I AM GOING TO GO WITH WHAT I'VE GOT
/I admit it - I’ve been a bit of a Pollyanna my first three quarters of a century. It hits me, with a wave of depression - I am not so much that way now. Maybe contributing to it is I am now helping Patty put on clothes, while I used to help her take off her clothes.
I feel betrayed - I have always known there are stained souls, that earn their eventual penalty - maybe I was taught that realty by the institutions that betray me. I guess my institutions’ power play helped me tow the line (a little Pollyanna-ism coming out!).
I believed that institutions were pure. That’s what I was told growing up as a Catholic. And, it was insisted, in regard to all authorities, starting with parents and including local and federal “authorities” - all authorities -elders - were to be heeded. I don’t blame my teachers. I do have a mind of my own - I take personal responsibility - I am just a little slow. I mean, come-on man, I am nearly 75 years old.
Truth be told, my come to Jesus reality check has been happening slowly over the last half century. The straw (maybe not so much) weight that currently depresses is a result of watching too much political news - or should I say opinions. There is no such thing as news any more - As they say - opinions are like assholes - everyone has one.
I now have no faith in the press, local and federal government, even the ‘untouchables”- federal agencies above reproach.
After seeing proof beyond a doubt, I knew there was sexual abuse by priests and monks, but it took me too many years to see the ‘Spotlight’ on the horrific systemic abuse by the powerful authorities in the Catholic Church. Now, fifty years or so after the barrage of ‘mortal’ sins it has come home to roust a huge, ‘holy’ institution.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the Catholic Church who abuse their power. For God-sake, even the Boy Scouts. Sexual abuse is a symptom; the real sin, I feel now, after listening too much this political season, is the abuse of power.
Is power so pulling, like gravity, that those who have it, can’t rise above the fray, and really be righteous? Power is the Apple. Who can avoid the bite? Few, I am afraid. May God forgive the weak powerful.
Personally, I am going to go with what I’ve got - ATTITUDE - my new inner compass. With authorities I may ‘trust, but verify’ - cynical I know. My focus is to my Inner World, and not so much to my Outer world - what I can control, not the uncontrollable. I choose to thrive and be happy with what I have…. and that is good.
Presently, I am sleeping during the Golden hour, not nature inspired imaging, When I desire a click of a camera, I shoot with my compact, not my PhaseOne. This will be the first year in ten that I don’t have a dozen or so of new favorite images to share on www.MikeSipe.com. However, I am excited about my current focus of printing old favorites as large canvas images. I love it! I am focusing my interest to large canvas water images - this is a nice compliment to my strong interest in clean water and our public release of OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, The Art and Science of Living with Water.
Three Clouds
By the way, I did vote….. hope, for something better, I guess.