The Rider: Part II

It was a day of rejoicing.  Runner had found a home.  The others equines quickly told Runner of the dangers of venturing outside the fence.  They called it the Land Beyond.  Runner glanced out at the Land Beyond and knew he didn’t want to go back to that harsh country again.  He turned to speak to the horse showing him around and asked about the section of missing fence.  When asking he noted the other horses stayed far from the gaping hole.

“This was no accident.  The Owner built it that way.”

Runner looked closer and noticed that there had been no holes dug for posts.  It was actually constructed that way. 

"Why would the Owner do such an odd thing?  He is such a kind, considerate man.”

“We don’t understand all that the Owner does but we trust him completely.   We don’t ask too many questions.  After all, we are only horses and he is human.”

Runner nodded his understanding.  He learned most of the horses had their names changed after the Owner took them in.  Runner wanted his named changed but was having difficulty deciding on a new name.  Saint said that his name should stay the same to remind him of the life he once led.  Runner agreed because there was so much that he wanted to leave behind.  He believed only by remembering what he used to be could he remain the new being he now was.

Runner was taught all that the other mares and stallions knew.  He too found the Owner to be a truly wonderful man.  All of their needs were provided.  They were fed the best of everything and cleaned and brushed daily.  Three times each week they would gather and relate stories of how the owner had brought them in and changed their lives.

After a few years, Runner began to notice emptiness in his heart.  He wouldn’t quite describe it as that but it was the best way to understand it.  He simply knew of something bothering him.  He longed for something that was missing but he had no idea what it was.  He privately spoke to Saint about his feelings.  Saint told him, “You need to spend more time talking about how wonderful the Owner is and stay as far away from the fence opening as possible.”  He did as he was told and became the best at all he did. 

The Rider: Part I

There once was a stately horse that ran wild and free.  His name was Runner.  All areas were his to romp and roam and he explored all that he could see.  He was master of his destiny and no one ruled him.  He ran like the wind from hill to valley to boast his importance to the world.  He was always ready to challenge anyone to see who was fastest or who could jump the highest.  He was the leader and he made certain that the world knew this. 

He loved to stand at a distance and mock the horses in the corral in the Valley of Dreams.  The Valley of Dreams was a splendid valley where a magnificent river flowed and the ground had an abundance of grass to graze.  Everyone liked to go to the Valley of Dreams because there was enough water and grazing land for everyone in the world.  There was a barn, farm house and a large corral in the Valley of Dreams.

At this farm there was a wonderful man called the Owner.  The Owner would take in any horse that came to him.  No matter what they did before or what they looked like he loved and cared for them.  Runner knew he needed no one to care for him.  Runner thought all the horses in the care of the Owner were idiots.

The barn was superb but the fence where they lived was not complete.  A whole section was missing but not one of them had ever tried to leave.  Runner thought that only a bunch of morons would willingly stay cooped up when they could easily leave and run free.  He would mock them saying, “What is the matter with you guys?  Don’t you know that real life is out here? Can’t you find the door?”  Some of the horses would give him looks of contempt.  Others would ignore him or simply shake their heads and go about their business.

Time wore on and he noticed restlessness deep in his soul.  No matter where he went or what he did his heartache still found him.  He no longer took comfort in proving he was the best or the fastest.  He began to wish for something else out of life but he couldn’t think of what it could be. 

His coat was worn and shabby and his mane was knotted.  He was caked with mud from head to hoof.  He began to notice his way of life was exacting a toll.  He no longer taunted the corralled horses but began to study them to see what it was that made them so peaceful.  He noticed how their master cared for them.  Their coats were always brushed and shiny.  Their bodies testified of the abundance of feed and water they had.   He mused to himself they didn’t have a care in the world.  “What am I missing?” he wondered. 

Day after day Runner would make path a little closer to the corral.  Each day he took note of the magnificent stable and the peacefulness of the horses.  One day the Owner saw Runner and waved and asked him to come and stay.  At this Runner ran away as fast as he could.  Once he was out of the man’s sight he stopped.  He then wondered why he ran away like he was scared.  “What is happening to me?  I used to be brave and strong but now I run away from a man that is trying to be nice.”

There was one white horse with dark eyes that always seemed nice.  He would smile at Runner whenever he was near the corral.  By eavesdropping Runner found out the white horse’s name was Saint.  Saint was one of the leaders.  Everyone looked up to him.  Gladness radiated from him.  He had a kind spirit and genuinely cared for everyone.

One day Runner listened as Saint gathered the other horses together and asked them to tell what the Owner had done for them.  One by one they began to speak.  Runner was astonished at what he heard.  The man who waved to him was the Owner.  The Owner was indeed a wonderful man.  Runner heard story after story of changed lives, better relationships, added meaning to their lives.  Runner’s heart burned inside him.  “Oh, if I could feel like that.  I wish had meaning in my life.” 

The empty horse gathered himself together and discreetly walked toward Saint and asked what he could do.  Saint brought his seeking friend to the Owner.  The Owner instantly embraced the lost one as his own.  The Owner cleaned Runner’s coat and mane and healed his wounds.  Runner finally felt at rest.  

The Land of Oz

When you’re in the Land of Oz
don’t forget to try the spas
The spas really are a work of art
you should go and take your part.

The spas are warm and full of wonder
but you rarely hear about the blunder
They keep it hushed they keep it low
They don’t want the world to know

The day they added the wrong stuff
that’s all I’ll say, you’ve heard enough
Seems the man, he couldn’t read
tis the reason for the deed

He dumped in a vat of…
I almost gave the name of
you almost got me
it was a chemical and we’ll let it be

The people hollered and cried
but don’t you worry, no one died.
Confusion there was to say the least
It was many hours before it ceased. 

Patrons were mad like a smelly old skunk
The owners knew they were sunk.
Tabloid articles filled their mind
til they met a Dr. kind

The burns weren’t bad and healed right away
Not much later they began to say
People looked younger, thinner and tanned
This was a miracle that wasn’t planned

The people raved and wanted more
Now they keep the acid in store
There I said it look what now?
I hope the owners don’t have a cow

They add a little at a time
Just enough to makes you fine
You’ll see the benefits outweigh the risk
If you don’t think so well....tsk tsk

So remember
When you’re in the Land of Oz
Don’t forget to try the spas.

 
(C) Duane Windell Phillips

From Shore to Shore

Shore to Shore

 

Children play by the edge

A ribbon of water streaming between

Tadpoles flit about

Minnows dart from short to shore

A step across and they are joined

To enjoy their fun together

 

Across the lake they go

Motorboats, canoes and kayaks

Waterski and wakeboard

One starts here, the other there

From shore to shore

In the middle they enjoy

And share their lake together

 

I see the sunrise

You see the sunset

Both a vision to behold

Separated by oceans wide

We soak them in

From shore to shore

Separately we share

The connection of the beauty we see

Duane Windell Phillips

Copyright September 2016



Modern Technology

There are new advances occurring daily.  Medicine, computers, robotics, clothing, you name it and there is an improvement. So many of the improvements have made our lives easier or safer.

Still, some of these advances have made for some interesting moral dilemmas.  Because we have the technology to terminate a pregnancy, people hotly debate whether it should be done.  I once heard of an issue where a married couple froze some of the husband's sperm and after he died, she got pregnant using some of that sperm.  The Supreme Court then heard a case on whether the child should get survivor benefits.

Please know I am not trying to make a case for one side or the other on abortion or this child's benefits.  So much of what we do to improve our lives in one way complicates it in another way.  Each law seems to require another because we constantly have to refine and define what was meant by the original.

Take, for example, the automobile.  As cars became popular and more people began using them, laws were required for people to safely operate them and we needed penalties for those who don't.  Still, as time progressed, new situations came up that required new laws.  School zones, work zones, Interstates roads, emergency vehicles, and traffic lights all required rules to be followed.  Later, even these sub categories needed further definition.

Please don't misunderstand me.  We need laws.  However, will we ever learn, or live out the fact, if we would do unto others as we want them to do to us, we could eliminate (or at least make the redundant) many rules.  Also, there are many parts of modern technology that I love.  My Macbook and iPhone are among them. 

Technology is a tool.  We use tools to make life easier.  I am in awe that I can communicate in real time with someone on the other side of the world.  We can see deep into the cosmos.  Still, I fear some of our technologies are driving a wedge between us and those near us.  We spend more time with a device instead of someone next to us.  We mustn't let it happen.  We must remember for all the wonderful items that fill the shelves at the stores where we shop, (including online stores) not one of them will touch your life the way another human being can.

 

ARUNK

ARUNK

(Arunk is a term used in the commercial airline industry when an itinerary has a person traveling to a city on one flight but out of a different city on the next flight.  It means Arrival Unknown.)

ARUNK

Standing here
Since the day you left
I’m not asleep
Not awake
I was there
I am here
Out of body
Lost
I observe the world
I don’t participate
Disjointed
I am

ARUNK

Duane Windell Phillips

Copyright September 2016

Life

Open your eyes

What do you see?

A world with lies

What should you be?

The sun shines bright

And stars above

Living is right

When filled with love

Life is all mine

Also yours too

Miracle find

What will you do?

Open it up

Accept the gift

Drink deep the cup

Your days will shift

Oh join with me

Live out the gift

Love them for free

Give them a lift

Embers are fanned

Now they know why

So joyous the land

Bright is the sky

The sun shines bright

And stars above

Living is right

When filled with love

 
copyright September 2016
Duane Windell Phillips