Send in the Clowns

Fellas, I just can't bear to blog about the news right now.  It's like a hideous nightmare that I can't wake up from.  Horrible.  Nauseating.  So instead of my thoughts, I'll share those of Father David, who gives me and M.P. some helpful inspiration.  He hits the nail on the head in this sermonette, and says what I want to say but can't.

-----

What Comes Next

-----

Sentimental Journey: Back to Mayberry (2003)

Who wouldn't like to take a trip back to 1960?  That's the year the Andy Griffith Show premiered, beginning an eight-year visitation in the small town of Mayberry that still delights many hearts.  Located in a far corner of the state of make-believe, Mayberry was an old-fashioned place even then, home to many quaint, amusing characters.  It was small-town America with the sad and ugly parts left out; a place where good humor, homely virtues, and common decency still ruled.  How very far away it seems today.

Your Head Trucker swore off broadcast television thirty years ago, so I never saw this reunion special with Andy and company that was made in 2003.  But I'm enjoying it now - maybe you will, too.

 

The Mayberry Special departs at 7 o'clock on Track 1.  I've got my Pullman ticket in hand.  Who else wants to go? 

Bonus:  Marina Coates from Mockingbird Lane Design has done a brilliant job of portraying the Taylor home in 3-D. Check it out: 

-----

Waitin' for the Weekend

Come on in, the water's fine.

-----

Trump Trifecta: Republicans Keep House Majority

Now we know that what we greatly feared would happen, will happen: on January 20th, Republicans will control the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.  In addition, they already have a 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court, which last July declared that a president has "absolute immunity" from prosecution for any crimes he may commit during his term of office.

Once again, I have no words.

But here are some encouraging words I just came across from John Brideveaux down in South Texas, posted last Wednesday:

And here's today's eloquent commentary:

-----

The Heart of the Matter

Father David is a retired Episcopal priest.  I just came across some of his short videos made before the election.  I think they are still very relevant and inspirational.  See what you think.

-----

Sunday Drive: From a Distance

A couple of Sundays ago, I offered my vision for our country.  Today I offer my vision for the world:

From a distance, we all have enough

And no one is in need

And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease

No hungry mouths to feed . . .

There are many mutterings abroad now of "resistance" in some form or fashion; though it does not yet appear exactly what is to be resisted, or where or how.

.

Your Head Trucker is as dismayed and troubled as anyone else just now; but I am content to trust in the One who said, 

My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

The prayer for peace in the sidebar to the right is a good way to start, I think; at any rate, it's all I have to offer.

-----

The Second Coming

Illustration of the Great Sphinx from worldhistory.org
Click to enlarge.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre   

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere   

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst   

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.   

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out   

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert   

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,   

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,   

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it   

Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.   

The darkness drops again; but now I know   

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,   

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,   

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

--William Butler Yeats

-----

After great pain

 After great pain, a formal feeling comes –

The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs –

The stiff Heart questions ‘was it He, that bore,’

And ‘Yesterday, or Centuries before’?

The Feet, mechanical, go round –

A Wooden way

Of Ground, or Air, or Ought –

Regardless grown,

A Quartz contentment, like a stone –

This is the Hour of Lead –

Remembered, if outlived,

As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow –

First – Chill – then Stupor – then the letting go –

--Emily Dickinson

-----

NO WORDS

Update, 11/10/24:  Final results

-----

Sunday Drive: Baroque Playlist

I think we all need to take a deep breath, relax, be calm, and know that the power of goodness will continue in the world, regardless of the election.  Believe.

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-----