Newly Efficacious

The onion is the allegorical example best applied. As layers are peeled back, the core is better revealed, better realized. It may take some tears, it will definitely take determination, and what you find on the inside probably won’t look much at all like what you started with on the outside.

As I used to wander through life, it was easy to carry a chip on my shoulder, my heart on my sleeve and a monkey on my back. My mind was open to any possibility, however, at the time, I only put myself in places where not very much could’ve been possible. I was like a photographer using a wide-angle lens to capture a very narrow pocket of space, like the intersecting vertices of two walls meeting the ceiling. I had my head buried in the sand, so to speak, and I was nosing my way deeper and deeper into oblivion.

The day I met the Colorado River, a whole new world of possibilities began to show itself to me. The water, the current, the silt, the blue sky, the never-ending sun, the red rock, the yucca, the whiptail, the turkey vulture and the golden eagle…the list is endless. Torrential adrenaline rushes in whitewater and serene scenery in calm water opened my mind like no batch of acid ever could have. I saw nature for everything it was worth. As each day on the river went by, I knew less and less what this world, this life and my place in it was all about. What was most important, was that I was beginning to feel alive. When you spend any length of time under water wondering if you’re going to be able to come back out, it’s like a rebirth. The river takes you under and coddles you. It shows you that the world around you as a whole is exponentially greater than the sum of all your parts. A niche was found…my niche. This writer of experiences realized that the world is out there to be explored, for every element of wonder there is. This is God’s world and we’re living in it! This adventure is our homage to His creation. This life is His homage to our integrity. The river rolls on down to take-out beyond take-out. Every run, a rebirth. Every breath, another reason to live. This is where we prove our integrity.

On This Big Round Rock

I can’t count the number of times I’ve closed my eyes and aimed my face at the sun, but I can remember what it feels like to have that warm light radiating down on me. The tighter I close my eyes the wider my smile gets. I’m 30 years old and I still get happy every time I see the sun shining.

In the depths of depression, it’s impossible to walk outside and even see the sun, let alone feel its warmth. There sets a glaze over the eyes of the depressed soul. The existence of love within, the fullness of spirit, the magic of life that causes wonder – all of this becomes lost. The deception is that it is right there around us all the time, we just lose track of it, we become wrapped up in the distractions of the world. As we gain one thing that we desired, we decide that it doesn’t make us happy enough, so we look for something else to make us happy. This half-life of happiness, that worldly objects barely afford us, is what causes the gradual decay of our ability to love life.

I used to tell a girl, “Living life loving you makes loving life easy to do.” The problem was that if that person ever went away (which she did), loving life would, by default, become harder to do. I now assert that living life loving, makes loving life easy to do.

To find solace in the mundane things, by remembering all that we have and have achieved, is the answer to overcoming the foolish ruses of the deceiver. The world is God’s creation but it can certainly be the devil’s playground if we allow it. Stripping down and letting go of the chains of remorse, wanton desire and greed, will help us to ford that mucky river and find that shallow, narrow path once again!

No matter your geographic location, you can always close your eyes and be in the same place every time. Within your mind, heart and soul is where the love is that you keep for your loved ones. Your family and friends are all there collectively. We can all look up together, at the night sky, and see the same sky. We’re all on this rock together!

Is This Road Long Enough for the Trip I’m On?

Equilibrium is a myth in a world like this, at least in the case where the human mind is concerned. Never will your world come to a complete balance. If this standstill were achievable would any of us want it anyway? How boring would it be to simply have things exactly the way you want? Most of us have already had fleeting moments in our lives where we’ve experienced just this. It’s that moment your travelling in your car, the streetlights racing past, the night sky a faint blur, that perfect song playing on the stereo, your hand in your lover’s, and you think to yourself, “If I died right now, it would be alright…”

This moment of serendipity fades quickly as you think of all that would be lost if you were to die off then and there…so much life to be lived, only a small percentage of it the exact way you want it to be. Choices lead to change and change leads to more choices. Cloudy skies lead to rain, rain helps the flowers grow, flowers lead to loves gained, and without flowers maybe the sun would shine that much less. The sun always shines, even behind a cloudy sky. Today, tomorrow, next year may not go our way, but eventually, God will give us our day!

Requiem For a Joyful Journey

What a joy it is, this wonderful place! To get away alone for a day, only a faint trace of the human race. To live in Utah, in this mountainous wonderland…I hear the sounds of a distant stream, the subtle crackles from firewood, the flicker of light in the distance…

Sitting in the back of the Cherokee, writing down simple thoughts, thanking God for who I am, and forgetting about what I am not. The bright future lies ahead, and I remember the river…flowing as it did and I followed it. She cleansed my life, once in shambles–yet now there is a glimmer, a reflection of light on the other end of a long tunnel…

Gringo Guacamole

This my own personal guacamole recipe. I am an avid fan of avocado, it is definitely on my list of favorite fruits, right up there with olives.

The interesting thing about this recipe is the lack of measurements…I only give you ingredients, it’s up to you to decide how much of each element you include. I especially do not like cilantro, so you will not find it on my list of ingredients. You may ask, “How can you make guacamole without cilantro?” Just like this:

Ripe Avocado, fresh minced garlic and/or garlic powder (not garlic salt, have you ever put too much garlic salt in something? it’s disgusting!), salsa (the chunkier the better), cumin powder, turmeric, salt and pepper. Lime juice, jalapenos, and cucumber (optional).

I start by cutting the avocados in half, the easiest way to get the pit out is by jamming a sharp knife into the pit and pulling. Do not cut yourself, this is especially a possible outcome if you use a dull knife. BE CAREFUL! Use a large spoon to separate the fruit from its shell. Put the fruit directly into the bowl you are mixing your guacamole in.

The next step involves mashing the avocado. I like to leave mine a little chunky. You then mix in the salsa, the purpose of the salsa is for texture and flavor. Use a chunky salsa for better texture. If you’d like to add a spicier kick, you can finely dice canned or bottled jalapenos, and add those to the mix. If you really like heat, use fresh jalapenos.

If you like garlic the way I like garlic, use fresh minced garlic. You can also opt for garlic powder just in case you think you haven’t used enough fresh garlic.  In Mexican cooking, we call garlic ajo. A good strategy with this dish (it’s not a condiment, you can eat it by itself) is to constantly taste it as you go. It’s easier to not put something in, than it is to take something out of guacamole.

Finally, add cumin, turmeric, salt, pepper, and whatever else you may like to try. Do this according to your personal tastes. You can also try adding diced cucumber for extra texture and a fresher taste! Consider adding lime juice, this will complement the flavor and also prevent browning of your “guac” at room temperature.

This stuff is great on its own or with anything Latino or Southwest. You can eat it by yourself or serve it at dinner parties. Enjoy!