A day in my life...

Half an hour late... I started my jogging routine today half an hour later than my usual morning time, and in just that short period of time things had already changed so drastically... the land was already burning, little creatures were hiding, and bird songs were silenced from my ears... the sun-scorched roads sizzled and hissed at my feet like a rattle snake being startled on her path...   

Twice, or three times I've seen this happened here since we've moved to the south.  I mean, men spitting when you approach and they hear you talk (I have an accent - I'm minority - I wasn't born here - I'm not even a Baptist).  It happened again today with one of the air-conditioning guy who came by to work on our air conditioner...  and no, he wasn't chewing tobacco.   I don't know if this even has a meaning, or if it's just something that's passed on from generations to generations through social culture, or peoples' DNA... something that grows on these men by watching their fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers doing it?  Or is this behavior something that just comes out unconsciously, for no specific reason?  And if is something purposely done, what does it mean?  I just don't know, but whatever it means, this behavior makes me feel terribly dishonored...  

After all I have seen in just the few years we'd lived in the south, and all I have experienced in my last job, I've started to believe that this is yet another form of covert racism... Southerners... they are often the picture of manners and Christianity when everyone is watching. Sadly, it's the rest of the time you have to wonder about... I've seen this happen time after time... and I just have to wonder if perhaps this is yet another proof that tells us we should move back to the North?   Bring those statues down--I will say!  And let our beautiful world be united, not divided. One God, many faces. One family, many races.  One truth, many paths.  One heart, many complexions.  One light, many reflections.  One world, many imperfections.  ONE.  We are all one, but many.  

This August is been the greenest month of all the year.  The garden is laughing in the sunshine, the massive elephant ears grin among the small wildflowers, and in the background laid the dark green wood, every tree and every leaf is a bird nest, and some creature meadow....  

Roses have been blooming again... 

and the butterfly bushes are home to dozens of butterflies and other winged friends. 

They're so into their 'nectar sampling', that you can almost touch them...

Right after the air-conditioning guys left, soon thereafter was another knock on my door... this time it was my neighbor Manuel, who came by with a gift he and his wife had brought for me from their native Guatemala...   

Isn't this the cutest of bags!  And so nice of them!

I am sickened by all is going on in our beautiful world... the news sickens me...  everywhere I see there's destruction, death, hate, horrible attacks executed under the banner of religion. Please Lord Jesus, come back soon!  Peace, not chaos. Love, not hate. Convergence, not segregation. Tolerance, not discrimination.