A path with heart in a heartless universe

Atheism raises some difficult questions. This morning I am reading A Path With Heart by Jack Kornfield: "To see the preciousness of all things, we must bring our full attention to life."





Logically, a crocus is no more precious than the void. If life is a cosmic whim, then why do I bother paying attention? What is the point of anything?

My ultimate meaning must lie in what matters to myself. Trusting such meaning can feel uncomfortable when one is conditioned to look for security in a higher power or higher morality.

Selfish values need not be base. If I disregard life, my own existence becomes unbearable. Instead I choose what fosters balance with the world around me. I seek to understand what blesses me and to pursue it. By blessing I mean happiness, but not in the sense of having all my desires fulfilled. I'm talking about the happiness that comes from getting along with my friends and family, society, and nature. We must find our own meaning in serving ourselves, but being social creatures we cannot serve ourselves at the expense of others.

It's the best reason I can think of for listening to my heart. I don't step on the slug because it would contradict my essential alliance with life. This inner voice is natural and human.

Progressive photo journal II

Almost a year ago, I did a progressive photo journal of the path where I regularly walk, stopping every 30 paces and taking a photo. Thus I introduced LJ to the Eramosa River. The experiment was limited by my memory card, which only fit 36 images that day.

Today I conducted a new progressive photo journal, this time recording a walk from my front door to downtown Guelph. My camera has more memory now, so I completed the walk with 108 photos—and 3,240 paces. The images are posted on my web site. They progress from left to right and top to bottom. If you're on dial-up, they'll take some time to download. They're small, so you won't see many details, but the overall effect is interesting.

Progressive photo journal of a walk downtown

In particular, you'll notice how the quality of the urban setting changes from small factories and rundown houses to literally the other side of the tracks, dominated by large Victorian homes, and finally to larger stone buildings near downtown. Some of the photos are difficult to interpret at this size, but if you look closely you'll find interesting details. This self-assignment gave me ideas for things I want to go back and photograph more carefully.

Here are some things to look for, in the nature of a Where's Waldo or I Spy book:

1. both of the images which appear in this post in slightly edited form


2. six images showing all or part of St. George's Anglican Church, bonus points if you can find eight


3. an Easter egg tree


4. graffiti art


5. a young man with a flute


6. a purple door