A CONTRAST

Strange Morning. It was hot for the last few days and this Morning it is still chilly at 10:20. It is 68 F but it is drizzly and there is a cool breeze. We have been getting just enough rain to keep the brown spots from getting larger [lawn]. The corn in our area is still holding up, but won't through another hot spell without more rain. The area of out mini-drought is quite small. Folks a few miles to the North and South of us have had ample rain.

The house painters will probably resume their work tomorrow. I figure this paint job [house and garage] will cost between four and five thousand dollars. It caused me to reminisce about the first time we had our house painted. When we moved in, in 1975, the house was a pretty typical white farmhouse, badly faded and chalked. It hadn't been painted for about 25 years.

We began our sabbatical [dropped out] in 1977. I didn't intend to be poor. I thought I was spearheading an alternative mental health center. I was operating on faith and flimsy promises. But that is okay, as it launched us into some growing and rich experiences. We met several families who were into the homesteading movement. They were all, in various degrees, living off the land. There were not many, if any, that went as far as we did; no electricity, cooked and heated with wood, kerosene lanterns, hand pump on the well, outhouse out back, and no income, to speak of, to boot.

Although, we had no telephone, we seemed to be a magnet for all sorts of people interested in an alternative life style. We had, kind of, an ongoing group therapy program and most of the people we attracted were people looking to make sense, of their lives, and the universe, they found themselves in.

Two of the people, who were here frequently, decided to paint our house. I think it was in the early 80s. I think we were able to come up with the money for the paint. Although, I did not charge for therapy, some people paid me. These two people, one man and one woman [not a couple] were both experienced painters. We did not have running water or electricity, yet they were able to power wash the house with a gasoline powered pump. I had to pump water by hand, and pour it into the tub, that the gasoline driven pump drew from.

They painted the house beige, with two trim colors, ivory and red. They were very meticulous and did a marvelous job. The house was beautiful and they did it for love.

I don't know if I realized, at the time, the amazing contribution these folks made to our lives. They transformed a shabby, old farmhouse into a thing of beauty. And for no money!

In those days we had lived through the Sixties and there was a promise of a new way of life emerging on the Earth. Many people were uplifted and there was great spiritual renewal. I thought we were on the edge of a great change. People knew, that all they had to do was love each other, to bring peace and prosperity on Earth.

Then the Eighties came.

I was stunned, that the consciousness of the people, seemed to turn around and go back into uber-materialism. Actually, I don't know that any individual mind changed. The superficiality of the culture shifted back into deep craziness and folks who were other minded [valued love, peace and joy and living with the Earth] were submerged.

Those, who began to awaken, in the Sixties and Seventies, haven't forgotten and many, many have began to awaken since. Love cannot fail! We will step out into the Light.

Love and Peace, Gregg