Pic of the Day

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Moment of Zen: Country Boys

Pic of the Day

TGI Friday

I’m glad it’s Friday. It hasn’t been a bad week, though somewhat busy. However, I’ve had a migraine for the past few days. I ended up going home from work early Wednesday and Thursday. I’m working from home today and plan to take it easy. Luckily, there isn’t a lot of must do things today because I still have a migraine.

Yesterday, I went to the ENT to have him evaluate my hearing. The whole visit took less than five minutes. He introduced himself, looked in both ears, declared that there was no damage that could be fixed with surgery, and then said that the hearing loss was due to nerve damage and only hearing aids would help. So, now I’ll be returning to the audiologist to be fitted for hearing aids.

Hopefully, my migraine will improve and I can enjoy this weekend. I’m planning to go with a friend of mine to the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival. We’ve gone to a few arts festivals together and always have a good time. With this one being in Stowe, one of the most expensive places in Vermont, I doubt there will be anything I can afford, but it will be fun to browse through the booths.

I realized last night that I did not post an Isabella pic of the week, so here you go. This is about the closest she ever comes to cuddling, though she most often lays on my hip if I’m on my side. Sometimes, if I’m on my back, she’ll lay down stretched out from my belly to my chest. Mostly, she just prefers to be near me, not on me.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Pic of the Day

Migraine

I went home from work early yesterday with a migraine. It was one of those migraines that came and went all day long. Most likely, it was caused by changes in the weather. It was supposed to be a sunny day, but it rained on me while I was driving home. It continued to rain off and on for the rest of the day. Some places around me are also having snow flurries this morning. In other words, the weather is a mess right now and causing havoc for my migraines.

I’d probably stay home today, but I have a tour to give first thing this morning, and I have an appointment with an otolaryngologist (ENT or ear, nose, and throat doctor) later this morning. I had gone to an audiologist for my tinnitus, which is particularly bad when I have a migraine, and my insurance requires that I also see an ENT before the audiologist can move further with any type of treatment.

I’m not sure how the rest of my day will go. It will probably depend on how the migraine I still have is after I have my doctor’s appointment.

Pic of the Day

Chilly

The chilly weather of fall has arrived in Vermont. Yesterday, I woke up to 35 degrees with a high of only 55. Today is not any better because while our low temperature is 39, our high will only be 53. At least we are expecting some sun today. It’s beautiful outside with the fall leaves changing color, but the warmth of summer is over. Soon, the temperatures will drop below freezing, we’ll have snow before we know it. I’m not complaining. I like the cool crisp air of autumn. I just hate having to remove the air conditioner and put it back in storage, but that will only take a few minutes this weekend. 

Pic of the Day

Autumn

Autumn

By Siegfried Sassoon

 

October's bellowing anger breaks and cleaves

The bronzed battalions of the stricken wood

In whose lament I hear a voice that grieves

For battle's fruitless harvest, and the feud

Of outraged men. Their lives are like the leaves

Scattered in flocks of ruin, tossed and blown

Along the westering furnace flaring red.

O martyred youth and manhood overthrown,

The burden of your wrongs is on my head.

 

 

About this Poem

 

“Autumn” by Siegfried Sassoon is a poem that captures the melancholy and reflective mood associated with the season of autumn, using vivid imagery and a sense of quiet contemplation. The poem is notable for its emotional depth, drawing on themes of transience, decay, and the passage of time.

 

Autumn is often seen as a metaphor for the later stages of life, and Sassoon’s poem reflects this. The season is traditionally associated with the death of nature as leaves fall, and the world grows colder and darker, symbolizing the inevitable end of life. Sassoon’s use of autumn as a symbol of mortality aligns with the natural cycle of life and death, where the beauty of nature slowly fades away.

 

Sassoon employs strong visual imagery to depict the autumnal landscape. He paints a picture of nature in a state of decline, using the colors and sensations of autumn to evoke a sense of fading beauty. The poem often contrasts the richness of autumn’s colors with the knowledge that these colors will soon disappear, enhancing the reader’s awareness of impermanence.

 

There’s a deep sense of melancholy running through the poem, as it reflects on the inevitability of decline and loss. Autumn’s beauty is tinged with sadness, as the poem emphasizes the fleeting nature of life’s joys. Sassoon’s reflective tone may invite readers to contemplate their own mortality and the passage of time.

 

Sassoon’s language is simple yet evocative, creating a direct emotional connection with the reader. His use of personification and metaphors, such as autumn being portrayed as a time when “the ghost of summer comes” or “the wind moans,” enhances the poem’s emotional impact. The poem is concise but heavy with meaning, a hallmark of Sassoon’s style.

 

Though “Autumn” isn’t explicitly about war, it’s worth considering that Sassoon is best known as a war poet, and much of his poetry is informed by his experiences in World War I. The themes of loss, decay, and the passage of time in “Autumn” may also subtly reflect the trauma and destruction Sassoon witnessed during the war. The sense of inevitability in the poem may mirror the sense of loss and grief associated with the war.

 

Siegfried Sassoon’s “Autumn” is a poignant meditation on the season as a metaphor for life’s inevitable decline. The poem’s imagery, mood, and themes of mortality evoke a bittersweet sense of beauty, where nature’s splendor is tempered by the awareness of its impermanence. This aligns with Sassoon’s broader body of work, which often grapples with profound emotional and existential themes.

 

 

About the Poet

 

Siegfried Sassoon (1886–1967) was a British poet, writer, and soldier, best known for his poetry that vividly depicts the horrors of World War I. His work made him one of the leading war poets of the time. Here is an overview of his life and contributions:

 

Sassoon was born into a wealthy, well-educated Jewish family in Kent, England. He was educated at Marlborough College and briefly attended Cambridge University, though he left without earning a degree. Before the war, Sassoon led a relatively quiet life, pursuing literature and fox-hunting.

 

In 1915, during World War I, Sassoon enlisted in the British Army. Initially, he was a patriotic soldier, eager to fight for his country. However, his experiences on the front lines in France, particularly in the trenches, profoundly changed his views. He became disillusioned with the war and its leadership, and this shift is reflected in his poetry.

 

Sassoon was renowned for his bravery, earning the nickname “Mad Jack” for his near-suicidal acts of valor on the battlefield. He was awarded the Military Cross for his courage, but his feelings about the war grew increasingly bitter over time.

 

In 1917, Sassoon publicly protested the continuation of the war. He wrote a letter titled “A Soldier’s Declaration,” which was read in the British House of Commons. In it, he condemned the war as unnecessary slaughter and criticized the government for prolonging it.

 

Instead of being court-martialed, Sassoon was declared mentally unfit for duty and sent to a military hospital, Craiglockhart, where he met fellow war poet Wilfred Owen, who became a close friend. Sassoon played a significant role in encouraging Owen to express his experiences of the war through poetry.

 

Sassoon’s war poems are among his most famous works. They are characterized by their stark, unsentimental descriptions of life in the trenches and their anger at the futility and brutality of war. His poetry often satirized the patriotic sentiment of the time, critiquing both the military leadership and the public’s romanticized view of war.

 

After the war, Sassoon continued writing, though he shifted his focus from war poetry to memoirs and other literary works. His most notable post-war work is his semi-autobiographical trilogy, The Memoirs of George Sherston, which detailed his experiences before, during, and after the war.

 

Sassoon also wrote novels, essays, and poetry on a variety of topics. In his later years, he converted to Catholicism and wrote religious poetry as well.

 

Siegfried Sassoon is remembered as one of the greatest war poets, capturing the horror and disillusionment of soldiers in World War I. His poetry had a significant impact on the way future generations viewed war, stripping away the romanticized notions of heroism and instead presenting the grim realities of conflict. His influence can still be seen in war literature and anti-war movements today. He died in 1967 at the age of 80, leaving behind a profound literary legacy.

Pic of the Day

Nine Years

Nine years ago today, I started a new life when I moved to Vermont. I had been a teacher my entire professional career, and I was switching gears to enter the museum field. I’ve never regretted taking a job in Vermont or my career transition to museums. My position has changed at my museum, and I had no idea nine years ago that my career would evolve to be my perfect job. Sometimes people look back on major life decisions and do something differently, but I have no regrets, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Since moving to Vermont, I have become more confident in my sexuality. My job has also allowed me to be more comfortable in my own skin. Nine years ago, my life changed for the better!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

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Trust in the Lord

“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

- Proverbs 29:25

 

Being LGBTQ+ means that we are often are at the mercy of people’s hate, ignorance, and prejudices. We are often excluded from the worship of God in many mainstream and evangelical denominations. However, as LGBTQ+ Christians, we can still find comfort in God because although we may be hated by some people, we will always be loved by God. Matthew 5:11-12 says, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” These verses come at the end of the Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus prepared us and warned us to expect persecution and hardship as a result of our commitment to Him. Being insulted, falsely accused, or persecuted for living out faith in Christ is a sign of being aligned with God’s will. This suffering is not because of personal faults but specifically “because of me”—because of Jesus and the truth of His teachings.

 

Instead of being discouraged or disheartened by persecution because of being LGBTQ+, Jesus calls us to “rejoice and be glad.” This is a radical call to joy, even in suffering, because Christ is there to comfort our suffering for our beliefs in Him and how we were created by God to love someone of the same gender or fell as if we were born with the wrong sexual organs. By remembering that in times of trouble we can turn to Christ for guidance. Jesus promises a great reward in heaven for those who endure persecution for His sake. The reward is not necessarily in this life, but in the life to come. This promise encourages believers to keep an eternal perspective, valuing spiritual treasures over earthly comforts. 

 

Jesus pointed out in Matthew 5:12 that mankind’s pattern of persecution is not new. The prophets of the Old Testament, who were faithful to God’s word, also faced opposition and persecution. By suffering for righteousness, believers are in good company, standing in the legacy of God’s faithful messengers. Proverbs 29:25 tells us, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” We cannot allow the hatred of others to drive us away from God.  When people are overly concerned about the opinions, approval, or threats of others, it can trap them, much like a snare catches an animal. This fear can lead to compromised decisions, anxiety, or a lack of true freedom because one’s actions are driven by human approval or fear of rejection. However, if we place our confidence in God, trust His guidance and provision, we will find security in His love. God’s protection and peace are reliable, freeing people from the pressure of trying to meet others’ expectations or fearing their judgment.

 

God desires that all believers grow in a love that is guided by knowledge and insight, leading to wise choices and lives that are pure and blameless, preparing them for Christ’s return. He emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity and discernment in Christian living. In Philippians 1:9-10 Paul says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,” Here, Paul is praying for the believers in Philippi, expressing a desire for their spiritual growth. The same message should be received by LGBTQ+ Christians. Paul prays that the Philippians’ love would “abound more and more.” This love is not just an emotional feeling but is tied to action, decision-making, and behavior. Paul is asking for an increase in their love for God, for one another, and for others in general. However, this love is not blind or superficial.

 

The kind of love Paul desires is one that is coupled with “knowledge and depth of insight.” This suggests that love should be informed by a deep understanding of God’s truth and a growing wisdom that comes from spiritual discernment. It points to love that is thoughtful, grounded in truth, and applied wisely to life’s situations. If we hide our love of someone of the same sex, we are hiding God’s intentions for our love. Paul prayed that our growing love, informed by knowledge and insight, would help believers “discern what is best.” In other words, we should develop the ability to make wise choices—choosing what is excellent, not just what is good. This is about living with wisdom and prioritizing the things that align with God’s will. The goal of this growing, discerning love is that the as believers we might be “pure and blameless for the day of Christ,” referring to the time when Jesus returns. Paul’s prayer is that their lives would be marked by integrity and righteousness, reflecting Christ’s character, so that when they stand before Him, they would be found pure in heart and without blame. 

 

If we are spiritually mature, then those who hate and persecute us for being LGBTQ+ do not prevent us from loving God and allow Christ’s values to lead our lives. If we put our trust in God, and not in what people might think or do, because human fears can entangle and trap, God offers true safety and freedom.