This is Jack, approaching his first birthday. Like our country he got off to a rocky start, but has greeted each day since with humor, curiosity,vigor, and determination. He spreads joy, enthusiasm, and wonderment to all who partake of his being. I think a star has been born.Margie and I are back from a tour of the cradle of western civilization- Greece. We were humbled to witness societies which valued civil organization, clean water, septic systems, vigorous free trade, mutual defense, art, poetry, theater, architecture, and religious tolerance. As expected tyrants, oligarchies, imperialist powers(Persia and Roman), and internacine conflict(Sparta and Athens) interrupted and delayed the spread and practice of democratic ideals. But, the Greeks planted the seed and we are the tree growing from that early flowering of intellectual, spiritual, and philosophical endeavor. It has taken 2500 years to evolve from those early experiments and I wonder what Socrates and Aristotle would think or our practice of democratic ideals if they were able to come forward and comment on the current political tensions in our country. They would be amazed that we haven't taken up our swords and shields and attacked our opponents, but would recognize the vitriolic harangue that passes for civil discourse during a time of great national peril. The Athenians use to banish troublemakers to remote colonies. If we followed this practice Washington and Wall Street would be ghost towns.
I am doing well. My doctor gave me a month off the chemotherapy for the trip to Greece, I didn't pick up any bad bugs on the flights, I had good energy standing in museums looking at thousands of old pots and statues of nude men and a few women. My $$$$ tenth brain MRI this week "looked good" according to my doctors. For people in my situation "good" isn't good enough. At Delphi I asked the Oracle about my future. She wasn't very helpful. She said, "you will experience trying and troubling times. Try maintain a sense of humor, use barbless hooks and practice catch and release".
I leave you with a Sufi story sent to me by a friend:
A good man drew the attention of the angels and they asked God to give him the gift of miracles. God wisely suggested they asked him if this is what he would wish.
The angels visit the good man and offer him the gift of healing hands, the gift of conversion of souls and lastly the gift of virtue. He refuses them all. The angels insist that he choose or they will make the decision. He replies. "I ask that I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it".
The angels were perplexed, took counsel and devised the following plan: Every time the man's shadow fell behind him it would have the power to cure diseases, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow. As he walked, behind him his shadow gave people hope and inspired them to be a better person, like the man.
The man simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue without ever being aware of it. And so it is with you, who have influenced my life in so may ways, without being aware of it. Thankyou. Let us remember the Greeks and the gift they passed forward to us. May we treasure it, hold it dear and pass on it's virtues to Jack. Peace , Eric
