J...o...h...n...’...s.....J...o...u...r...n...a...l
A R C H I V E S
Thanks
for
visiting.
May 10, 2000
"My
life is nothing without work, and yet I do everything in the world to
avoid it --that is, before I get started."
---THOMAS WOLFE
"What
is the use of running when we are not on the right way?"
---GERMAN PROVERB
"When
the inferior man hears the Way, he laughs at it loudly. If he did not
laugh, it would not be fit to be the Way."
---TAO TE CHING
"I
of course am thoroughly convinced of the value of self-knowledge, but
is there any use recommending such insight, when the wisest of men throughout
the ages have preached the need of it without success?"
---C.
G. JUNG
Perceptual
Motion . . .
. . . The
year is gushing forward like a swollen creek, alarming, yet fascinating
to watch. You comfort yourself with the thought that things will be back
to normal some day. That's the way it works with creeks. There is no fear
of time's passage except when the mind is strained with the idea that
the wrong path has been selected. The thought that "not enough is
getting done" erodes inner confidence. What is the use of outer accomplishment
if inner progress has slowed to a snail's pace? And yet the snail moves
at its proper speed, as does the creek. Shall I discover my peace if I
find my pace? Is it the elusive pace of the heart, hidden in the downhill
rush of a knob descent, the intensity of multiple attackers, the excitement
of a creative surge, or the panic of the deadline? Or is it more wisely
sought in the endless moment of the daydream, the scratch of the pen point,
the rhythms of sun on the lake, or the embrace of the beloved?
.
. . Pressure.
The mind says it is unreal. The gut disagrees. Listen to the silence and
use the tools. You know that the water simply reflects the image of the
beholder. The tranquility must surely await. Don't give up.
May 4, 1999
One year ago . . .
.
. . One
of those days where trying to bring a symbol into refinement is like pulling
a tooth. I'm not sure that the commentaries we received from the College
will result in any improvement to the preliminary design. I'm trying to
add mountains to my version of the Rotunda and nothing is working. I think
I might be on one of those Salchovian paths where all you do is simplify
and simplify until there is nothing left to eliminate from the design.
At some point we might have to dig in and fight for something, although
these identities all tend to get ruined in the end by those who misapply
them. Why do I love them so? God help me.
May 1, 1993
Seven years ago . . .
.
. . We're
in Dayton for a press approval. Had a wonderful dinner downtown, but we
drank too much coffee and didn't get good rest. Dana and I decided we
really need some kind of a break. Except for Atlanta (not a vacation),
we haven't had any time off since we moved, except for trips to South
Carolina. I guess the problem is that we really don't relax long enough
or under the right circumstances in order to recharge our batteries. I've
got to deal with this soon and deal with this effectively.
May 7, 1977
Twenty-three years ago . . .
.
. . It
just might be time to bear down and master the last of the skills and
strengths that will hopefully lead me to independent, free-flowing creativity
in a natural environment. If I don't go back to work in a studio, can
I manage the drastic changes necessary in my lifestyle? Can I do it with
a self-imposed structure? Remember the words of Confucius: "The inferior
man thinks to himself, 'Goodness in small things has no value,' and so
neglects it. He thinks, 'small sins do no harm,' and so does not give
them up. Thus his sins accumulate until they can no longer be covered
up, and his guilt becomes so great that it can no longer be wiped out."
