Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
‘A wooden dock and a salt pond’
(The reluctant darkness of inner Earth, freed for a day’s holiday, wrestles with the sun) A newer dock extends from shore out into clear, sky-relfecting water. You can tell it’s new(er) because the planks running horizontally up the dock are varying shades of green. The dock ‘recedes’ into the center of the photo and is bracketed by four square pilings, each topped with white ‘deca-something’ shaped caps. (They come to a point, the four sides of the post/pilings easily seen in the photo).
The salt pond fills the lower-center of the photo. Across the center a distant edge of land runs from left to right and divides the sea from the sky. This day there is less difference between the two than usual. The sky is filled with soft-mountains, in shades of white-almost-clear at the top of the scene down to dark as night, the weight of the clouds turning them into ‘almost earth’ at the bottom.
Before we begin, acknowledgments and shoutouts. First among acknowledgements would be Josie Two-Shoes, our host and safe-harbor provider. The blog invites all to share those elements, aspects, parts and sections of daily life that inspires and/or causes us to feel grateful. Pretty simple, isn’t it? Well, no, not necessarily. There are those among us who, while certainly recognizing the valuable and positive effects of such an exercise, might be inclined to think, ‘oh, man. suppose I can’t think of enough things or…or, maybe they really aren’t grateful things. And it’s up there for everyone to see.’ Not to worry. Two words: Book of Secret Rules (aka Secret Book of Rules). It is not a ‘part’ of the theme, it’s more a consensus among participants that, while every group activity has some level of rules, or direction or guidelines, the spirit of this exercise is the only critical element. The spirit of good intent. The BoSR/SBoR allows that anything goes provided the person claiming it’s imprimatur lets us know how much they enjoy it.
The primary photo was taken ‘at work’ today. Tell me that that doesn’t get me at least 3 Grats
- I have the opportunity to go to the shore, beach, and other water-related places in the course of doing my job
- Clients of long-standing, by definition, people I enjoy spending the time with
- Variety in the character and nature of the requirements and demands of the business I’ve chosen, (a line from Godfather I*)
Una and Phyllis
- Phyllis for providing the concrete in which I can anchor my more ethereal nature, like not using a wobbly table when attempting to build a really tall house of cards
- Una for being a role model for how to get the most from life and
- (deal) with the stresses that are a by-product of Item 3
Writing (‘Home and Heart’ and ‘Almira’) because of the things I come across in the process… take this story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well (please!) I found my way to that story as part of the exploring process to discovering where Sister Cletus was born (in central Croatia, around 1936). This part of learning to write surely warrants two mentions
- seeing paintings and photos that signify the reality of tales and stories that form the warp and woof of human history and culture. the sense of beauty (or horror) it might evoke in one person is not as critical as the fact that it becomes part of what people hold true down through the ages. The factual or imaginary elements have little or no significance, at least to one who believes in the power of perspective. That a (talented) person went to the trouble to paint the painting and it has survived and been enjoyed (for reasons esthetic and religious) says that it’s real.
- learning about things that are/were/could-again-be as awful as singularly expressed in the second photo, which (to my dismay), was a real thing.
‘Christus und die Samariterin am Brunnen’
Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann RA (30 October 1741 – 5 November 1807)
Sisak children’s concentration camp was a concentration camp during World War II, set up by the Croatian Ustaše government for Serbian, Jewish and Romani children. The camp was located in Sisak, Croatia.
9) whoa, getting a little heavy here, for a gratitude blog hop. But I will leave my items in place. While there can be no denying the horror of the potential heights to which man’s inhumanity to man can soar, it exists, side by side with the good.
10) SR 1.3
* Godfather I scene with Hyman Roth and Michael Corleone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io43ak_Vias
(man, talk about the weird paths one encounters when writing stuff. As has been my practice of late, I’m going to include a music vid. The basis of its inclusion is the same as it’s always been, whatever is stuck in my head at the moment. the only effective way to get it to stop is to pass it along. ….you’re welcome)
Click here and join us.
About clarkscottroger
Usually TTOTs are not so dark :).
But as always, uplifting in a way that only a Clark can uplift.
true
That photo could be like…10 grats. lol. I agree with Phyllis here: not usually dark, but uplifting in a way that only Clark can do. :) I love it that Phyllis anchors you. John does this for me, too. Though I can tell in a different way. I’m definitely the dreamer of us two. He has to tether me to the ground, otherwise I’d float away…
Always fun to read your TToT’s. :)
this (exercise) is never a chore… the day at the shore was very good, indeed.
Perfect music – whether reading the post while it plays or listening afterwards.
Soft, soothing journey guide, it takes us gently to a place unique.
not cure where (that song) was hiding but it definitely stayed until I could link it without something of equal power
That grounding spouse thing. I keep trying to float away into the etheria but for some reason I’m still here. Chopin is always nice to type comments to. Love the water, at any moment in any season. The dark – well, it is encroaching upon us as the last rose fades.
To paraphrase Denzel, ‘Godzilla got nothin on the ocean!’ (lol, now that didn’t work very well)
Yes, we have to acknowledge the bad and work to keep it from happening again. It is a huge blessing to have work that inspires you with beautiful scenery and good people.
Your description of the opening photo taken at the salt pond was every bit as beautifully done as the photo itself, you are so very good at this!
I think intent is so important when we do things (or choose not to), and this grand TToT exercise is a great example of that. While this morning’s news from Las Vegas makes my heart ache for the cruel things that sometimes happen, coming here to read the thankful posts that have been shared reminds me that there is also, and will always be, so much good. Light in the darkest of times if we are brave enough to look for it.
I agree that you are blessed to have a job which seems to suit you perfectly, enjoying the local scenery and lovely homes, meeting up with friends and familiar faces, and enough variety and flexibility to keep you from getting bored and to allow you time to work on your writing!
Your description of both Phyllis and Una’s role in your life is one of your best mentions of them yet! Both made me smile and nod in agreement. Papa Bear is my anchor and my furkids are surely my solace and delight.
The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman is my favorite Bible story for many reasons and I was delighted to see it being mentioned here, I think there are many good things that can be drawn from the message and I enjoy seeing the painted depictions of such scenes, reminiscent of childhood Sunday School classes, whether accurate or not. Again, it is the intent that matters.
The next photo of the concentration camp for children is harrowing and while I do not want to see it, we must. If we ignore history, or attempt to erase it form our memories, we are commiting an even graver sin. I always want to know the truth… both of what horrors humans are capable of, and also of what acts of compassion and grace and fearless defense of innocents. Life will always be that two-winged bird of good and evil, although I wish with all my heart it wasn’t so. But the point here is not to succumb to believing that life is all bad and darkness, surely it is not.
Your closing music selection for today was beautiful. Rather perfect for the tone of this day, and one I at times enjoyed during homework on schooldays. I love how your musical interests run full range, as do mine. I never know what will be playing in my head when I wake up each morning.
Thank you for this good TToT piece which did indeed feel like sitting down with you for a visit!
That (as so many) was the result of recognizing the opportunity and taking the photos (so much of life’s improvements, good things and such fits that description, doesn’t it?). I put a lot on ‘good intent’ as it allows me to proceed with what I think I should do (in term s of post writing). This, in curious (and possibly imaginary) distinction to knowing what I do is correct. The requirement of ‘knowing’, while totally natural to a clark all too often becomes a vehicle for fear. ‘am I really certain that no one will get mad at this…’ ‘maybe they will misinterpret, better not take a chance.’ In a sense, the idea of good intent lets me by-pass my natural inclination to allow fear to shape my actions (at least when others are involved).
Loved the “spouse as concrete grounding” image. Also amazed that you wrote this “heavy” post prior to the events of Sunday night in Las Vegas. Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well stands in stark contrast to evil–whether that evil be in a concentration camp of old, or in Las Vegas on Sunday.
the range and span of the world of man is breath-taking sometimes, no?
Oh Clark…that photo you start your TToT off with. Love it. And, as sad as some parts of life can be, this song you share feels like the perfect way to acknowledge that and to also highlight the beauty of nature as you show. Thank you.
I was so busy with my writing deadlines that I didn’t even get around to reading any of the posts from last week. Glad I returned for this one.
there is so much good and beautiful to the world, yet the dark and the horror doesn’t so much push it into the background as much as it limits our vision to it’s wavelength so that even though it feels like we haven’t changed, that we are looking at (and relating ourselves) to the world around us, we can be tricked into not knowing the counter-balance of the good to the evil at times.