− | Hello, I'm David and I guess you are wondering what I am doing in this space. (In case you are questioning my spiritual credentials, here's a picture of me with the dalai llama). I am here for two reasons, first as a contributor (sorry, no money, just some articles) and secondly as a friend (for 30 years now) of Rob, the admin of this domain. Rob and I rose from similar humble beginnings to become what we are today--humble middle-aged old men. Personally I started out with nothing and still have most of it left (stolen joke). I am originally from Birmingham, AL and currently live in the outback of rural Mississippi and work at a large university. I am married, no kids, and have a small zoo of llamas, cats, and a possum (that's Southern for "opossum").[[Image:Celtic4.jpg|right|frame]] | + | Hello, I'm David and I guess you are wondering what I am doing in this space. (In case you are questioning my spiritual credentials, here's a picture of me with the dalai llama). I am here for two reasons, first as a contributor (sorry, no money, just some articles) and secondly as a friend (for 30 years now) of Rob, the admin of this domain. Rob and I rose from similar humble beginnings to become what we are today--humble middle-aged old men. Personally I started out with nothing and still have most of it left (stolen joke). I am originally from Birmingham, AL and currently live in the outback of rural Mississippi and work at a large university. I am married, no kids, and have a small zoo of llamas, cats, and fancy mice. Pete the Possum (pictured) passed away in 2008.[[Image:Celtic4.jpg|right|frame]] |
− | Considering that I am a "recovering Protestant" as well as a "failed amateur Buddhist" I have long been hard-pressed to categorize myself in any positive way, not that I feel a particular need to be in a category. However, it has become apparent fairly recently that my spiritual path is Franciscan, and has been moving in that direction for several years unbeknownst to myself. The simple zen-like act of daily feeding and caring for a variety of dependent animals, each one a singular miracle, has become no less than a holy communion of boundary dissolution requiring neither intentionality nor effort, altogether lacking the strainings and distractions of meditation, and quite likely the closest I will ever come to finding mystical union in the routine of daily existence. | + | Considering that I am a "recovering Protestant" as well as a "failed amateur Buddhist" I have long been hard-pressed to categorize myself in any positive way, not that I feel a particular need to be in a category. However, it has become apparent fairly recently that my spiritual path is Franciscan, and has been moving in that direction for several years unbeknownst to myself. The simple zen-like act of daily feeding and caring for a variety of amazing animals, each one a singular miracle, has become no less than a holy communion of boundary dissolution requiring neither intentionality nor effort of many spiritual disciplines, and quite likely the closest I will ever come to finding mystical union in the routine of daily existence. |