Saturday, June 24, 2017
VIEWPOINTS
East Oregonian
Page 5A
Look for the beauty in the mess
T
We don’t all have cattle
he light bounced its way
trucks that need cleaned out or
around the trailer as the
even high pressured hoses to get
water splashed against
the job done, but I think it’s safe
the aluminum. Small rainbows
to say that we do all have our
and spectrums of color and light
own messes that need cleaning
flickered through the drops of
up. We’re exhausted by the
moisture all around me. It was
season we’ve found ourselves
hot and I was covered in smelly,
in, we’re scared of change, and
sticky crap as I watched the
we don’t always know how to
fading light play games with the
fit in.
water.
We have secrets and
Hosing out the cattle truck
problems and things that
which had just returned from a
embarrass us. We’re human,
long, hot day of hauling pairs to
which means we have a life
the mountains has never been a
Photo by Lindsay Murdock
that’s real and true, and yet,
favorite chore of anyone in our
most of the time, it’s something
family. And somehow, on the eve Cleaning out a cattle truck can offer its own kind of beauty.
we don’t let others fully see until
of summer, I was the lucky one
the mess is completely gone. We want them
to draw the short stick.
I was soaking wet, splattered and
to be impressed with the truck that’s done all
The high pressure hose pushed the waste
strangely happy about it. Hosing out cattle
the traveling, not the crap that’s accumulated
out the rear of the trailer as I maneuvered the trucks isn’t something everyone gets to
nozzle back and forth from one end to the
experience. In fact, I’m sure that most people along the way.
As I climbed out the back of the trailer,
other — pulling the heavy hose behind me.
are thankful they don’t have to. And, in all
I stopped for once last glance. It wasn’t
It was a dirty job, but in some marvelous sort honesty, I don’t know if many people these
sparkling, but it sure was pretty. The light
of way it was beautiful just the same.
days truly appreciate what that sort of work
flickered as the sun started to set and I
Light bounced, water washed away the
can do for the soul. Often they pay someone
sighed. The mess that had been carried for
stench, and it was transforming in every sort
else to do it for them.
of way. It was keeping me from housework
Whether the mess is a garage that is piled miles was washed away. The stench was
gone.
and folding laundry, and even fixing dinner
high, or a carpet that’s stained, or a car that
And although my arms ached from
at a decent time.
needs detailed, most of the time to do the job
holding the high pressure hose as tightly
It was slow and steady, and everything
well you have to be willing to slow down
as I could while guiding the water in the
I hadn’t allowed myself to experience in
and sort through the stuff that’s been piling
right directions, I was completely at peace.
months. It was me — chasing light with
all around you as you’ve traveled through
At peace knowing that the cattle trucks in
water and allowing myself to rest in the
your days, weeks and months.
my life are just as prone to comparison,
midst of it all — with no comparison, no
You have to draw the short stick and
competition, and no desire for approval. I
make a choice to look for the beautiful inside competition, and exhaustion as I am, but
climbed from one deck to another, washing
the mess — and not just look for it, but truly with a whole bunch of water, a sacrificial
attitude, and a willingness to work at the
away the filth, stomping ever so softly as
see it. You have to want to chase light with
mess inside, their life can be marked not just
I made my way through the puddles left
whatever is in front of you and uncover the
by their beauty or flashy, sparkling exterior,
behind.
gifts that have been there all along.
Learn from, welcome the Rainbow
By REV. DAVID SEACORD
For EO Media Group
G
rant County has evolved
significantly from the time
of my arrival in 1967 as an
18-year-old local pastor’s son. Since
that time, it has been increasingly
impossible to remain isolated in
a world where we are all now
interconnected with instant worldwide
feedback.
While the county obviously
remains dominantly conservative
in a political sense, socially and
economically it has become broadly
established here that a toleration of
differences is a better way to get along,
and also that it makes more money
for everyone. We can all observe
the positive economic benefit to our
communities from the current steady
summer-long flow of pedal-powered
and motorized two wheeled tourists, as
well as RV-based visitors.
And by word of mouth I
understand that the piggy-banks of
the county are already fat and swollen
with the deposits of our future August
21 eclipse visitors. Some of these
transient visitors may talk, look, and
dress strange, but they are still viewed
positively, and that toleration is well
and good.
Now the natural beauty of our land
has attracted another large influx of
temporary visitors, but the reaction to
this news, that Grant County shall be
hosting The 2017 National Rainbow
Gathering, is cautious. Unfortunately,
government and media are in part
culpable parties in creating this view,
for the historical propaganda spin over
the years has been one emphasizing
the problematic conundrums of
dealing with the less responsible
elements attracted to this annual event.
However, wisdom has always
taught that there is no such thing as
a problem without a blessing being
contained within it. Therefore, as I
have considerable positive personal
experience with it, please allow me
to share with you how The Rainbow
Gathering is such a blessing…both
for the attendees, and the hosting
communities.
In my own experience and
speaking only for myself based upon
attending about 10 Gatherings over
the years, the Rainbow Gathering is a
highly idealistic social experiment. At
it’s best it’s a portal to an exalted state
of large-group selfless cooperation
rarely experienced within even the
best institutions of mainstream society.
First called into being as a week-long
Colorado Rocky Mountain-sited
gathering of 30,000 people to pray
for world peace in 1972, in this 45th
gathering it continues the ethics and
traditions that I witnessed created at
that first gathering.
The gathering is a truly awesome
and joyous celebration. Day and
night, there is so much homegrown
acoustic music, singing, drumming,
so much camaraderie, so much
open-heartedness
among the thousands
of beautiful people
everywhere that it is
hard to believe you
are not in a kind of
heaven, especially
since the gathering
site is always held in
a natural and beautiful
national forest
environment.
And, on the dawn
of the Fourth of July,
hours of prayerful
silence and then
thousands upon
thousands of souls
circling in mass as one people together
to pray — each in our own ways —
for the Peace of Love to enter this
war-torn world, and for the survival of
the at-risk future of the human race.
So… as a temporary but annually
recurring utopian social experiment,
the Rainbow Gathering has much
to offer to all people, including to
the witnessing and economically
benefiting communities nearby it, in
terms of demonstrating the inherent
best possibilities of a fully open-
hearted human life. And for the ripe
and mature soul desiring to contribute
back, The Rainbow Gathering
contains within itself a highly
concentrated volunteer community
service curriculum of personal
spiritual development: the opportunity
to wake up, grow up, clean up, show
up, and walk the talk.
Yet despite the high intentions and
motivations, there are also notable
failures, and this is where I believe
the negative conversations about the
Gatherings come from. The Gathering
attracts more than it fair share of
unconscious and unscrupulous and
con-artist type people. Since (just like
in any local church) it is free and open
to all, there is no filter that prevents
this, and scammers are known to be
attracted to easy pickings.
Further, much of the negative
conversation about the Gathering
stems from reactions to the true reports
of the widespread drug usage there.
There is no denying that consciousness
altering (or, in law enforcement
language — impairing) substances
are widely available, and that many
people at the Gathering do use them,
some in much more irresponsible and
self damaging ways than others.
In summation, as within the world
of ocean surfboarding, there are real
surfers out in the waves, and there
are posers looking
good but staying
on the beach. It’s
the same within the
Rainbow Family.
Some can walk the
love everybody
talk, some are very
much unhealed and
wounded, and can
only lip sync it. The
deep spiritual beauty
of the Gathering is
that many who arrive
wounded receive great
greatly needed love,
and therefore healing,
and then are able to
begin practicing how to walk the talk.
Therefore, let us welcome this
Rainbow Gathering, recognizing that
as we all love both freedom and its
spirit, The Gathering’s true intention
reverberates within each of us also.
Although the form may be different
and unfamiliar to us, and there may
be some issues to be addressed, the
Gathering has chosen to be here for
the same reason we have: love of this
beautiful land.
It is not here to destroy, but rather
to respect the land and have prayerful
communion with it and each other, as
brothers and sisters and as children of
the one maker.
As any local pastor would certainly
do, inviting anyone interested to attend
their congregation’s worship services,
I also invite you to consider attending
or at least visiting this Gathering — to
share yourself with others there,
perhaps even discovering newly
who you are as a result, and then to
bring that personal renewedness back
with you to share with us. This is
the unexpected blessing and benefit
fortuitously available you as a member
of a nearby community.
■
David Seacord is a reverend and
painter who lives in Prairie City. This
column was edited from its initial
submission to our sister paper, the
Blue Mountain Eagle in John Day.
At its best
the Rainbow
Gathering is
a portal to
an exalted
state of large-
group selfless
cooperation.
L indsay M urdock
FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN
but by their ability to get a job done even on
the hardest and hottest of days.
Thanks, God, for a life that is present
and connected and grounded deeply in your
love, even in the midst of the crap. Most of
the days of my life have been spent chasing
light and counting gifts. And thankfully, my
evening in the cattle truck was no different.
■
Lindsay Murdock lives in Echo and
teaches in the Hermiston School District.
Sting of sporting losses
lessen over time
By RON LINN
For the East Oregonian
M
y family was at Cheney, Washington over
the Memorial Day Weekend in 2008 for the
Washington State track and Field competition. I
had a granddaughter participating in her last high school
track meet.
I was sitting in the stands watching the award
presentations when I noticed a beautiful young girl, in track
warmups, with her school name and mascot displayed.
She was walking up the steps right next to where I was
seated. A beautifully built young woman with brown hair
braided up tight to her head and wrapped around. She was
a few steps below me and approaching my eye level. She
was looking up the steps at someone not yet in my field of
vision. She stopped and stood there looking up.
I glanced at her again and saw her chin get all puckered
up as her face dissolve into tears. She stood there,
unmoving, with her hands open and slightly extended
upwards and outwards. Her body wracked with silent sobs.
Whomever she was waiting for was not yet where I could
see them.
I watched her face and body language; such a beautiful
young athlete in complete meltdown.
The object of her attention came into my view and it was
a copy of her, only 50 years older. It was her grandmother,
I think. They silently locked into an embrace and both were
in high states of emotion. The young lady’s hands gestured,
with open palms, behind grandmother, as if searching for an
answer. I knew the question, but I have not the answer either.
This was the end of her high school track career. Maybe
she looked at the back of a jersey, from another school, for
laps around the track, and couldn’t do anything about it. To
be that close and not be able to do a pass. Maybe everything
in four years came to that moment and she couldn’t do it.
This day will live with her forever.
Time will change her perspective. Other experiences,
both winning and losing, will give her another view. But
right now she is in meltdown in her grandmother’s embrace,
with not a word spoken. She has tried so hard and now —
win, lose or draw — it is over.
The whole scene blurred to my eyes and I had to look
away. They stood there in the walkway for quite some time.
People flowed around them up and down the steps. One man
looked at them with irritation but most understood what
was happening there. Lost in my reverie I had to look for
shapes in the clouds overhead, so as not to be too obvious.
One generation met with another, each traveling different
ways, and stopped right in front of me. Grandmother and
granddaughter, years apart yet close together, this is what
and why we are.
I recall being that age, when my world was simpler than
now. I know now it was simpler, but then, I lived with what
I knew. If I could have gotten an escape and a takedown,
it would have been different for me, but it was not to be.
I watched that jersey for the allotted time and came up
unable.
Young lady! Play your music the best you can. We won’t
expect you to be perfect. We want you to be part of the
village that makes this world work. Remember this day,
remember this embrace and from it become stronger.
■
Ron Linn lives in Stanfield.