Pieces of Mind

Those who sow terror are absolutely powerless to reap anything but terror.

Lee Griffith, The War on Terrorism and the Terror of God, p115

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/my-advice-to-the-occupy-wall-street-protesters-20111012

http://www.hussmanfunds.com/wmc/wmc111010.htm

Python sans GIL : http://t.co/kYbvCXwu

“True connections between family, friends and colleagues can not be compressed down to tightly scheduled ‘quality time.’” – The Tyranny Of Modern Time II

This was almost exactly my thought as Natalie and I wrapped up an evening filled with fine food and fun friends yesterday. While I was comfortably filled (maybe a little over-filled) with the cuisine and pleasantly stimulated by the conversation, I couldn’t help but sense a twinge of sadness at parting so soon. It’s seldom, almost never anymore, that I get to spend what I feel is enough time with friends. Enough time for fleeting thoughts to be remembered. Enough time for really interesting stories to be told. Enough time for the silence to lose its awkwardness. Enough time for doubts and struggles to be revealed and shared. Enough time for understanding to develop.

It seems that everyone in my culture rushes through life. Rushes to get things done on time. Rushes from one meeting to the next. We race to the end while trying to fit everything into today. But why all the hurry? Why can’t we pause for more than a short, scheduled block of time now and then? If I knew the answer I probably wouldn’t be writing this. But here I am asking. I’d like to find  a way out of this rat race. There has to be a way to live without feeling trapped in a never-ending cycle of cramped time slots. I want to cultivate relationships without having to jam them into left-over breakfasts and suppers.

I’m partially paralyzed by my fear of losing…what? I’m not sure, the race? I’m afraid if I relax I’ll drop the ball. Maybe I’ll lose my job (if I don’t show up on time) and my house (if I can’t pay the mortgage). Maybe the projects I’ve started will remain unfinished. Maybe people will see me as a failure. And if my fears of losing my own security aren’t enough, everyone I know is living in the same culture with the same demands on their time. Would I be alone if I found my way to the sideline? Am I alone wishing I could spend more time on relationships and less time fitting my life into a schedule?

The Belvedere with good friends, childcare provided. What’s opposite of three strikes?

use adjustable screw for speed http://t.co/dwdZDnfD

And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah – #LeonardCohen

The price of heaven: no sleep. #coffeeco http://t.co/M05atfz

Alice to Natalie: I don’t want to disagree Mommy, but I don’t want a dog, I want a pet that is quiet. I want a goldfish when I’m 21