How can God not exist? It has been said that faith is the evidence of things unseen. No doubt that is true...as far as it goes. I would add that doubt is truly the evidence of things unseen. Doubt is the father of faith...it is the impetus driving faith into this realm. Doubt...that wonderfully painful gnawing feeling...that Three A.M. realization that comes with fire truck clanging alarm in the night. Doubt...that powerful tug of the sound of a faraway train whistle and other songs of the road.

Yes, God exists but I can't prove it and neither can you. I'm not talking about the Santa Claus god created by the politicians, professional religionists and the other prostitutes who serve the cause of scoundrels. A real God exists but you can no more prove his/her/its existence than you can prove your own.

"Cogito Ergo Sum." Therein lies the stumbling block for those seeking an understanding of being or proving your own existence. "I think,, therefore I am." The nature of being is not discernible. Descartes' "Cogito Ergo Sum" presupposes existence. It does not explain it or prove it. "I think" is a phrase which assumes existence. "I" is mentioned...it leads us into the thought. "I" tells us that existence is already a non negotiable fact. "I think" and the ride has already been well into the realm in which the speaker operates. Being can only be experienced and not defined. "Therefore I am" is the relevant phrase. Literally, I think I exist therefore I exist. You exist...I exist...in our minds at minimum. In the maximum we exist within some special physical and spiritual whirlwind of of emotions, thoughts and feelings. There is no difference between the minimum and the maximum. The greatest show on earth is in town. I choose to believe I am traveling within a tangled web of conflicting and supportive entities that soar and collide in the only dance available in this time and space. In a sense, I write and think for only myself...I live and love for myself...and I live and love because I believe in the existence of those with whom I dance. In that reality, I live for them.

MY LITTLE BITS OF WISDOM

Happiness that is pursued only for ourselves alone will never be found. If sharing happiness with others makes that happiness less desirable then it will not be lasting or truly satisfying.

Love can only be gained and savored by giving it away.

Someone is truly rich only when they know they have enough.

I am not of your particular religious faith. Most likely, your faith is a part of my faith.

There is a difference between strength and force.

Grandchildren are a profound experience. They tell us our work is done...they give us permission to rest, yes, even to die. Someone will finish raising our children because we've passed them off to our grandchildren...they will finish our job. Our children are in good hands.

It has been said (by some, including me) that by the time you reach a certain age you have the face you deserve. Wrinkles and lines are road maps telling where you've been and how hard you tried.

ON POVERTY

Many people will tell you they grew up poor. Poor is a relative term though. American poor? Indian Subcontinent poor? Poor in an earlier century? As I said, a lot of people will say they grew up poor but if they tell you their drive for wealth and power was motivated by this upbringing you can laugh in their face. They were not brought up poor. They grew up feeling they didn't have enough power or wealth. Enough power or wealth? There is no such amount on earth.

THE LESSONS OF WATER

We are much like a small pond in the forest. Scientists tell us we are mostly water. even our hearts and brains are made mostly of water. The surroundings of the pond will mandate its shape and size. The surroundings we choose are as important in shaping our spiritual situation as the topographical and meteorological factors are in shaping the pond. When we associate with those who hate, lie, steal and foster greed we are endangering ourselves. attachment to these kinds of people will only lead us to be trapped and used as the surroundings dictate. Water teaches us to be in the world but not of the world. Cling to those you love but love all you encounter. Love the earth, love the animals and be ever mindful of the containers we allow to hold our lives. We are mostly water and water is an element easily altered and shaped by its surroundings.

COLLECTIVE MADNESS

I can speak only for my American experience. I assume the factors are internationally universal. I wish it were not so. The vast majority of what are called Middle Class Americans are decent, friendly people. They work and love. They sacrifice. They believe. Sadly, they are lied to and mislead by a cadre of wealthy, greedy individuals who have no spiritual or psychic stake in the future of anything. They employ that minority of people who are renegades from that huge population of good people. Working as religion promoting ministers and lackey politicians they serve the interests of a wealthy class of liars, thieves and scoundrels. This is the collective madness destroying our world and spitting in the face of sanctity and spirituality.