Plastic Aprons

I was finishing my lunch.

The volunteers were getting ready to leave.

As I watched, they torn off the white plastic aprons.

The regular staff had dark colored cloth aprons.

That phase of the community outreach was complete.

Just then I appreciated how that cleverly shaped garment is so useful.

The covering of the front of each person that served allowed them to stay clean.

They could work with foods that might get messy yet leave without any spots.

One could argue that each article of clothing is a silent servant.

And in most respects that is correct.

But it was the tearing of the white plastic that made me notice the utility of this item.

I see you there silent servants.

Yellow Umbrella

There in the middle of the downtown intersection was a yellow umbrella.

It was mounted on a metal stand over an open manhole.

Nearby was a truck with signage of a utility company.

There were wires running from the truck into the hole.

That yellow umbrella was casting a shadow over the open hole.

This caught my attention because I rarely see yellow umbrellas.

I do not recall seeing such a device used like that for shade before.

Then I noticed the umbrella itself.

There were a few metal ribs that were stretching some fabric.

It was an efficient way to cause a shadow.

Then it was easy to minimize the size for storage and use on another day.

Normally I see umbrellas used to shield from rain.

Mostly they are black.

That yellow one at that location grabbed my attention.

I have used umbrellas many times over the years.

They kept the rain off me.

I did not notice or appreciate the value they offered me.

Clearly umbrellas are silent servants.

I see you there silent servants.

Pigeons in Formation

Over the streets downtown the pigeons sometimes soar together.

There is a very special elegance as they gracefully turn together.

They seem to have a common mind as they dance through the air as a team.

Many times, as they glide in for a landing together. it is breath taking.

Bed

I have slept on the floor before

I have slept on couches.

I have slept in bedrolls with and without a cot.

I have slept on the decks of sail boats

I do not recall ever just sleeping under the stars with no bedding.

When I was in my 20s it did not matter much where I slept.

But now in my 60s I have some preferences.

I notice that a bed is a silent servant that I have taken for granted.

I see you there silent servant.

Stairs

I was leaving my residence in the morning.

Then I noticed another silent servant.

Those stairs had faithfully allowed me to move up and down to the third floor.

The steps and railing had been there for me daily.

And at the library I have used the stair more often than the elevator.

I had never thought of the usefulness of this provision.

The stairs are built sturdy and will long lasting.

Little by little I am becoming more aware of the world around me.

I see you there silent servant.

Candle Holders

I was in the library enjoying the oversize books.

Those shelves with huge coffee table books have lots of excellent pictures.

I go there sometimes for a visual treat.

I was enjoying the lovely images of the paintings of Michelangelo.

It was stunning to me to notice how he used candle light in his works.

That was normal for his era but odd for these days.

Then in the paintings I recognized another silent servant.

The candle stick holders made lighting those places possible.

There were a wide range of them in the many beautiful works of art.

A case could be made that candles are silent servants too.

I feel generous in naming those and any neglected part of modern life as a silent servant.

I see you there silent servants.

gist 7

bus driver
stewardess
customer service rep on phone - chat
ticket agent at airport
rental car agent
ambassador
CELEBRITY


Where were you
When did it take place
Who was with you
How did it take place
Why is it relevant

What is the moral

In the city park i noticed 2 orange butterflies.

they were going round and round the many flowers

at that hour of the morning they were not stopping 

i stood amazed at how quickly they moved

their erratic flight path was done as the breeze rose and fell

then i considered their tiny bodies between those lovely wings

i imagined how much nectar they might harvest per day

i pondered how super potent that nectar must be for them 

and i realized they must have an amazingly efficient digestive system

that much movement that fast in those breezes costs use of fuel

yet they did it yesterday and will do it again tomorrow

they do not have a freezer at home with spare food

they cannot lean on coffee, tea or energy drinks to get an extra boost

sprinklers sprayed showers of life giving water on the lawn of the city park.

then just as suddenly as they began the water fountains ended

these sprinkler heads and the systems behind them keep the lawn green for the dogs and me.

Bulletin board

Scale

Nail file

Clippers

Dental floss

Silent servant kitchen utensils

Car antenna 

Security cameras

silent servant
mirror


cotton in OTC meds

ac ducts

water bottle

folding chairs

Shoe laces

HOT summer morning means another sweaty day.

7 word Sunday

cricket crawled across the park bench quickly
SUN

Female and Male Communications

The longer I live the more I learn about the differences between how women and men communicate, process information and view this world.

I have been collecting and sharing links to short videos and books about this subject for years http://www.pinterest.com/teachinglearner/female-male-communication/  there are far more than a hundred links there.

Every month or two I learn more and find that the subject is excessively wide, deep, complex, fuzzy, strange and it changes from generation to generation.

It seems a little amazing to me that marriages last beyond the lustful newlywed stage. It seems that it must take a great deal of adjusting, learning, forgiveness and patience to remain married for more than a decade.

I have never been married but I am coming to respect those who are more. 

Fireplaces

I was sitting in a park doing my journaling and praying.

While doing those healthy habits I sought a topic for another small stone.

Then I noticed a replica of an historic log cabin.

That primitive building is an oddity and stark contrast in downtown Dallas.

The millions of residents in the greater Dallas Metroplex did not show up here instantly.

There is always an historic context for anything we observe.

That includes huge office buildings, luxury condos, suburban houses and apartment complexes.

The crude cabin I saw is smaller than most bedrooms.

Such humble abodes were the way pioneers and settlers survived.

The rough cut timbers had some substance to fill the gaps.

This kept out the cold and rain.

What struck me was the fireplace.

There were many crudely shaped rocks held together by mortar.

This simple structure allowed the fire in the fireplace to fulfill its purposes.

The fire brought light, heat and the ability to cook.

Based on my childhood memories it also was a memorizing companion.

The fire was useful and safe when contained.

Yet it was located very close to the wooden floor of the cabin.

The danger of the loss of things and life due to accidental fires was contained.

That assembly of rocks with mortar made life possible in an unfriendly setting.

The modern fireplace is just as wonderful in its own ways.

It too serves purposes that are not tied directly to survival.

I see you there silent servants.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cherriesmixednuts/9262493656/

Wheel Chairs and Their Family

Recently my life has had more wheel chairs and walkers than before.

I noticed a man with one leg in a wheel chair.

He was using that leg to move forward as well as his arms.

I reflected on how useful that clever collection of parts is for him.

His mobility is greatly increased due to such a device.

I recall when I was in rehab from a major collision.

I was struck from behind while on my bicycle.

It was a hit and run incident.

My neck, back and ankles were injured.

I was in the hospital for 1 month and in the rest home for 2 months.

I slowly graduated from crutches to a walker and left the rest home with a cane.

I left the can behind a few weeks later.

Those devices were my silent servants as my body repaired.

I say that wheel chairs, crutches, walkers and canes are related.

They are related as silent servants in a family to aid in mobility.

There are motorized scooters that are cousins but there are not totally silent.

I see you there silent servants.

Power Cords

For the last few months I have been on the move much.

That has required me to work from my laptop instead of my desktop computer.

I have needed to attach the power cord to the laptop repeatedly.

Before the power cord was draped behind my desk and I rarely unplugged it.

This season has brought me to notice and appreciate this simple device.

A few times a day I attach it then remove it to move to another location.

One time I forgot and left it behind and that was a wakeup call.

The battery will last a while but without the power cord I could not work a full day.

I see you there silent servant.

Blue Flowers

In the gutter the pretty blue flowers decorate the landscape on the tops of what they call weeds.

Spilling Over

Ivy runners are spilling over the edges of the container seeking more soil to occupy. 

Popsicle Stick

On the sidewalk there was a Popsicle stick with a little coloring on half of it.

It is evidence of a treat that was consumed.

The wooden stick had served the purpose it was made for and was discarded.

I could say that the Popsicle stick is yet another silent servant.

Would that person or I eat a frozen ice cream in my hand without it or a cone?

I see you there silent servant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_pop

Shower Head

I was standing under the spray of the hot shower.

There I was considering what to write about.

And then I noticed the shower head.

Without that device it would be like standing under a garden hose.

The same water would pour out but the enjoyment would be lost.

That unit of hardware is another silent servant in our modern world.

I see you there silent servant.

Stop Slow Stop Slow

At the intersection of the major freeways I noticed the brake lights going on and off.

The pileup of cars and trucks are progressing very slowly this morning.

The parade of vehicles continued in jerky fashion.

They stopped and started many times.

I had been there before going from stop to slow to stop to slow to stop over and over.

If those bright red lights had not been working then there would had been many minor collisions.

So I consider those brake lights as silent servants.

The brake lights are part of a team of silent servants.

That team includes the turn signals, back up lights and head lights.

The team prevents wrecks and other troubles.

I see you there silent servants.

RR Rails

I was at the commuter station of the light rail system for Dallas.

I looked down and noticed those long steel rails

They were rust colored on the sides and shiny on the top where they were worn.

I had just traveled fast for many miles along with others thanks to them.

The rail road rails are firmly attached to one another and to the track.

Clever engineers had planned the technical parts of my commute.

Diligent contractors had followed the detailed blueprints.

Lots of managers, administrators, operators and others kept the system going.

I arrived at the birthday party on time due to these factors.

Those rail road rails are just humble slabs of metal.

But still they are silent servants that help citizens move around day and night.

I see you there silent servants. 

First fall leaves spiraled gracefully earthward. 6 word Saturday

Pop Pop

Under the tree, 2 grey mushrooms, suddenly popped up overnight.

How fast mushrooms can appear is a little amazing to me.

Small Stone Muse

My small stone fountain has been running dry.

I do not know why it has become difficult to write a small stone.

For many months it was easy and nearly effortless.

I hope my small stone muse returns soon and stays a long time.

Man, Motor and Wheels

There was an 18 wheeler truck stopped at a traffic light.

I noticed it was huge contrasted to the cars of the commuters near it.

That long white trailer reminded me of work I had done long ago.

I had a job in warehouses and helped to unload and load such trucks.

I have done it with fork lifts and by stacking boxes by hand.

It takes a long time for a few men to load and unload such a container.

Yet there in the cab of the truck was one man waiting for the light to change.

He will soon move his legs and arms to get this heavy load of cargo going.

That driver and others like him will work many hours a week.

Tons of cargo will be transferred from Point A to Point B.

Getting things from the point of origin to the destination is done by the big motor.

It is a little amazing that under that hood is so much power.

It is a little amazing that the truck driver can control that much weight at highway speeds.

It is a little amazing that the 18 wheels carry the raw materials and finished goods day and night.

As consumers we go to the stores or order online.

But behind the scenes are trucks, trains and container ships.

We could never enjoy a modern life by consuming only items grown locally.

One way to better understand anything is to imagine the absence of it.

What would life be like without those big 18 wheel trucks?

The fact is that there are 2 possible ways to know.

Consider history before such trucks existed.

Then cargo was moved in wagons pulled by horses, mules and oxen.

Consider places around the world today in developing countries.

There are videos online of carts pulled by such animals even today.

Let us pause and notice how essential trucks, trains and ships are for our lifestyle.

Let us never take for granted those people, machines and companies that make this possible.

It might not feel spiritual but I think it is acceptable to thank God for trucks and truck drivers.

Lightning Rods

On the top of a large structure I noticed there were several pointed metal shafts.

These lightning rods were wisely placed there.

Each was carefully connected to the ground.

I have never seen lighting strike such a rod.

Surely it happens.

The safety of the buildings and people is assured due to these plain looking devices.

In the downtown district there is a concentration of very tall buildings.

So I assume there are many dozens of lightning rods required to be in place.

I see you there silent servants.

White splats decorate sidewalk Bird droppings 6 word Saturday

Street Corner

I was in downtown Dallas, Texas.

I had walked across the street.

At the street corner I stepped from the street up to the sidewalk.

There at the corner I noticed the three different projects.

There was the asphalt of the street.

There was the concrete of the curb.

There were the bricks of the sidewalk.

In this section of downtown many sidewalks and streets use bricks.

Then I asked, “What is that?”

The intersection of the streets was also the intersection of pubic works projects.

That bit of property under my feet had been carefully planned.

Lots of people had a small part in making that become a reality.

Those materials did not magically fall out of the sky.

They did not spring up from the dirt like random weeds.

Some citizens did not spontaneously volunteer to make it one weekend.

Here is my best guess on how that street corner came into existence.

Long ago city employees crunched lots of numbers.

They crafted a bond election to raise the money.

These three projects were likely done on different years.

Some other people worked hard to get the residents to vote for the bonds.

Evidently the bond drive passed.

Then a department on the city planned where and how to do each public works project.

There were many other curbs, sidewalks or streets in each project.

Then each one was put out for bids.

The contracts went to qualified contractors.

Those contractors had engineers and chemists on staff.

What struck me originally were those chemists that remain nameless and faceless.

The ones on the payroll today stand on the shoulders of those that went before.

That curb is strong and durable.

It has been there a long time and will continue for a long time.

Surely over the years there have been improvements to the chemistry of those materials.

The chemists of those companies had modified the work of other chemists in other companies.

There were lots of construction workers that actually turned the plans into things.

Those construction workers needed truck drivers to deliver the raw materials.

There were clerical and legal people that had a small role in each project.

Surely construction materials and processes have improved in the last 5, 10, 20 and 40 years.

The bottom line is that we live in a complex world.

Our modern life has lots of layers.

Even the most mundane parts have an unseen history.

We live in an interconnected society.

Chemists and chemical engineers play an important role in our daily lives.

We could not get around like we do without civil engineers and truck drivers.

Without them the sidewalks would be dirt paths.

The roads would be full of ruts.

When it rained the mud would be terrible due to a lack of suitable drainage.

I can only see the world through my pair of eyes.

I can only hear the world through my pair of ears.

I can only touch the world through my pair of hands.

But there is another perspective on the world besides just a me-centered universe.

I live in a society where I am one of many players that interact daily.

Pondering the stories behind the street corner can connect me to my fellow citizens.

These many men and women are not silent servants.

Each one has a voice.

Their hands and minds combined to make this and every street corner.

Maybe another designation is invisible servants.

I see you there invisible servants.

Same 8 Blocks

I have been starting my day with an exercise to notice something different.

I walk the same 8 blocks to get to the place where I work.

While walking along those blocks I had gotten bored

To relieve the dreariness I have been seeking at least one new item daily.

This could be a bit of graffiti, a partly dead tree, a sticker on a traffic pole, etc.

When I seek then I find at least one item and often more.

There is so much around us that we miss.

Yet seeking and diligence will reveal odd and interesting items.

This makes my commute interesting and keeps me alert.

This could work while driving too.

It might make the daily commute more interesting.

It could improve mindfulness.

Fuse Box

Today while seeking inspiration for a small stone,  I noticed a fuse box.
There it was, a rectangular metal box, with big wires coming and going.
I had used a much smaller one at a rent house.
Flipping those switches restarted the electricity in parts of the house.

I have no clue how to make or repair such a device.
I know it must be very important.
Contractors do not put such things on buildings just for fun.

I know I will never see a splashy TV commercial about fuse boxes.
There will never be a late breaking news report about the latest model of fuse boxes.
Celebrities will never be paid to endorse a certain brand of fuse boxes.

Notice that cameras, smart phones and computers have dedicated bloggers.
But who offers lots of comments for the pubic about such a mundane thing.

Yet I feel sure that we could not enjoy the benefits of our modern life without fuse boxes.

I see you there silent servants.

Glues and Screws

Recently I noticed a tile missing from a kitchen floor.

What remained was the dried evidence of the glue that held that tile.

That got me to thinking of how much we depend on all kinds of industrial glue.

In each residence, office, school, hospital and other buildings there are glues holding building materials in place.

Plus there are all kinds of screws and nails being used.

Construction workers used nails for making the wood frames.

Nail guns attach sheet rock and shingles.

Light fixtures, cabinets, doors and windows are there thanks to sturdy screws.

On a related note I considered the mortar between the bricks.

If mortar was not present the building would collapse.

There is caulk that seals cracks in the kitchen and bathroom.

There are gigantic stores that sell all sorts of glues and screws.

They offer nails, mortar and caulk as well as other critical attaching methods.

These items are not easily noticed.

But they are absolutely necessary.

These silent servants do not get the attention like big ticket items.

The big bucks go to appliances, furniture, landscaping, computers, electronic devices, etc.

But if we did not have ways to hold together the buildings then we would be outside.

I see you there silent servants.

Libraries remind me that I value quiet. 6 Word Saturday

Janitor’s Cart

I noticed a clever vehicle.

It was carrying many silent servants.

Some examples include:

mop, mop bucket, broom, toilet paper, garbage bags, paper towels and all kinds of cleaners.

This sighting was at a college.

I considered that there are similar carts in office buildings, hotels, schools and other places.

These tote around the useful products that are also found in homes.

In a residence they might be stored in the bathroom, kitchen, garage or elsewhere.

These common items are essential to making our modern life clean.

If they did not exist then the messiness and filth would build up without end.

The diseases would spread and illness would be common.

In a way this kind of cart is a servant to the other silent servants.

I see you there servant of silent servants. 

Bar of Soap

Consider a bar of soap.
How super simple is that lump.
From that useful solid comes chemicals to clean.
Handy and easy to use are just some of the qualities.

Recently I ran out for a while.
That was a wake up call as to how much I had taken it for granted.

The traditional bar of soap has gained competition on the store shelves.
There are all kinds of liquid soaps with special ingredients and in fancy containers.
But the new products are just distant cousins of the good ole bar of soap.

I see you there silent servant.

Spelling Checker

There is some software that I have been leaning on for many years.

The spelling checker gives me an alert when I missspelld a word.
That red underlining is my clue to back up and make a change.

Some of those instances are just my sloppy typing.
Other times I just do not know how to spell a word.
It would be useful if it only informed me of my errors.
But it goes the next mile and offers alternative spellings.

There are times the alternative spellings are not right.
Then I go the the Internet search engine and take a guess.
Almost every time I find the right spelling.

This clever programming code make me seem much smarter than I am

I see you there silent servant.

Hot Water Heater

Recently the hot water heater was out of order where I have been staying.
WOW there is a big difference between a hot, warm and cold shower.

Now that it is working again I am grateful for the service it provides.
While out of sight the clever machine makes it possible for me to have a relaxing shower.

I see you there silent servant.

Breezes Bend

The welcomed breezes bend the reeds, grasses and tree branches.

The heat does not seem as bad when these currents of air dance around.

Clacking high heels announce her approach. 6 word Saturday

Lunch Trays

In school lunch rooms there are handy devices.

Molded plastic trays are used to carry food for the students.

Typically there is one large indentation and several small ones.

These keep the foods separated.

These durable units are easy to clean and stack.

The only alternatives I have seen are the many small plates and bowls at a cafeteria for adults.

Those work well with the senior citizens that typically eat there.

But I am not sure that system would be wise with children.

There are many millions of school children that use a lunch tray every school day.

Those are silent servants on a gigantic scale.

I see you there silent servant.

Big Black Bags

While walking downtown some workers had put big black bags on the sidewalk.

They were continuing to trim the bushes and cut the grass.

So it was evident that the byproduct of their labors is what was in those bags.

Here before me were more silent servants.

Those big packages will soon carry unwanted items far away.

I have used hundreds of those devices over the decades.

I have peeled them one by one from a roll or pulled them from boxes.

Initially they are flat and small.

Then they fill out and transport unwanted things away.

Also I have used them to contain clothes and useful items.

During this season of my life I have been using big bags that are clear.

I have used a box of them that were scented.

So I pondered, “What was this really?”

The bags did not grow on trees or fall out of the sky.

They started as just liquid plastic that was made into this helpful shape.

Clever people made them and got them to me at an affordable price.

Then I wondered, “What would our world be like without such bags?”

My mind does not easily generate a pleasant alternative world view.

I see you there silent servants.

Flight Patterns

Humming bird flight patterns are fascinating.

These tiny creatures 
hover
dart about
drink nectar
suddenly zip off to parts unknown.

Crape Myrtles Laugh

It seems that the crape myrtle trees laugh at the weather man.

In Dallas it has been more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit for a long time.

And there has not been much rain.

Most plants have shrunk back into a shriveled or nearly dormant state.

But the crape myrtle trees just take these conditions to bloom impressively.

It is a blessing to see the pink, red, white and purple clusters of flowers.

I am thankful that residents often use these in landscaping.

These serve to decorate the roads and highways when other flowers are hiding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagerstroemia

images

https://www.google.com/search?q=crape+myrtle&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS495US495&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=K4b8U7dLxbXIBIf3gpAL&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1093&bih=534&dpr=1.25

Traffic Passing By

I sit in the library writing.
I look out the second floor window at the traffic passing by.

The one way street passes from my right to my left.

There is a traffic light to the left of my field of view.

Many cars and a few trucks are part of the stop and go parade.
When there is a convention in town then there are lots of buses too.

Each vehicle has left Point A and is moving to Point B.
Each driver is making many smart choices, otherwise there would be wrecks.
Each moving metal machine contains one or more precious souls.

Ultimately I live inside my own skin.
I have access to my thoughts and feelings.
I can only make indirect and incomplete contact with other people.
I am grateful when others are open and honest with me.
Many times I have been inspired by those that overcame obstacles.
Sometimes I am amazed at the range of experiences that others have.

I have had the privilege of peeking inside a few transparent friends.
I have enjoyed excellent interviews.
I have attended support groups where the masks came off.
I have been in love a few times and known that kind of intimacy.
I have delighted at the personal stories they shared with me.
Yet each passing vehicle contains a collection of stories and a bundle of possibilities.

The continual flow of vehicles reminds me that we are so many that share this city.
This city is large contrasted to others in the area.
But it is much smaller than cities in other countries.

It is so easy to judge others.
It takes no effort to notice the imperfections in the stranger.
Ordinary people do not look like or behave like glossy celebrities.

It requires intention and discipline to notice the good in others.
It involves choosing to accept and respect the other one just as they are.

We are divinely designed to give and receive love.
There are no perfect people on the planet.
Each of those who are available to be loved are imperfect.

I have no idea how to best end this, so I will stop right here.

Pants Pockets

I have been working in the downtown district of Dallas for many weeks.

This has involved entering a building daily that has a metal detector.

I must empty my pants pockets each time.

Before doing this I was not as aware of all the little items I carry.

The security guard and I see these each time.

More than half the time there is a bit of trash in my pocket.

Usually that is because I have a habit of sucking on hard caramels.

When a trash can is not handy then the wrapper goes into my pocket.

The modest bits of cloth attached to my pants are yet another silent servant.

I see you there silent servant.

Sitting in the Shade

I was sitting in the shade of the oak trees.
The city park offered a view of the morning commuters.

The big red mower was leveling the grass as it weaved toward me.

Then the smell of the freshly cut grass punctuated the air around me.

Alarm Systems

I noticed the sticker on the window of the office.

The decal informed me and others that an alarm company was protecting this place.

I had seen the TV commercials of the clever ways their system works.

When there is an intruder the owner and police are notified.

Sound and motion detectors are used.

Here is another slice of our modern life.

I wonder how many times stickers like that have prevented crimes.

How many times have bad guys avoided such places?

How many times have those systems led to the capture of criminals?

How much peace of mind have owners enjoyed?

I can see the sticker from the sidewalk.

I cannot see the ways the devices work in the office.

I cannot see the ways the alarm company is informed.

I cannot see the inner workings of the alarm company.

I cannot see how this has helped police over the years.

I cannot see those who went behind bars due to this system.

That tiny sticker is like a little flag that represents the whole system.

I see you there silent servant system.

Concrete Truck

I was standing at the busy downtown intersection.

I was walking to my workstation in the morning alone.

Then a concrete truck made a turn and passed in front of me.

The huge mixer was turning and the name of the company spun around.

I considered, “What was that?”

It was a vehicle with a load of wet concrete.

It was in route to off load the contents soon.

Surely some workers had prepared the final destination.

They were waiting for the soft grey stuff to arrive.

They will spread it and then one day later it will be solid.

That is just a little amazing.

Clever people have perfected a system to put concrete anywhere.

This process is happening everyday all around this large city.

The sidewalk where I stood was poured years ago.

And it will remain to serve others for many more years.

Then I go to thinking of what else makes our modern lives possible.

Some of those resources include: asphalt, steel, glass, bricks, wires, pipes, lumber, granite, plastic, paint and more.

I am especially appreciative of the porcelain used to make toilets strong, easy to clean and attractive.

Just like the goldfish does not notice the water, we do not notice such things.

So I considered how to better notice these modern benefits.

On our shared planet there are still nomadic tribes in Africa and Tibet.

There are still aboriginal tribes in the Amazon rain forest.

Some of them have some of our modern conveniences.

But their daily life is not nearly as enmeshed as ours are with artificial aids.

It is easy to notice that the glass is half empty.

It takes some awareness to notice that it is also half full.

The fact is that the glass is both half empty and half full.

This fullness and emptiness are happening at the same time.

The advertising industry works constantly to get us to focus on the emptiness.

There are thousands of messages saying your glass is tragically half empty.

But look here happiness is around the corner.

You just need to work harder to get more money to buy the newest gizmo.

Then you just might have a full glass.

It is not in anyone’s self-interest to help you notice what you have got.

The fact that the glass is half full does not stimulate more sales.

Concrete sidewalks are far more useful than muddy paths.

Flush toilets are better than old fashion out houses.

Glass windows allow the light and sights of the outside inside.

But all those are paid for so there is no profit in beating the drum for them.

However to better practice daily gratitude it takes a little alertness.

There are plenty of things to be thankful for that we walk past daily.

The concrete truck was my wakeup call today to notice that sliver of my life.

May you too wake up to see the good in life and be more grateful.

Pigeons on Patrol

The downtown sidewalk was populated with the pigeon patrol.

The morning air was getting warmer.

I was walking alone to my workstation a few blocks away.

Normally pigeons are perched up high to spot bits of food.

These few brave ones were pecking, walking and pecking.

My approach did not frighten them away.

I did not see any bits of food from my height.

Maybe they saw what I could not or were hoping as they pecked.

Drainage Ditches

Recently there were heavy rains in Dallas, Texas.
The water poured from the sky for hours.
This happened for a few days.
And the clever engineers had crafted ways to make it go away.
There was no flooding and the roadways continued to carry vehicles.

Previously I wrote about the sanitary sewers.
They take the waste of the bathroom away.
Then there are storm sewers that take this rain water away.
Both of those are silent servant systems.

This led me to recall the house where I grew up.
There was a drainage ditch along the front of the property.
During most rain storms the open drainage ditch worked well.
When it rained for days there was some minor flooding.
It was fascinating as a kid to watch the streams of water exit the area.

So I am thinking that drainage ditches are some of the original silent servants.
These orderly depressions in the terrain have been serving humans for thousands of years.

I see you there silent servants.