Doesn't seem like over a month has passed since my last post. I've been intermittently camping and house-sitting the past month. Here's some of what's been happening, inside and outside of me.
I'm DJ-ing my own radio show!
It's every Sunday evening from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm MST at Moab's own KZMU radio station, called "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out." I did my first show last Sunday, preparing to do the second one tomorrow.
It's basically my chance to ramble and rant about all things gift economy and a world beyond money, interspersed with an eclectic mix of music from here and from all over this world.
KZMU is right down my ally, mostly volunteer-run, solar-powered, and independent.
It is also live-streamed on the web, and shows to be recorded and archived for those who can't listen live:
Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out
Sundays 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm MST
KZMU Moab Community Radio
90.1 and 106.7 FM
also live-streamed at
http://www.kzmu.org/listen.cfm
or
http://www.streamingthe.net/KZMU-90.1-106.7-FM-Moab-Utah/p/17864
Now I want to address a Facebook post from one of my good friends' dad:
Do all your followers a favor. Don't sugar coat any of it. Let them know of the struggles and sacrifice it takes every day to live a life that is opposite of the accepted norm. There is good and some days everything seems to come easy. Change, growth and truth only come through sacrifice and struggle. Too many people abandon their path once it becomes a struggle. Only those that persist reach that path. It is never easy.My response:
Yeah, I realize people often get the wrong impression that this life path is a piece of cake. Yet, in some ways it is, if the mind is tuned in. It is no less a trial than any other lifestyle, but the point is to show that everything is good if the mind is tuned in. But it's hard to communicate that without sounding like I'm sugar-coating it. And at the times when I'm really down and everything sucks, and my mind isn't tuned in, I simply don't feel like writing. Maybe those are the times I should hunker down & write anyway, and brace myself for the inevitable droves of nasty anonymous comments.Friends living and dying
Several people significant to me have died within these past couple of weeks. First, Pete Seeger died, which was expected. Then a local celebrity, T.R. Richie, a folk musician and poet; then a local friend, David Morgan; then an old dear friend of my family's, Don Adams, died.
They all have something mystically in common to me. All of them were lights of generosity and enlightenment. I, of course, didn't know Pete Seeger, except through his music. And I was only an acquaintance of T.R. Richie, yet moved by his music and poetry and beautiful spirit. I knew David Morgan, who was a quiet, behind-the-scenes worker for cleaning up the environment, recycling, tirelessly assisting the homeless, and doing service to anybody who needed it. And Don Adams was a dentist who attended my parents' church and devoted his life to doing free dental work for the homeless, for people in Peru and in Russia. And he is the dentist who freely fixed my teeth. All were compassionate souls, quiet shining lights.
I just returned from Fruita and Grand Junction, Colorado, where I attended Don Adams' memorial service and visited my parents. And I saw my friends Cullen and Jeanine, among others, at the Deep Tea discussion at Cavalcade in Fruita. Cullen proposed our topic of discussion:
"Is the Search for Equality a Noble Effort?"
It turned out incredibly profound and enlightening. An amazing and thoughtful group of people. Maybe I can discuss it here in the future.
I've also been working on a kind of essay, "Musings on Unmerited Suffering and Compassion" (tentative title), which I thought I'd add here. But it is turning out deeper and longer than I imagined. So it'll have to wait. Maybe I can simplify it, shorten it, later.
Meanwhile, I just want to publish this before the radio show tomorrow. More to come.
An iTunes podcast of the show would be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBeing fairly techno-illiterate, I am clueless how to do that.
Deletehttps://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/specs.html
DeleteSomeone at the station can help you.
How do I download the earlier shows?
ReplyDeleteWe had a computer brown-out for the 1st, & I was only able to record the last half, which hasn't been archived yet.
DeleteI'm a Believer in JESUS CHRIST . I believe and follow him ,and him alone . I believe that his way is the only way to LIFE .I'm happy and joyful ! .I HAVE LIFE ! I work ,and earn money I use money .I give to the poor when I can . I buy things I want and things I need .I would like to earn even more money. Am I abused for my beliefs ? I am happy none the less because i only listen to God ,and god alone . I have nothing against any of you ,why do you seem to hate me ? I have only wished blessings on ALL of you . I don't criticize or condemn any of you . I only desire for you to feel my love ,the love i have from JESUS .
ReplyDeleteIt's hard going through life thinking you're hated and persecuted when you are not. I know, I've been there - grew up thinking that way. It comes with that particular package. May somebody physically give you a hug, take you to dinner, hang out with you, show you something besides words. If only I knew who you were, besides words.
ReplyDeleteSuelo, Suelo, Suelo. Sometimes I feel you're the only guiding light I have. Going through a very rough period right now, but knowing you exist--and that, one day, our paths may cross--brings me great peace. Here's hoping that I find that guiding light within myself, as I know it is already there, just as I know the sun will rise again tomorrow. Well, hopefully.
ReplyDeletePeople get mad or agitated when someone holds up a mirror to them and explains the truth of their condition. A backlash is to be expected. Most prefer sleepwalking which is less threatening. Look at the superficial and artificial lives people lead-- tv, spectator sports, shopping at the mall, social media, career climbing, power-seeking, luxury-seeking, world-dominating. The good news is that a change is at hand for those on the cutting edge. I appreciate your thoughts, Suelo. --Zack
ReplyDeleteYou have to do your best to not be bothered by the people who post hateful comments on your blog. ANYTHING that is posted on the internet will have haters. There are NO exceptions that I've ever seen. I've seen the most vile, disgusting comments on some of the most beautiful and inspirational articles on the internet. Some people just post nasty comments out of boredom or the sociopathic enjoyment of getting a rise out of someone, and others may lash out because you've pressed a subconscious button they might not even know they have. Just focus on the people you are inspiring, because we outnumber the others. :)
ReplyDeleteBrooke - that's so true. It's in line with my above comment about feeling persecuted. It can fill me with a sense of self-importance that anonymous haters bite at my heels, until I look all over the internet and find they do the same to everybody, no matter what subject! It simply can't be taken personally. The flip is that it shows anonymous corruption hidden in anonymous darkness, under the surface of face-to-face smiles and niceness. It's passive-aggressive corruption pervasive throughout our culture that will most certainly erupt for all to see like a festering wound that explodes.
DeleteI now what your talking about with the mindset,I think that is hardest thing for people to overcome. Once you give in to the fact that life is not about things only then can you truly be happy. If the rest of humanity cant figure this out soon we will destroy the spaceship we are all on.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, could you elaborate a bit more on the idea of the mind being "tuned in." I think I understand what you mean, but would just like to hear more of your thoughts on it.
ReplyDelete"Tuned in" for me means to hone the mind in to the present moment, to reality. When I tune in, I find that my discontentment and suffering is not in the reality of what is (even amidst great pain & trial) but in thinking about what "could be better." When I tune in, I can find contentment & strength through bad times. The discontentment is not in reality, but in thought. Our thoughts are like radio distortion keeping us from hearing the present.
DeleteI feel you brother, Serve God or money you cant serve both.
ReplyDeleteI'm a believer in JESUS CHRIST . I listen and follow him and him alone . I believe and know in my soul that he is the only way to life . I sing his song of grace and love . I work and earn money .I use money to buy what I need and things I want .I help the poor when I can . I am happy and have a deep joy inside of me . I don't feel empty . I have heaven NOW and for eternity . I am not afraid . I do not write to criticize ,condemn or judge . I write to tell of Jesus love for me ,the perfect love and grace that I found some years ago . Much love to you all !
ReplyDeleteI love my life with CHRIST JESUS . I am so happy ,joyful and at peace .My soul no longer searches. I am overwhelmed by his love for me .The love I have searched for all of my life i found in JESUS CHRIST .I believe that he is the only way to LIFE . He has given my weary bones strength . He has put a handsome song in my heart . He is the power above all powers . he is the maker of the heavens and the earth . he is above all ,and I am his child.I am so so so happy ! BLESSINGS TO ALL
ReplyDeleteAbout Sugar,
ReplyDeleteWrite what you want to, I think some people want to hear struggle, so they can discount what you are doing and not feel challenged in their life's path. Everyone struggles, and each is designed to match their conditioning. If everyone would read about car wrecks, no one would drive. So we put bad things a unopened folder in our mind.
Good to hear from you Suelo.
ReplyDeleteWe look upon you with awe for following a path that many of us wish we could follow, but just don't have the courage. Once upon a time, as your show title reminds us, Timothy Leary tapped into this urge, which erupted briefly in the protest era, but then got squashed by commercial society.
"Turn on" meant go within to activate your neural and genetic equipment. Become sensitive to the many and various levels of consciousness and the specific triggers that engage them. Drugs were one way to accomplish this end. "Tune in" meant interact harmoniously with the world around you - externalize, materialize, express your new internal perspectives. "Drop out" suggested an active, selective, graceful process of detachment from involuntary or unconscious commitments. "Drop Out" meant self-reliance, a discovery of one's singularity, a commitment to mobility, choice, and change. Unhappily my explanations of this sequence of personal development were often misinterpreted to mean "Get stoned and abandon all constructive activity"
Thanks, Al, for this grand clarification.
DeleteI'm a believer In Jesus Christ . Im not a worldly man ,but i cannot resist football more than anything . I love football ! I can ignore everything on T.V. except football . I'm a football junkie. My whole life seems to revolve around football and JESUS . I love the Seahawks .The Seahawks are MY team ! They have a good chance of winning two seasons in a row . I love Russell Wilson . I love Russell Wilson. God Is so so good !
ReplyDelete