Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

3 November

Video, Five Minutes : Rising With The Sun At Bedlam Farm: Cold, Dark, Peaceful. Come And Sit With Me And Donkeys. Stay Grounded, Go Inside, Not Outside

by Jon Katz

“I have heard some people predict that the twenty-first century will be a century of spirituality. I think it must be a century of spirituality if we are to survive it at all. In our society, there is so much suffering, violence, despair, and confusion. There is so much fear. How can we survive without spirituality?- ” Thich Tnat Hanh

Speaking for myself, I can’t survive without spirituality. It saved my sanity and my life.

It begins with understanding who I am and being comfortable with it. Once I’m comfortable with myself, I can handle the rest.

I don’t know where it ends; I have yet to get there. The day starts with spiritual time, silence, meditation, gratitude, thought, and honesty. The hard part was facing the truth about myself. Once I did that, no one else could harm me.

Those are my practices every day, every morning. I hope the blog and the farm comfort fearful and hopeful people, even for a few minutes. I went out a few minutes before sunrise, pulled a chair up to the pasture, and sat mostly in silence for five minutes. It was so cold I couldn’t move my fingers. When I got up, I felt cleansed and at peace. Hope and roundness – some call it mindfulness – come from inside, not from the news or politicians. I’m spending today in peace and silence; Maria and I will walk and meditate together. We are very much in sync. And there are my flower photos, always.

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The Cambridge Food Pantry

2 November

“America Has Come To Us:” Thanks To The People All Over America Who Are Helping The Cambridge Food Pantry And The People It Serves. You Are The Ones Who Are There When There Is Nowhere Else For Them To Go.

by Jon Katz

Every day, a new shipment of food arrives at the Cambridge Food Pantry, a lifeline for our small village. This daily support, coming from all corners of America, is a testament to the compassionate spirit of our country, echoing the teachings of Jesus.

My blog, with its national reach, has been a powerful tool in uniting people across the country for a common cause, showcasing the impact of the Cambridge Pantry. It has touched the hearts of people all over the country, and even gone so far as to bankroll Thanksgiving dinner stuffings and trims for every member of the Pantry community.

(Above is the latest Amazon dropoff for the Cambridge Food Pantry.)

You are the America my grandparents risked their lives to come to, the America that has offered safe passage to millions of people with nowhere to go. Your support is deeply appreciated and crucial. Our motto: fill those shelves.

“It’s a blessing,” Kim, a caring volunteer at the Pantry, told me. “America has come to us, and we are grateful.”

If you are inclined to do a bit more good this weekend, you can fill up the backpacks for 67 children who depend on the pantry for food over the weekend when there are no school lunches available—small things in some ways, big in others.

I wrote this to show you how the food keeps coming from everywhere—California, the Midwest, the Bettered South, Florida, Colorado, the Northeast, etc.

While we’re at it, the kids need cereal and ramen noodles for their food and energy bags; they pick them up on Thursday and take them home on weekends.

These are all available this weekend on the Cambridge Pantry Amazon Wish List; you can browse the site day and night or by clicking the green button at the end of every block post. You can also click on the links below: blessings and thanks. If anyone tries to tell you the heart of America is broken, ask them to come here.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Breakfast Cereal, 12 Oz. Cereal Box, $1.99.

Life Breakfast Cereal Cinnamon, 13 Oz Boxes (3 Pack), $8.62.

____

Ramen:

Nissin Top Ramen Noodle Soup, Beef, 3 Ounce (Pack of 24), $18.97.

Maruchan Ramen Port, Instant Ramen Noodles, Ready To Eat, 24 Count, $6.00.

Maruchan Ramen Chicken, Instant Ramen Noodles, Ready To Eat Meals, 3 Oz. 24 Count, $6.00.

Thanks much, more than we can say.

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Flower Art

2 November

Flower Art: The Message Of The Heart, The Foundation Of Love: “I Am Here For You.”

by Jon Katz

The heart of almost every spiritual practice is the same—to embrace our presence so that we can deeply touch life here and make it available every moment of every day. We have to be here for ourselves, for the people we love, and for life with all of its wonders.

The message of the spiritual journey is the same everywhere, even in a time of division and anger: “I am here for you.”

This is the foundation of love. If we don’t know how to care for ourselves and love ourselves, we cannot care for the people we love. Loving ourselves is the foundation of loving another person. Thanks to Thich Nhat Hanh for teaching me this.

I’m happy to share my flower photos today; the news can sometimes be bad for everyone. No one is really alone. My flower photos are meant to come from the heart, mine, and perhaps yours.

Today’s are the guts, soul, and spirit of the Tulip. When I take them, I am at peace and full of hope.

I look forward to seeing you in the morning.

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Meditation Video

2 November

Video: A Sweet Way To Meditate, For Peace And Calm, Love And Warmth. Love That Can Be Used.

by Jon Katz

It’s raining here, and I’m due for my COVID-19 vaccine shortly. I’m planning to rest today. This was an intense week, and the tension around the country was both sad and jarring. Hate is a poison. Meditation is an antidote. Elon Musk appeared in a dream last night (he was dancing in the pasture). I meditated this morning with the dogs before a wood stove fire. I’m crazy enough and sometimes hyper; I don’t need that outside energy if that is what it’s called.

Warmth and the affection of our dogs is an excellent way for me to start a meditation.

I’m mostly alone, often with Maria, but the animals are spirits, too, and I find that sitting with them brings me a lot of peace of mind.

I hope you enjoy this video; it’s (mostly) silent. The scene speaks for itself.

The spiritual person dwells on the same ground as the rest of us – the world of birth and death, permanence and self. Some thoughts for the coming week:

The Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh wrote that by looking deeply into ourselves, we can free ourselves of the fears associated with the business of existence, of coming and going, of birth and death (of politics?). “In this freedom,” says Hanh, “we ride the waves of birth and death in perfect peace. We can remain in the world of waves while abiding in the name of water.”

In my meditation, the dogs are guides, helping to bring me inside and calm me down. They know what’s going on inside of me. This is love that can be used. See you later.

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Flower Art

1 November

Flower Art: New Dimensions. Expanding The Mission. The Joy Of Reaching Out. I Love Learning, Finally

by Jon Katz

Well, the first flower, tulips, was eaten by some sheep this afternoon when I took them out to take some photos in the sun. I rushed to get some more tulips, which were smaller and more delicate. I know better to turn my black on flowers when sheep or donkeys are around. I like the new tulips a lot and had some fun with them. I’m into shapes and settings right now, learning, learning. Just keep going, is my motto.

Please take a moment to help the food pantry get some Ramen and Cereal for the children’s backpacks. They ran out of both.

Thanks for thinking of it. I’ll see you in the morning.

P.S. “Are You Sure? All of us are only human, and we have wrong perceptions every day. Our spouse and partner are also subject to wrong perceptions, so we must help each other see more clearly and deeply.” – thich nhat hanh.

I’m still determining.