Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

My Spiritual Life
31 October

Call It A Prayer: My Morning Hopes In Anxious Times. With A Nod To St. Francis

by Jon Katz

 

I asked my good friend Ron Dotson for a good prayer for the times. Although I’m not conventionally religious, I like to pray often; I hope someone listens. Ron, who is deeply religious, tolerates me with his prayer and support and prays regularly for my soul. Jesus is a God to Ron. He’s not God to me, but Christ has inspired me all my life.

We could use him and his compassion these days, as could the people claiming to be Christians.  This may be why Ron, who lives in Ohio and is a decorated war veteran,  tolerates me.

Thanks to him for sending me the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis; I wish everyone in the country could read it these days. It helps me in the morning. I’m not there yet, but the prayer tells me where I want to go, and I’m trying. My idea is: don’t be mad, be better.  Thanks, Ron.

 

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis:

 

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith:

Where there is despair, hope:

Where there is darkness, light:

Where there is sadness, joy:

O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

 

Sunrise this morning at Bedlam Farm. The sky was amazing.

Ron Dotson, my good friend and guide.

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Beautiful Morning
31 October

Beautiful Morning In Video: Maria Greets Our Animals Every Day At Sunrise. Come And See What Life Is Really About: (Hint: It’s Not Politics)

by Jon Katz

As usual, I woke up around 5 a.m. and traded texts with Sarah at the Cambridge Pantry.

Today is Woman’s Day; the tampons–pads, etc., were cleaned out yesterday. I’ll be looking for help soon.

The record-breaking number of people who came needing food support is unprecedented. The women’s need shelves are empty. I’m going to the pantry shortly.

I glanced at the news as I sometimes do and quickly told myself that my day would not begin reading about a sick comedian and a former President riding around in a Garbage Truck and talking about his great lovefest at Madison Square Garden and how loved he is.

No matter which side might be doing it, I won’t voluntarily walk into that circus.

One of the most beautiful things at Bedlam Farm is the early morning when Maria and I get up to tend to the animals. Maria has words for every single animal on the farm, from the chickens to Zip to the sheep and donkeys.

They each have a name, and she knows it; I wanted to share this beautiful beginning of every day with the people who read my blog, most of whom also love animals. So here it is, a video, Maria In Bedlam At Sunset. I consider it a meditation, but perhaps it is more than that.

 

 

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30 October

Flower Art Is Back, After My Inspiring Visit With Georgia O’Keeffe

by Jon Katz

“It belongs to me. God told me if I painted it enough, I could have it,” she once said. “Yesterday, you could see every tree on it, and last night — I thought to myself — it is the most beautiful night of the world — with the moon almost full — and everything so very still.”  – Georgia O’Keeffe, 1944.

___________

I learned a lot about Georgia O’Keeffe Tuesday at a show of her work in Boston. She makes me love this work, and I love her for that. Her passion comes bursting through her wariness and stern posture.

I learned that underneath that severe and calculated exterior, she never stopped being a frightened and depressed child. I was fascinated by the video interviews of her that ran up against the museum.

Every piece of art she made was a sacred act to her.

I liked it when she talked about the importance of having a passion for what you do and not letting other people think for you, even when you learn from them.

I learned to photograph what I see, not what I am supposed to see or what other people see. Georgia would not have liked social media or gone onto it.

I knew going for the flower’s soul was the right idea; that’s what people never see but want to see.

I learned to pay more attention to landscapes and let them be authentic and natural, only sometimes gorgeous or epic. I learned to move my art along and not get stuck in one place; I learned to always be honest and open.

I learned a lot more than that, but I need to think more and longer about what I saw on those walls.

I saw a brilliant genius who took photos and painted joyfully and passionately. Here, emotions came whispering, even roaring, and I learned to think more about shapes and the places where my eye roams.

Later, I took a photo of the Thanksgiving food cans pouring from the Army of Good into the food pantry here. They were the home of the Turkey Gravy cans we sent for the big Thanksgiving Dinner.

They say a lot about us and our world, which I saw today, so I took a photo of it. I look forward to seeing you in the morning. My food poisoning is easing, and my computer is in trouble, but I did get my writing done. I’m back; as you can see, it was a beautiful and essential trip.

 

Black and white softness.

Purple loudness.

 

 

A flower with a heart.

 

A flower with a soul, if you look close enough.

A flower with a message

.

 

I’m still determining why I took this photo, but I’m glad I did. Could you look at it for a while?

 

 

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30 October

At The Cambridge Food Pantry: A New Record – 85 Families Serving More Than 210 People In Two Hours, And A New Record For Giving. You Are Really Coming Through For Them. Come And See What You Sent

by Jon Katz

Sarah said today was an all-time record-breaking day at the food pantry in Cambridge, N.Y., with 85 families and more than 210 people served. When the pantry closed for service today, at least ten people were still inside looking for their food.

You people are setting records for donations and support. Bless you. Here are some photos that show it. All of it comes from the Army of Good.

Sarah Harrington says the Army of Good has truly made a significant impact on the Cambridge Food Pantry. Your donations of Tide, diapers, juice, salads, Efferdent, soup, Velveteen, rice, Turkey gravy, handshakes, potatoes, disinfectants, tampons, and pads have been invaluable. We are deeply grateful for your support.

P.S. As you know, there is no relaxing in a food pantry these days.

The Cambridge Pantry Amazon Food Wish List is open for donations seven days a week, round the clock (which is how Sarah Harrington sleeps). Your continued support is vital to our operations. Feel free to browse or donate whenever you want to do more good. You can access the list using the links or the green button at the bottom of every blog post, as shown below.

 

Your generosity has been pouring into the food pantry since Monday. You are not only helping to make the Thanksgiving Project happen, but you are also helping the families that come in for food support twice a week. You are brightening the lives of women and children.

The Amazon vans arrived just after lunch; the pantry volunteers unpacked the food…

Then, the volunteers lay it out on the tables to be recorded and sorted. Your help is invaluable and is breaking the Pantry’s records for support. We cannot thank you enough for your dedication and generosity. Thank you, thank you.

When it first arrives, most of the food is set on rollers before it’s opened, stacked on the shelves, or put in storage if it’s cold. The Pantry volunteers are almost there, unloading, unpacking, sorting, and shelving. They are amazing.

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation for your excellent support. Your efforts have been instrumental in helping us serve the community. Due to the large crowds, the pantry is now restricting food distribution to people living in the Cambridge School District.

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The Cambridge Food Pantry
30 October

It’s Almost Thanksgiving. The Food Pantry Needs Help For The Dinners, Greens Beans, Coffee And Tea. “Thanks For Caring About Us….”

by Jon Katz

Sarah asks for help as we glide towards Thanksgiving and the campaign to give the pantry families and their children the best Thanksgiving Dinner possible. Sarah says she is in need of Green Beans for the Thanksiving dinners, and tea and coffee for now and for the celebrations. Please help if you can.

These are things people expect to have at Thanksgiving, these meals will give people a sense of dignity, normalcy and hope for the future. It means the world to them that people care about them.

One pantry mother emailed me and asked me to tell the Army of Good, “Please thank them for caring about us. It means more than they might know that somebody cares…”

Here are the items she needs from us as the pantry is prepared for Thanksgiving, hopefully, a bright time. She is handling the rest (frozen turkeys) in other ways.

Del Monte Fresh Cut Blue Lake Green Beans Canned Vegetables, 14.5 Ounce (Pack of 12)m 48.70.

Stash Tea Soothing Herbel Tea 6 Flavor Variety Pack, 6 Boxes with 18-20 Tea Bags Each, $19.99.

Seattle’s Best Coffee Post Alley Dark Roast Ground Coffee, $$16.69.

 

 

Please remember that  you can help the Cambridge Food Pantry anytime by going to their Cambridge Food Pantry Amazon Wish List anytime to purchase items – everything on the list is urgently needed.

You can access the constantly updated wish list by clicking on any link here or by clicking on the greet pantry button at the bottom of every post on my blog.

 

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