by Bela Johnson | Apr 9, 2019 | compassion, creativity, gardening, healing, nature, Uncategorized
The crescent mark left by a garden knife is slowly mending, unresisting as I cleave yet another lifted layer of my own skin from its center until a proper feeling of softness returns to adjacent banks of that once-jagged riverbed; Like one’s own feelings...
by Bela Johnson | Nov 15, 2018 | compassion, human interest, perspective, philosophy, Uncategorized
I saw her today, glimpsed her like a new creature shining and bright, free of the heavy cloak of denotation, bronze I have cast her in despite myself, all these years of believing she could in any way be known; Inside my own skin I remain a mystery, unfolding like the...
by Bela Johnson | Jul 11, 2018 | compassion, dogs, nature, personal, Uncategorized
You may have read about it here. Amazing news. After Chris has taken food to little dog every morning and evening for months now, he discovered this note yesterday. We don’t know who the writer is referring to; another person had been leaving a bowl of water...
by Bela Johnson | Apr 11, 2018 | compassion, family, nature, Uncategorized
Just get over it, she says, words spewing like hot lava from icy lips; intention beside the point and yet how could I have understood back then? She would remain forever mute on the origins of that rage and I had the rest of my life yet to figure it out; Fifty-five...
by Bela Johnson | Apr 3, 2018 | compassion, forgiveness, healing, Uncategorized
It’s a scurrilous affair to be the target of an assault upon our humanity. Judgments, condemnation and criticisms all aim to reduce our opinions of ourselves, and are often successful in altering how others view us as well. We may well learn best through adversity,...
by Bela Johnson | Apr 20, 2015 | compassion, inspiration, philosophy, spirituality, Uncategorized
It’s facile to ponder fault in others whose treatment of us seems appalling. Then we glimpse suffering in desperate animal eyes, recognizing predatory illusion. All the lessons of the Masters fall deaf on ears that will not hear, fearful eyes refusing to see all the...
