click here for full view of this post: Humanity – Our Path to Victory]]>

Celebrating freedom in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - photographed August 31, 2008.

Splashing and jumping in the water – meditating in the woods – hiking together in the mountains – playing games – laughing – painting one another’s faces – hugging one another – looking into each other’s eyes in trust – learning from each other – sharing and exchanging treasures generously – forgiving each other – preparing for and enjoying a feast – joining together in disaster preparation and recovery efforts – serving each other and working together – being victorious together – singing – dancing – telling stories … the wondrous gift of our humanity, this is who we all are and where we need to invest our energies, concerns, and works.   

Our life-giving humanity has been described in terms of needs and abilities by many people such as Abraham Maslow, a psychologist, and Ashley Montagu, an anthropologist. These descriptions include our needs and abilities to love and be loved, to sensitively and authentically relate to one another, to let life unfold by respecting the freedom and growth of others, to honestly accept ourselves for who we are, to appreciate our differences objectively, to have strong ethical standards, and to be concerned for the well-being of everyone. We also have tremendous capacities to be enthused, to be curious, to appreciate and be caught up in the wonder of life, to be spontaneous, to be playful, to be humorous, to be joyful, to show affection, to share laughter and tears, and to express gratitude. We have boundless growth abilities too. Today, step by step, we can overcome the failings of yesterday through our needs and abilities to organize, to communicate ideas, to be flexible, to be resilient, to be creative, to identify difficulties and find solutions, to be optimistic, to try new things, to be open minded, to listen to ones heart and grow through self-reflection, to think soundly, to listen to and trust in others, to grow within and beyond our own culture, to win together, and to celebrate wholeheartedly.    

This is our journey together. As Howard Thurmond, a theologian, has said, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” So let’s “Choose life!” with our whole heart and with our whole soul and with all our strength (see Deuteronomy 6:4 and 30:19). In the same full spirit, let’s “Choose our humanity!” by embracing visionary understandings of all that we perceive and all that is beyond us; deep, altruistic intentions in all that we are about; gentle, truthful, compassionate interactions and relationships between us; respectful, helpful, healing actions; life-giving livelihoods; wholesome, vigorous effort; alert, empathetic mindfulness; and hope-based, needs-based, empowering concentration (see the Eightfold Path of Buddhism). Let’s be responsible and answer our call to be fully human, alive, and free! Let’s, as a human family, get in our zone, find healing, and be victorious together!  

Coyote - photograph by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

On June 15 of this year, while seeking guidance in my family’s decision to move from Dauphin Island, I began reading some Native American works about “vision quests” ...
Click here for full view of this post: The Coyote and Our New Home]]>

Coyote - photograph by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

On June 15 of this year, while seeking guidance in my family’s decision to move from Dauphin Island, I began reading some Native American works about “vision quests” or “lamenting” or “crying out for vision.” The advice in the readings included the consultation of someone old and wise. Later in the early evening, from our house on the Island, I began my quest taking a walk with no particular destination in mind. From Bienville Avenue, I entered the Audubon Bird Sanctuary and found my way to a wise friend and Spirit bearer, the large old magnolia tree. Placing my hands high onto it and leaning forward on it, I stayed there asking for “vision” and “guidance.” Walking home by way of the beach, I saw the moon rising after its eclipse. The moon was a remarkable yellowish, orange color. Throughout the night, I continued my urgent request for vision.

Later that night, in a dream, I was walking through a large capitol like Washington, D.C. This place was under some vague threat, but I was a tourist, a spectator, taking pictures, and I and the other tourists were not particularly concerned about the threat. Soon I came to a stunning, silvery, domed structure with many openings that connected it to the outside. As I was admiring the structure and its outside gardens, a coyote appeared. The coyote was alert and engaging as it darted quickly around the structure. I was barely able to get a photograph of the coyote, when the coyote was once again out of sight.

After the coyote’s appearance, I and the other tourists looked at each other. We knew we had been warned. We knew that we should flee. But the lure of the capitol was strong, and why shouldn’t we enjoy this day a little more, why not see one more attraction, we’d probably be fine. So I kept walking around the domed structure, but then someone shouted, “I see it!” Instinctively, I knew it must be a missile, and I imagined that the person who had shouted must have seen the fire coming from the missile on its approach. With no looking back, I ran as fast as I could in full panic trying to get to some place of safety before the explosion. I knew that the other people must be running too. As I ran and ran, I was so frightened that I did not even dare to look to the side. Still sprinting hard, as I was nearing an area with some tall grass that I thought might afford some safety, the explosion slammed into my back and threw me forward. Still in midair, questioning whether I would live or die, I woke up.

The next day at breakfast, I told my family about the dream. Then, in consultation with my family, I identified three pieces of property that might be right for us.

The following day, I made appointments for myself at each of the three properties. Each of the appointments was for the next day. When I went to the appointments for the first two properties, they were less than I had expected. When I went to find the third property, I had trouble finding it, but with help of some people in the area I was able to find it. There were lots of birds, blueberry bushes, trees, and a small country house. The real estate person wasn’t there. I knocked on the door but no one answered.

I decided to take a quick walk around the house and then go into the field in the back. As I was walking on a cleared pathway in the field, I saw an animal along the backside of the field in the tall grass. The animal and I both stopped. We just stared at each other. I wondered what it was. A wolf? A German shepherd?  I was glad that I was carrying a walking stick. Before long we both gained confidence and continued along the way we were going. This brought us closer together until the animal entered the same pathway that I was on. At that moment, it stopped again and looked at me. Out of the tall grass, I could see the coyote clearly. Half with a laugh but much more with astonishment, I asked, “So, is this it, God? Is this how far we have to go to be safe?”

Of course, it’s a longer story with many more details, but this property is now our new home – Deer Park – Washington County, Alabama – just north of Citronelle. We plan to remain connected to and committed to the coast – its people and nature. But now we’re also sharing a new home with new animals, deer and even bear. We hope to do some serious gardening and are meeting wonderful people up here.

In terms of safety (and sustainability), everyone should follow their own heart. Each person’s heart may lead in different directions for different reasons. Ours has led us to Deer Park. Yet all our paths are interconnected. Each person and each family must find their own path. Seek, be patient and alert, wait, listen, …

Our new home in the country with Leo, Julita, and Edward - photographed November 12, 2011.

Rosie, Julita, Edward, and Leo enjoying a picnic in the field - photographed November 12, 2011.

Before the Gulf oil disaster, I thought of this mostly in terms ...
Click here for full view of this post: “To Be A Genius – Seek Out The Genius In Others”]]> This saying, my own I think, is part of the way to profoundly appreciate others, liberate ourselves from our narrow perspectives, reconcile, become healthy and whole, rediscover the joy and pain of life, share the bounteousness of our Earth, convey Wondrous News, find God, … 

Before the Gulf oil disaster, I thought of this mostly in terms of human community, but I’m beginning to see with new eyes the Giftedness or Grace or Genius in everything. My family just spent a few days in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We camped there on beautiful Okracoke Island. This National Seashore shares much in common with the white beaches and barrier islands of the northern Gulf Coast. For example, the beaches sport six line race runners and are part of a larger eco-system of dunes, wooded areas, and coastal marshes.

A six line race runner skirts across a walk way on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.   Our incredible campsite at the Okracoke campground, photographed May 31, 2011.

The plants and trees of the wooded areas near Okracoke's beaches were diverse and beautiful, photographed May 31, 2011.   A marsh on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.

But at the Outer Banks, when one looks out into the ocean, there’s an immediate obvious difference too – North Carolina has no offshore drilling. Additionally, there’s many more shell pieces near the shore that sustainably support the beach against erosion. Not just shell parts either, an abundance of living shell life that is incredible. I remember from my childhood the numerous the coquinas on Dauphin Island and Gulf Shores. On the National Seashore there still there a great numbers all along the shoreline. The sand fleas too are unbelievably plentiful – just sit down, let your hands slip into the sand, and pull them up – as numerous as fleas on a country dog in summer.

Where have all the oil rigs gone? Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.   Hundreds of coquinas burrowing back under the sand on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.

Innumerable shell help protect Okracoke Island from erosion, photographed May 31, 2011.   The sand fleas could be gathered easily just sitting in the surf, photographed May 31, 2011.

Today we, who live on the Gulf Coast, can seek out the Genius that has kept these North Carolina beaches so clean, vibrant, and beautiful. Unfortunately these beaches on the Outer Banks are threatened too by the expansion of offshore drilling that is being pushed by corporations and politicians. Fortunately, these beaches still bring exhilarating joy, and no one knows what’s the tide will bring in on a new day. The Okracoke Monster might even be found slithering through the sand at dusk.

The beauty of the Outer Banks beaches may soon be threatened by oil drilling and like all oceans is threatened by plastics and other pollution, photographed May 31, 2011.

This 20-foot long Okracoke monster was photographed on May 31, 2011 just after sundown

Hands Across the Sand Event 

Everyone is invited to Hands Across the Sand on Saturday, June 25, 2011 on Dauphin Island at the beach near Fort Gaines. We’ll gather around 11:00 AM and join hands at 12:00 noon to show our support for clean energy. There will also be Hands Across the Sand events in Gulf Shores, Biloxi, Pensacola, and many other locations

The beach at Fort Gaines is located on the eastside of Dauphin Island on Bienville Boulevard. After crossing the bridge, turn left (East) at the water tower onto Bienville Boulevard. Then drive past Fort Gaines to the end of Bienville Boulevard where it curves to the right. Parking is available there. We will have a blue tent on the beach at the end of the parking area. See Google map for aerial view.

Olympic National Park, photograghed by Paul Symington on October 15, 2005.

We – Earthlings – animals, plants, and more – trillions of us – belonging to millions of species – all contribute to Earth’s incredibly ...
Click here for full view of this post: Sharing our Interconnected Earth]]>

Olympic National Park, photograghed by Paul Symington on October 15, 2005.

We – Earthlings – animals, plants, and more – trillions of us – belonging to millions of species – all contribute to Earth’s incredibly wondrous biosphere. Together we can share and enjoy this planet as our home. As intelligent human beings, we can also share and enjoy the incredible richness of thousands of cultures, religions, philosophies, and spoken languages. Our biological and cultural diversity is an ever-flowing fountain for our humanity.

Yet in the midst of such wonder we are afraid. We find ourselves disconnected, small, caught up in the “rat race,” and when we think deeply, the shortness of our lives weighs upon us. Yet our capabilities are extraordinary. Of course, we easily make mistakes and are in need of continual growth, but the diverse gifts that lie deepest inside of each of us can bring us such joys, life, meaning … In a word, we can LOVE – loving the WHOLE and all individuals.

About five years ago, I had a dream where I ran up to a man who was considered a subversive radical, and I challenged his theories. But he just replied in a friendly manner that “The positive energies of government are far more compelling than the negative.” Realizing that he was not so dangerous, I asked him to be more specific. He replied, “Human cooperation should strive toward being enlightening, empowering, and unifying.”

Perhaps the beauty and resilience of Earth’s diverse, interconnected eco-systems can teach us that it’s time to stop racing – become still – look beyond our perspective – and join hands for the benefit of All.

Swallow-tailed kite, photograph by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A dead ...
Click here for full view of this post: Proof! Warblers Can Read!]]>

Swallow-tailed kite, photograph by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A dead warbler who fell in my backyard after flying across the gulf. Photographed April 2, 2011.

Our "clean beaches" "among the finest in the world." Photographed on Little Dauphin Island just a few weeks ago on March 17, 2011. Various facilities including the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in the background.

  “Seen anything?” I asked at the Shell Mounds on Dauphin Island (a world class birding area). “No,” the Michigan birder replied, “but last year my brother came here and saw 10 ‘lifetime birds’ in 20 minutes.” “Wow,” I said, “and last year was a down year.” “Then, what would you call this year! Can’t believe my wife and I came 1100 miles for this! Do you expect any ‘fallouts’ soon?” “Not really,” I answered, “we’ve had the storms and cool, strong north winds to produce ‘fallouts’ several times but the birds just aren’t arriving in any numbers at all.”

Everyone I’ve asked says this is “the worse spring in memory.” The warblers, the highlight for many birders, have been the most conspicuous in their absence. Most birders have only seen a few warblers. So where are the birds this spring? One birder from Georgia said, “I just hope they’re still alive.”

During the spring migrations, in good years, like 2009, I see hundreds of colorful warblers of more than 20 species. Even in off years, I see around a hundred warblers of a dozen or so species. This year, after many outings, I’ve seen just one migrating warbler, a hooded warbler (not counting the one that fell dead in my backyard).

Like all years, this spring has had some highlights. My son, Nicholas, saw a swallow-tailed kite. These magnificent birds generally fly up and down the Dauphin Island sand dunes and above the wooded areas of Dauphin Island. Several in my family have also seen some bald eagles near Bay Front Park in Alabama Port. I have also seen some orioles, finches, kingbirds, and vireos. Unfortunately, these have shown up in much fewer numbers and varieties than usual.

On Dauphin Island, even the non-migrants are a fewer in number. Woodpeckers, wrens, thrashers, sparrows, blue jays, cardinals, towhees, and mockingbirds are noticeably fewer.

Somehow, according to experts, the birds, just like the humans, have become alarmed after reading reports from “various media outlets.” After all, according to the experts, it’s “fair to say that the oil is indeed gone.” But somehow, the birds too have failed to close “the gap between the public perception of the oil spill and the reality of where we stand.” And where do the experts say we stand? “The seafood appears to be abundant and is indeed safe to eat while the beaches are among the finest in the world.” So if you happen to see any gullible migrating birds, please pass the word along that all is well in the gulf and the surrounding areas. Also be sure to warn the birds about the “clear and certain danger” of “various media elements” who might cast doubts on the experts who say that there are “no ecological dangers” or “grave concerns” for the public to worry about … only “questions” of “academic interest” (for examples of such expert quotes see http://oil.disl.org/pdf/DHOSPerspective.pdf – for examples of irresponsible media keep reading Umpteen Horizons).

Mortality rates in Alabama by county (2000-2009) - the bluer the county the better or lower the mortality rate as compared to the Alabama average – the redder the county the worse or higher ...
Click here for full view of this post: Deaths in Alabama – Troubling Disparities]]>

Mortality rates in Alabama by county (2000-2009) - the bluer the county the better or lower the mortality rate as compared to the Alabama average – the redder the county the worse or higher the mortality rate as compared to the Alabama average. Developed by Leo Denton with data from the Alabama Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Uncertainty prevails when it comes to getting a handle on health in Alabama and on health along the gulf coast in Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama. How many Gulf coast residents are suffering from illnesses? Why are dolphins dying in record numbers? Why is Alabama’s mortality rate so high? Who knows?

To get firmer answers, I decided last month to look at Alabama’s death statistics. I chose these numbers first because the numbers are serious; it matters a lot whether we’re alive or dead. Second, the statistic is unambiguous; it’s hard to spin the number of deaths even for the government or a big corporation. Third, the statistics are generally available. With help from Alabama’s Bureau of Vital Statistics, I have received annual county by county data on population and deaths throughout Alabama for 2000 to 2009 (unfortunately 2010 is not yet available). Using these numbers it possible to calculate the number of deaths per 10,000 people, a common benchmark for mortality rates.

To put this mortality rate in perspective, in 2009 the world rate was 83.7 and the United States’ rate was 83.8 (see Wikipedia/CIA World Factbook). Alabama’s mortality rate is much worse. In 2009 Alabama’s rate was 101.4.

Many rural areas in Alabama have mortality rates much worse than even the Alabama average. In a stark disparity, Covington County’s mortality rate (135.60) more than twice the mortality rate in Shelby County (61.04). To show these disparities graphically I developed the color coded map on the top left – the bluer the county the better or lower the mortality rate as compared to the Alabama average – the redder the county the worse or higher the mortality rate as compared to the Alabama average. Most counties are red because most Alabama counties have mortality rates worse than the Alabama average (the distribution is skewed). As a just and caring people, we need to bring these high mortality rates to the forefront. This post is just the beginning of our look at these mortality numbers.

Volunteer opportunity in Mobile: Join the volunteers who are helping to build a quarter mile of oyster reef at Helen Wood Park, just north of Dog River, on March 19, 8:00 to noon! Come if you can!

When I woke up the third time, ...
Click here for full view of this post: Umpteen Horizons Dreams]]> In the face of adversity, what’s the difference between “try” and “triumph?” Last night I had some interesting sets of dreams. Each time I woke up one word would come to mind right away – then I’d go back to sleep:

• first dreams – “misunderstood”
• second dreams – “persecuted”
• third dreams – “upbeat”

When I woke up the third time, I asked myself, how can I remember these words? MUP, no; PUM, no. UMP or better UMPH, yeah, as in the “umph!” of Umpteen Horizons – and “umph!” as in the difference between “try” and “triumph!”

When I got up in the morning from my bed, other words came to mind right away from “umpteen:” T for “truth” as in conveying and being faithful to the “truth;” E for “eternal” as in living with all time frames in mind and getting beyond our individual interests; E for “energetic” as in working hard; N for focusing on and meeting the “needs” of others “now.” 

There’s a clear story coming out of Wikileaks. The “powers-that-be” regularly lie as just part of way they do business. Why should we believe a government who does not tell us the true scope of an ongoing disaster? Why does it take independent researchers using standard methods only hours to figure out how much oil is spewing from the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster? And why are these independent researchers persecuted (see also Empower News tab above and check Gulf Coast news)? And why should we trust the upcoming better-late-than-never government health study? Why should anybody trust the U.S. government when several U.S. administrations including the present one worked with China to derail international efforts to protect the environment?

Of course, not all is lost, people, like the independent researchers, like us, can make a difference. For example, in the health arena, an important Gulf Coast health study was released yesterday. It was conducted by Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy (DRLA) and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and many volunteers helped to make this study possible. This study documents that large numbers of people in coastal communities believe that they have been exposed to oil and dispersants and have suffered from the affects of oil and dispersants (“48 percent of those surveyed reported an unusual spike of at least one health symptom”).

As Jesus said, “Blest are you who are persecuted, insulted, misunderstood … be glad and upbeat … you are the salt and light of the Earth!” (see Matthew 5). You are needed and together we will make a difference!

So, if you possibly can, come join the volunteers who are helping to build a quarter mile of oyster reef at Helen Wood Park in Mobile, just north of Dog River, on March 19, 8:00 to noon!