"Love, Loss, and What I Wore" - Our Journeys in Life

I attended an outstanding reading  of this work, "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" created by Nora and Delia Ephron, at the Salt Lake Acting Company this evening.  Nora has written and directed a number of well known, and respected scripts and movies, and in this case has written women's stories which remind us of our own stories - both women and men - and she encourages us to define and express them.

To quote Nora, "Whatever you choose, however may roads you travel, I hope that you choose --- to find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble ----- on behalf of women (and men)."

The more I read; the more I explore the creative thoughts and words of others, the more I realize that I have been on this journey of exploration and questioning all my life.   ------ so have you.  Living in New Zealand as a Mormon missionary and beginning to explore and question my beliefs;  being married for over 50 years to Sharen, a wonderful woman who has questioned all her life; raising six children, three with special needs and becoming aware of how unfairly the world treats those who are different and/or vulnerable; living, working, and consulting  internationally and cross-culturally.  Each of these experiences has challenged and  required thought, and given me opportunity to examine my beliefs, my view of the world, my values.

As I have searched, found, explored, read and thought about the poems and writings I have made through out my adult life it has been interesting to relive my journey.  The writing below was written in 1996 when I was at a conference for a week in Vancouver, BC. and during a troubling time in my life.

A WALK THROUGH THE PARK
                                                          By R. Bernie Johnson 10.20.96
I expected Sun, so of course, it rained.
But, today as I sit on a wet log, in the middle of a NW forest,
With a glint of light sparkling on the fresh drops of water on the lush fern,
How grateful I am -- for just how it is.

The trail is quiet.
Those that have ventured out are hardy and not complaining.

A squirrel has just walked up - welcoming me to his home.
The trees are tall and majestic.  Some have lived - some died -
Each providing life for another in whatever state they are in - right now.

The tall pines protect the ferns - from the heat of the sun.
The rain helps the fallen trees -
and needles - and leaves - become compost to support new growth.

There is such order -
in this seeming disorder - and disarray

And I - I prayed to God this morning -
That he/she would create what I wanted in life.
I gave him a list of "to do's"
So there would be no death - or uncertainty - or rain - or compost.

The sparrows need not take any thought for the morrow.
Sufficient is the task - of the day.
But we humans?  We're better than the rest.
We must diagnose, prescribe, dictate, control -
And then be frustrated, when it doesn't turn out - the way it "Should"

I think I need - more walks in nature.
I think I need - to observe and listen more - and control less.

***********************************************************
Thank you - for the rainy, dreary day -
That kept me off - my fast, unobservant bicycle
And allowed me to journey - on foot -
On natural, but foreign paths.
To learn - from the natural order of all living things.


Enjoy every moment of your journey.