Montague Reporter

3:30 pm. Caller reporting that a male is harassing him, trying to run him over with his car and flipping him off. States it’s a family issue and wants a restraining order. Advised caller to go to court to obtain a restraining order. Caller states it’s too much of a hassle, and if they end up fighting each other or dead, it’s not his fault because he called the Police Department, and “let the best man win.” Referred to an officer.

Are we crazy, or what?

I’m looking into the No King rallies taking place in my area for Saturday, only I can’t find my Take Care of the Whole banner—did I finally recycle it? I used it for the Women’s March in January 2016 and after George Floyd‘s killing. Haven’t I resisted something since then? Did I surrender? If I did, was it out of fear or was it out of fearlessness? Assuming I create another banner before Saturday, what will it say? Take Care of Immigrants? Take Care of Our Democracy? Back to Take Care of the Whole, or is that too tame for our times?

The cardinals’ turquoise eggs hatched and above is a photo of their first day or two. Hard to imagine that four of those emerged from one undistinguished, small, female cardinal. See how they look like slugs, or a little like thick human intestines? How could anything that sluggish and weak make it? How does she bond with them?

But bond she does, because just 3 days later, see the photo below. Still supine and fairly still, squeezed tight against each other. But already the beak of one opens for food. He/she lies over the others. By accident? Because of extra strength? Is it an avian Donald Trump in the making?

I want to join the rallies not out of rage or even indignation, but out of deep respect for life, which is practically another word for compassion. At any particular moment, life may or may not seem to serve me, Aussie, immigrants, folks in prison, their victims, Democrats, Republicans, or anyone. But I’m pretty sure that life serves life nonstop. That’s my side.

Some folks wish to leave this country and immigrate to a more enlightened Europe or Canada. I’m not talking about immigrants who seek safety, but about folks who were born and live here legally, and are unhappy with the direction this country is taking. Everyone has their reasons, but: Isn’t there something here worth fighting for? If this country treated you relatively well till now, aberrations and discrimination notwithstanding, isn’t it worth standing our ground here and now?

Recently, in studying and reviewing the Rule of the Zen Peacemaker Order, a few of us considered the phrase: rebuild the public square. Public squares were once community spaces where people of differing opinions could meet, talk, picnic, discuss things. One person reminded us that historically, there was always someone excluded: women, Blacks, Jews, Catholics, indigenous people, landless people. But the notion of a public square was there to honor how people of different persuasions could come together. Is that concept still alive or relevant? Is Tik Tok our current public square?

Finally, don’t let go of joy or humor. Do you ever see Donald Trump showing joy or humor, other than jibes at various people? That’s very telling.

My dear friend, Roshi Michel Engu Dobbs, who teaches at Ocean Zendo in New York, wrote me this: “Deep joy springs from the energy of life itself. Because it’s found in every step of the journey, not just in the destination, it sustains us no matter what happens in the course of the day.  Deep joy is what arises when we open our hearts to what we can offer and all that we receive… Deep joy is more than simple optimism or wishful thinking for a specific outcome. In fact, deep joy asks us to dwell in not knowing- the open, spacious realm of boundless possibility.  Sure, we face things as they are, but deep joy draws no conclusions about the future, for the future is yet to come and is determined by many conditions- including, our attitudes and actions right here, right now. So, though we see things as they are, we also smile at what they could be.”

The unattractive pink little slugs currently in their nest may not excite much interest now, but if all goes well for them, if life serves them and they serve life, the females will show red and olive colors while the males turn a glorious crimson. Both will have crests, the male with a black mask around its beak, and will whisk outside the house like red flying saucers. Their parents stay here year-round, such a welcome sight when the snow is deep and the trees bare.