peace, mercy, moderation

I’ve been looking at maps, I’ve been looking at hotels I don’t know what I am going to do this weekend but there is some need to move, west, east, to the mountains, to the sea, to a city, my back hurts moving desks, prepping rooms for Sunday’s final exams, such labor, how I longed to embrace it in Nepal.  Now I’d like a massage.  Or a stiff drink, or a nap.  Indecisive in every part of life today.  I think laying down is the most attractive option right now. 

I went to the new tex-mex restaurant called Cowboy Grill and it may be a while before, or if, I return.  The quesadilla was a slippery mess though I ate it all.  Well, it’s an alternative if it survives.

So the Pope wishes to meet the Dalai Lama and everyone can predict the belligerent Beijing Bullies response.  Crying and whining reveal again their insecurities and it just makes them so stupid looking.  Beijing hasn’t had diplomatic relations with the Vatican since 1951, don’t mind the Dalai Lama left Tibet eight years later and hasn’t returned.  The Pope raises the risk that meeting the Dalai Lama would bring grief  to the faithful but they heard, didn’t they, on short wave radio when he flew over.  Be not afraid.

The Dalai Lama has in fact met Pope John Paul and Benedict, last in 2006. For the sake of the 12 million Catholics in China, half of whom are 'house Christians' that is those who recognize the Pope, it would be a nice reassurance. I know Beijing is waiting it out with the Dalai Lama, for when he passes away they will elect their own Dalai Lama though no one will recognize him. But here is the kicker: the Dalai Lama has said he doesn't believe there will be another Dalai Lama after him and says perhaps reincarnation will end! Even if people don't believe in reincarnation or scientific reincarnation which postulates through quantum mechanics that matter comes from consciousness, the Dalai Lama is hinting at something no one dares believe. And meeting with this Pope, who has said, most recently in his Christmas message, that suffering has gone on too long, well, the meeting of these two could be a most cosmic occurrence. Beijing has a lot to fear, mostly the fate of their souls. 

I think the key word here, unfortunately, is a modal.  I’ve waited anxiously many times after meetings with ‘key’ individuals hoping something would come out of it.  If these two were to meet what of it.  Wishful thinking, but I like Pope Francis getting in God’s face and saying there has been too much suffering.  If God won’t listen to Peter’s successor what chance do we have to see heaven on earth in 

our lifetime?  He’s got the gold phone to God.

1.23.15

The king of KSA dies and the Sultan declares three days of mourning, today, tomorrow and Sunday, but my employer says the show will go on, final exams will not be cancelled.  In one way I’m relieved because chaos will ensue if everything is pushed off schedule, on the other hand, many may not know that they will be expected to come in and chaos will emerge.  On the other other hand, the ailing Sultan decrees three days of mourning for the public and private sector and my employer disses a decree from the ruler.  It smacks of disrespect, but ya know, it’s none of my business, I’ll come in whenever or wherever.  I got paid this month.

I need to get out of this grotto. 

Yemen falls into a black hole, the Saudis mourn a ‘reformer’ and Oman sits quietly, only expats wonder if or when something disconcerting will happen here.  I don’t know, I don’t think about it, I don’t worry about it.  This afternoon I went out to the desert to photo a grove of trees alongside a ridge.  It’s so quiet out there.

Peace, mercy, and moderation.  In all things, moderation.  Amen!  I like King Salman.  What?  He suffers from dementia?  Moderation in everything.  When I was out there among the trees and mountains, I would have liked a joint.  Just one, in moderation.  I think my photos would have turned out better.