Preface As a child growing up on a farm in Western Oklahoma, I found myself set apart from my peers in two ways. First, from my earliest memory, I spent every idle hour performing tasks that required no thought in a world of infinite possibilities. Therefore, daydreaming became a passion for me. Slipping into that…
Read moreThe Immutable Fixed Idea
Some people’s beliefs seem carved in stone, thought of as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. An idea can be so firmly entrenched that any clear evidence to the contrary will be summarily dismissed without actual examination. You’ll find people arguing whether we actually put a man on the moon or…
Read moreFaith vs. Fact
Profound belief in the intangible is often questioned by those insisting its existence be “proved”. Whether it is God, ghosts, or voodoo magic, the devout belief that something intangible exists frequently makes some observers doubt the adherent’s reasonable judgment. Curiously, faith is so central to each of our lives. When we drive over a hill,…
Read moreLooking Through The Kaleidoscope
I ponder how humans view the world and why each has a different perspective. We all have well-intentioned folks who politically lean left, right, or center, tending to see very little the same way. I concluded that we each use a kaleidoscope. When we think we are looking far afield, we may just be peering…
Read moreComing Out
No, I’m not gay. I am just “coming out” as a heathen. I suppose sharing here was prompted by a recent conversation with a woman in the BBQ serving line at the Autumn Daze festival. During our exchange, I mentioned that I was a “heathen.” She looked put off, so I asked if she knew…
Read moreThe Heart of the Matter
In recent years, I’ve contemplated the subject of forgiveness. Each time I do, I’m reminded of the lyrics in Don Henley’s song, “The Heart of the Matter”. He sings of his struggle to deal with a breakup with his fiancée. During his journey, he comes to believe that getting “to the heart of the matter”…
Read moreAre Things Really So Bad?
To hear the news and social media, you would think that humanity and our planetary condition are like water circling the drain to the point the sink is almost empty. I am the first to say we are busy as hell trying to make the doomsday criers’ predictions come true, but a look back at…
Read moreThe Joy of Writing
My impulse to write stories and articles was latent until I reached my twenties. It started in a spiral notebook with short narratives and poetry. Much of the time, when I went back to read it over, I had trouble reading my handwriting or understanding the words I had written. I should explain where this…
Read moreMy Spiritual Journey Stages – A Transformative Life Story | ShadeTree
An account of seeking answers to life’s spiritual truths beginning about the age of 12 in the 1950s. As I have come to realize, the process is never-ending. I hope that my experiences of a lifetime of turning over many rocks in pursuit of what is spiritually real may be of value in your quest…
Read moreUnveiling the Joy of Writing
Further Thoughts on My Love of Writing After I wrote my article on the Joy of Writing, I realized I hadn’t added the reason I have for the impulse to put pen to paper. After some reflection, I discovered my motives were more than several; furthermore, they have evolved over time. Initially, I wrote to…
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