In the next few weeks, I am going to make a commitment to myself to stay off of my computer. I love to write so this is going to be difficult. Sometimes it is wise, I believe, to go back to the old ways of communicating and being. To communicate with nature, others, my dogs, God, and myself without the use of artificial communication. When I write on the computer using one finger, it takes a long time for me to get every thing the way I want. So things get neglected. It almost feels like an addiction.

My favorite poet of all the poets is Henry Van Dyke. He wrote a poem that speaks to me at this time of my life. I need to renew my soul-nourish it. I leave you with his words as I go on my quest for peace.

Yu/sta/kema.

The Footpath To Peace

To be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.

To be satisfied with your possessions but not contented with yourself until you have made the best of them.

To despise nothing in the world except for falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice.

To be governed by your admiration rather than by your disgusts.

To covet nothing that is your neighbor’s except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners.

To think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends, and every day of Christ;

And to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit in God’s out-of-doors.

These are the guideposts on the footpath to peace.

Henry Van Dyke.