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Today I'm going to venture into the personal domain with a somewhat humerous story. It looks like I'm going to have my national T.V. début here in a few weeks, not as an expert in tourism, or scholar or a Ph.D., but as a bus driver. Hehehe. Due to the slowness of some projects for Solomon Source I've had to take a job with my old "stand-by" - working for a bus company. Now this time, instead of driving the bus (which I've done since 1984) I've been mostly working in the office. However, I told the company if they needed me to drive, I would. Last week the makers of "Friday Night Lights" came by to look at our buses, which I showed them. A couple of days later they called about getting the buses. I actually clean up pretty good so the company asked me if I wanted to drive for them. I said "sure".The scenes are about as the team makes its way to State. And I'm the bus driver. Its been interesting and fun. And it lends to humility. Humility is always a good place to return to. For me it lends to a sense of gratitude, which is also a good place to be.Actually, I have found myself repeatly coming back to buses over about 25 years. I have "sworn" off driving numerous times, but something about the experience and my life situation has pulled me back for one reason or another. I drove all through my Ph.D. studies to supplement my income, and even drove a few times while I was teaching at Texas A&M.In an interesting way much of my life experience and perspectives have been influenced by my experiences working with this industry. I think it's the same that people say about their experiences waiting tables. Those jobs that customers often take for granted allows the "Server" a plethora of experience that end up shaping their lives.Driving for people has had a significant affect on my view of the world. I have always been inclined to "do stuff" and driving the bus has allowed me the opportunity to see many places and meet thousands of people and have a vast array of experiences, especially educational and "experiential". In fact just the other day I picked up an elementary school group at Camp Champions near Marble Falls, Texas and was amazed with the impact these teachers are having on their students lives. I am doing a little more research and will soon do a longer blog on their awesome work. In my opinion, this is where "the rubber meets the road" - teachers touching kids lives, creating experiences that allow the kids a chance to see the world in a new way. It was Steve Simpson who really started this for me at Iowa State in the 80's. He lit a fire in my heart and I'm still on the path today.Well anyway, look for more "down to earth" blogs in the near future. My more recent experiences (having to take a job I don't really want to, just to get by) of the mundane and survival brings me to another level of experience. It makes me ask the question "what are we doing to touch people's lives". How is the "theory" brought to a place where we actually are making a difference. Look for random thoughts along these lines in the next few weeks - or not.But, I'll be sure to post when my national acting début happens. Likely within the next few weeks. Maybe Hollywood is waiting for me??? . . . or maybe not!!All the best,Andy
Dear Friends,
There is a vision for IAmSharing - it's a vision of Love and the One. To that end, we must bring people out of the confusion of thoughts, beliefs, fears, and dramas and traumas of the world. There is "Only Love" as John Prine sings in the beautiful song with the same title. The process is one of "Building Bridges".
I have several important projects that need to be brought to the world, including the I Am Sharing collaborative network.
What we need now, in our humble beginnings, is some seed capital. I have a wonderful network of people, who have their own networks, who are doing fantastic things, and building the tools and resources we need to bring all this to fruition, but some financial resources are necessary. The beauty of these endeavors is the fact that I know every one of the projects/technologies/endeavors that I am listing below will convert into incredibly successful and profitable ventures - as long as we keep ourselves focused on the ultimate goal - LOVE.
Here are some of the current projects underway that are developing even without financial support. Some financial support would project these to new dimensions
- IAmSharing - inspired from my PhD dissertation - Nature Tourism in Cyberspace: An examination of its Geography and Character in the Network
- Wireless Internet and Travel Information - now in 11 U.S. States - in collaboration with Zoom Information Systems
- Hyperspectral Sensor - this one is worth BILLIONS of $ - to learn more read this blog
- SolomonSource regional development strategies (See the document at the bottom of the page).
- Breathing Endeavors - per the powerful BEING - Desmond Green - www.themoodschannel.com
- World Reverence for Life University - of BreathFusion, Cultural Fusion and others
- Cultural Fusion - from Source Artist Yvette Dubel and "Attention Guru" Ronald Wopereis
SO IF YOU ARE RICH AND WANT TO GET RICHER, or if you know someone who wants to help a powerful group of people poised to "Change the World", please send them my way. These projects are going to happen, it is just a matter of time!
Finally, my "empowerment IAmSharing" for today has been brought to me through Desmond Green - it's about our breath.
Breath is the foundation of all life, consciousness and everything. I have been breathing now, as per Desmond for about 9 months. Everything has changed. It is so simple and powerful. Noticing my breath and taking deep conscious breaths, to fuel my mind, heart, body, soul has cleared my consciousness. I am in perfect health. It has also opened my Pineal gland, my direct, personal connection to God/Source/Om/IAm. WOW!!!!
If you want to change your life, try Conscious Deep Breathing - to learn more just visit Desmond Green's "The Moods Channel" and watch his Power Talks.
Finally, here is a quote from Eckhart Tolle about breathing:
"Someone recently showed me the prospectus of a large spiritual organization. When I looked through it, I was impressed by the wide choice of seminars and workshops. It reminded me of a smorgasbord, one of those Scandinavian buffets where you can take your pick from a huge variety of dishes. The person asked me whether I could recommend one or two courses. "I don't know" I said. "They all look so interesting". But I do know this," I added. "Be aware of your breathing as often as you are able, whenever you remember. Do that for one year, and it will be more powerfully transformative than attending all of these courses. And it's free." Eckert Tolle: A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose.
With Great Love,
Andy
Some details about the Mandala (Lotus Flower)
In my last blog I included the Mandala that I created from Dr. Ewing's white board drawing in November 2007. As I have contemplated the diagram and its larger metaphorical, and metaphysical meaning, it represents a nuclear reaction, or the birth of a cell, or any other natural growth system.
Some time ago while considering this image I wrote "when a critical mass of knowledge and energy is reached, the results can touch the world."
For most of my life one of my major criticisms of science is that it dissects the word. With the scientific method the world has been cut up into pieces by our scientific and human-oriented (separatist) perspective. Depicting the general categories of disciplines (environmental, social, cultural/historical, political, economics) in the five inner circles in the Mandala image will allow us to re-cognize the integral relationship of these pedagogical domains, providing a new context for re-aligning our educational systems. I recognized that we usually take things out of a comprehensive context while I was working on my Forestry degree in 1990. I was introduced to "systems thinking" at that time. While writing my Thesis I was assigned to conduct an economic analysis of an alley-cropping agroforestry system. Even at that time I couldn't leave well enough alone. I understood that for really understanding the potential of this innovative approach, we would have to look at the environmental, social and political context.
In adapting the Mandala to the World Reverence for Life University(www.worldreverenceforlifeuniversity.com) project, we are developing a core set of courses to address each of these areas, and yet we recognize that the lines drawn between these “disciplines” are only a functional, or organizational delineation. In fact, as stipulated in Systems Thinking, there is a desperate need to re-examine and recombine these perspectives into a comprehensive whole after study or examination.
The “petals of the flower” in the Mandala or Lotus depict the “outreach-service” delivery mechanism that I believe should be a part of all of our educational systems and endeavors. My emphasis on Outreach-Service (extension) has developed from the Land Grant University System that was so powerfully transformative in the United States. However, I agree with John Campbell’s critique of the limitations of the Land-grant system as it has matured, mainly that the “Outreach” has not been properly expanded and utilized. FYI my father was an agricultural Extension professor at Iowa State University for 28 years. I, inadvertantly, followed his footsteps and became and Extension professor at Texas A&M University.
The Mandala depicts a “nuclear reaction”, which is my vision to powerfully extend learning and research, to re-connect education to the world, which is depicted in the outer ring of the Diagram.
It is beyond the scope of this document to discuss all of the benefits of revitalizing the land-grant model while empowering it with information communication technologies (ICT), however, in brief, this approach will re-vitalize the educational experience for students. It will also help to connect education to the mainstream of society, delivering a multitude of benefits: essentially creating a recursive flow of ideas, information, people and business to a world that is clamoring for these outputs of our educational system. The outer ring of the Mandala Diagram shows the original vision of the Land-grant model which framed the educational system on three legs (Education, Research, Outreach). We add to the model the ultimate outputs of this inspired model – Learning, Development, and Service.
Look for Part Three of this blog soon. Sorry for the delay, I've started a new job, which has had a pretty steep learning curve.
All the Best! - Andy
This will be a three part blog because of its length - Part 1.
I started working actively on regional development in 1996, while working at Texas Parks and Wildlife on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Then in 1997 I was the original author for the Texas Heritage Trail Program for the Texas Historical Commission, where I really formulated the model that I am still refining to this day. Since that time, in one form or fashion, this idea of regional coordination has been a core theme of my work.
However, it wasn't until 2007, working with Dr. Richard Ewing the Vice President for Research at Texas A&M University that I was given the insight to create a metaphorical image that depicted the nature, or natural system that showed the character of my philosophical/theoretical approach. Without actually seeing the image previously, I realized that our efforts for empowering communities and places, and developing technologies and educational endeavors, mimics the nature of all that exists. It is represented in one of the most ancient symbols. The image is the Mandala (C.G. Jung) or Lotus Flower, or a more modern metaphor would be the nuclear reaction.
It is not my point to cite the history of these symbols. It is to recognize one of Dr. Ewing's final contributions before he left this world, and to associate this diagram as a grounding for our work for revitalizing economies and our educational systems. I will then provide a synopsis of the historical evolution of this model in my work and where it fits into the efforts of Solomon Source, to some of the projects that have been developing and are, apparently, going to be a central theme for our contributions to the world.
The importance of metaphor
Before I begin, I would like to make clear that my point is not to cite others ideas or writings about the importance of these ideas. I believe that often, especially in academia, other people's ideas are highly over-rated. Always, whenever a scholar proposes a new or novel concept they are required to provide a citation to someone's elses work. This to me is really "bass-ackwards" to the whole point of research and discovery. Aren't we supposed to be coming up with novel concepts, new thoughts, tapping into tranformative ideas? Or if not new ideas, new combinations or applications of old ideas.
Anyway, as I have matured in my life experiences, I have come to appreciate the power of the metaphor. Additionally, if a metaphor can be visually depicted in a picture, diagram or flow chart, I am even more gratified. I am not sure where this motivation comes from, but you will find riddled throughout Solomon Source conceptual models and diagrams galore. In fact, on practically any project that we work on, a new set of pictures and diagrams will be created to help visualize the flow, movement or relationships of the various parts.
I guess, having a background in geography, I have also learned that "visualization" and our sight, is one of our most powerful sensory capabilities. This idea is captured in the famous quote "A picture paints a thousand words". A metaphor on the other hand tells a story.
From the American Heritage Dictionary we learn the definition of "metaphor" to have two primary meanings:
1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in "a sea of troubles" or "All the world's a stage" (Shakespeare).
2. One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol: "Hollywood has always been an irresistible, prefabricated metaphor for the crass, the materialistic, the shallow, and the craven" (Neal Gabler).
For this discussion I am most interested in the second definition - symbology. In fact, as I have contemplated the import of the Mandala, I have realized in its full potential it points to things like the nature of the Universe, or life, or cellular existence. Carl Jung, was obsessed with the symbol and spent years trying to discover its deeper meanings, although I haven't been as dedicated in my pursuits.
My purpose is to adapt the image to my efforts and to help others learn the value in the simple, but powerful utilization of imagery. My introduction to the Mandala came through Dr. Ewing (although I do not think he was aware of the term, Mandala - we did not discuss it).
In November of 2007 we were working together to pursue a project to create an Institute in a middle-eastern country that is building a new university. He called together a team of some of the most esteemed mathematicians in the world to prepare a pre-proposal. As the process began, he did not create an outline, table, or cite a bunch of equations - he drew a picture of a flower (Lotus or Mandala).
I was a little baffled. Here was one of the most esteemed mathematicians and visionary computational scientists and administrators of one of the most powerful institutions in the world (Texas A&M University) drawing pictures of flowers. At this time, I was working very closely with Dr. Ewing and agreed to create a digital version of his picture he drew on the white board. I guess, during the hours of creating several images for the pre-proposal, I began to contemplate the image and its import. Why after a whole life dealing with vast projects, in countries throughout the globe, would he make this kind of an image? (By the way, Dr. Ewing has over 350 publications to his credit).
In my reflection, I believe he had a deeper need to share the fundamental character of the growth of organizations, endeavors and ideas. The need to focus on a "core" to establish a critical mass of energy (or influence) and then have the vision for that energy to explode in its potential to touch many lives. In some respects, I see that this symbol is possibly one of his last most important contributions to the world. Dr. Ewing passed on December 5, 2007.
And, I might suspect, that I am the only person that saw the import of the message. I realized, in some form or fashion, that this metaphor has been t
he symbol for all of my life's works. From the first regional development proposal for the Texas Heritage Trail in 1997 to my current efforts, I have been possessed with the idea of 1) creating a center (or institute), 2) developing the products and services to a critical mass and, then 3) use the Internet as the delivery vehicle (this is a very succinct overview of a much more involved process).
This is a good spot to pause in this series of three blogs - to the left find the current form that I am utilizing for our regional development efforts (from our Jamaica Reverence for Life University). The beauty of the Mandala is that it can be adapted to any project that one hopes to create.
I will be traveling in a couple of days, so it may take a bit of time to get the second post up. All the Best! - Andy
Dear readers,
Here is an excerpt from a proposal prepared for the Reverence for Life University initiative in Jamaica - the 4th "R" initiative.
As Wallace D. Wattles so clearly stated, in The Science of Getting Rich (1910),
“Those who do not quite fill their present places are dead weight upon society, government, commerce, and industry; they must be carried along by others at a great expense.” (Wattles 1910).
An analogy for an individual that then could extend to communities, nations and the world might be that if a person was to only take care of half of his body (if that could be done): to literally not feed it, bath it or take any efforts to assist it to be a healthy partner to the other half of his body. One can easily imagine how healthy or happy that person might be, dragging around a half dead body.
This may seem to be a ridiculous analogy because there is no way that a person could only sustain half his body. However, is the analogy that ridiculous? If we extend the analogy to the world only about ½ of the world’s population has access to clean water. That would seem to be the most basic human right, but one half of our “body” or “collective being” is not getting the most basic needs fulfilled. Now, if we take this hypothetical situation and extend it to any other “body” that exists in the human condition – a community, a nation, the world, wouldn’t the actions of leaving behind and not caring for a significant portion of the system denigrate the whole?
Throughout human history we can see that this has been the case. Take the civil war in the United States, what was the result of the two halves of the nation fighting – tremendous strife and suffering. An endless number of examples could be cited. And currently, if one looks from this perspective across the globe, one can easily observe this “ailing body” syndrome. Dis-ease (allegorically used) is rife, poverty and human blight are ubiquitous, and extremely denigrated environmental conditions exist in every corner of the globe.
The solution to this dilemma seems to evade us. Yet as one looks in another place, in the lives of some awakened people, there seems to be great harmony, peace, prosperity and abundance. Is the solution so elusive and difficult that only a few can utilize and implement it? No! And this truth is well established in literature and spiritual traditions that has come to us throughout the ages. The solution is clearly stated in Wattles’s book, to move from the
competitive to the creative, or to awaken.
Now the challenge appears to be to identify why “the masses” are not able to grasp or get access to the tools by which to improve their condition. We believe Wattles addresses this in his book somewhat indirectly. The word “Rich” appears to rankle people, or maybe more accurately causes fear. Wattles is specifically referring to money in his book, but is also addressing the idea of abundant living in the form of “improved lives”.
All the Best! - Andy
Here I am at 1:30 a.m., Sept. 10, in Colombia, South America paralyzed. Why? Because the Internet is down, I can't sleep, I want to tell the story about an amazing technology that I worked with last year at Texas A&M University that were adding to the Solomon Source "Toolbox" of Services. It's called a hyperspectral sensor. I was laying in bed thinking, is this what blogging does to a person? Laying there thinking about what I wanted to write, numerous other ideas flowing through my head. I've been a "blogger-holdout", but now I realize I've have too many ideas that I want to share, much I have already written - this is going to be fun!
Well anyway, what about this title "Paradox of Technology". I remember thinking many years ago, as I began to wear my "environmentalist" hat, that the mindless pursuit of technological advancement was the cause of many of our environmental dilemmas.
By the way, a little digression, I don't really call myself an environmentalist anymore, mainly because I don't think the tactics, or mindset contributes to solutions. I think it causes more "separation" and conflict, and the participants tend to have victim mind-set. I have learned through much self examination and observation that victims are really at the center of problems - "wherever I go, there I am". And the traditional environmentalist approach operates from an "us" versus "them" mentality. This will never solve the problems ultimately, but this is a topic for another blog.
So, one side of the paradox is the pursuit of technology and "advancement", (whatever advancement means), causing incredible problems. It is the "evil" driver of so many issues, to numerous to cite. The scope of these problems today are so vast that it boggles the mind. Scientists as they look at the complexity of just the weather, are discovering that mini micro-climates, down to potentially neighborhood sized areas are heavily influential into the making of our weather patterns. Or take any other scientific problem that we are confronted with. Everything that we pick apart with the scientific approach (a discussion for a future blog) becomes so complex and cumbersome that the human mind cannot manage the quantity of data, processes, or analysis.
This is the paradox. I would contend that computers are probably the pinnacle of technological advancement. And without them we cannot solve the problems we have created. The scales and quantities of information that needs to be processed for the various models of natural systems, can only be dealt with by a computer. So paradoxically, technology becomes our apparent worst enemy, because the pursuit of industrialization has been the cause of most of these problems, but it is also the solution to our problems.
So what about this hyperspectral sensor? In simple terms a hyperspectral sensor is a very large camera that can take a picture of all that we can and cannot see. Typically the device is flown in an airplane or satellite, and is aimed at the surface of the planet, at least in the applications we are interested in. The device captures reflected light - many bands of data across the light spectrum that can be used to understand the characteristics of the objects and substances captured in the image based on their spectral signature. The device I was working with at Texas A&M was built by Texaco in the mid-90's, called the Texaco Energy and Environmental Multi-spectral Spectrometer (TEEMS). The device captured about 250 bands (sections of light wavelenth) across the ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectrums. The bands are critical for seeing the various "substances" that you are looking for. The amazing thing is that these spectral signatures are like "finger prints" for everything. Every substance, including your hair, or my hair, or whatever, each has a unique spectral signature.
So what's the big deal? It's a huge deal! This device can help us see all kinds of phenomena that is invisible to the naked eye, pollutants floating on water, insect infestation in crop fields, fault lines showing up in avalanche prone areas, leachate seeps from landfills polluting a river, etc. etc. In fact, since we haven't even looked very much at what we can see with these devices (except for military applications), the potential is unlimited. The opportunities exist in the questions that we ask, and our willingness and capability to break the data down and analyze it. The more I looked at this device and its potential last year, the more astounded I became.
My imagination was even further fired after listening to the new Albert Einstein biography (by Isaacson). 18 CDs - the whole set as I drove from College Station, Texas to Santa Fe, New Mexico and back. I learned emphatically that Einstein's contribution to the world came from his study of light. And here I am looking at a device that tells us, who knows what, and it all is from light.
I began to imagine that the light was even intelligent. Trying to communicate with us. Or that it is like DNA, carrying whole new sets of knowledge, asking/inviting us to decipher the puzzle to help save us from our self imposed crises. Embedded in the light, is information waiting to be discovered that will tell us the core issues of our misguided ways. Then I concluded that "light is life" - we wouldn't be here if the sun wasn't producing it. To scientists who study this, or spiritually enlightened individuals, this is probably like "duh", so what else. But to me, it was a huge awakening, and epiphany.
Then amazingly enough a friend, whom I had confided in about my realization, showed me a book that sychronistically validated my thoughts - this quote has been just the first validation of many over the last year.
"He looked at his hands, he felt his body, and heard his own voice say "I am made of light; I am made of stars."
He looked at the stars again, and he realized that it's not the stars that create light, but rather light that creates the stars. "Everything is made of light" he said, " and the space in -between isn't empty." And he knew that everything that exists is one living being, and that light is the messenger of life, because it is alive and contains all information.
Then he realized that although he was made of stars, he was not of those stars. "I am in-between the stars," he thought. So he called the stars the tonal and light between the stars the nagual, and he knew that what created the harmony and space between the two is Life or Intent. Without Life, the tonal and the nagual could not exist. Life is the force of the absolute, the supreme, the Creator who creates everything.
This is what he discovered: Everything in existence is a manifestation of the one living being we call God. Everything is God. And he came to the conclusion that human perception is merely light perceiving light. He also saw that matter is a mirror that reflects light and creates images of that light--and the world of illusion, the Dream, is just like smoke which doesn't allow us to see what we really are. "The real us is pure love, pure light," he said.
The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz
Working with the TEEMS device, I had the great fortune to work with Robert Moss. Robert is our fearless leader when it comes to hyperspectral. He has worked with it for most of his life: builds the devices, writes the software, understands the science. I would suspect that Robert knows more about hyperspectral sensors that any other person in the world.
I called him as these thoughts haunted my mind last summer - I was ranting on the phone, going on and on. And then I said, "you know Robert, after hearing about Einstein's discoveries, I have realized with this hyperspectral sensor - it's like a 'New Science'". Robert's response was ... "Andy, you're preaching to the choir!"
So why hyperspectral sensors with Solomon Source? - well if you happened to read my last blog I told the story of the foundations of our endeavors - the environment - protecting Mother Nature. And now, we are going to add to the mix of our services, environmental assessments, prediction, etc. utilizing these exciting new technologies. I had worked to build teams and strategy at Texas A&M, and ran in to some challenges. Now we're going to do it in the private sector where we have no obstacles.
Well, I suppose this blog has gone on long enough. I can guarantee you'll hear more about hyperspectral, and paradoxes too. It has been my conclusion that behind every great, spiritual truth, that there will be a paradox.
BTW: If you are an expert in the application of hyperspectral in a certain discipline (mining, forestry, waste management, water, etc.), and you are looking for opportunities to collaborate, we would love to hear from you. Drop us an email at solomonsource@gmail.com
All the best! - Andy
Solomon Source as a consultancy developed from looking at issues behind environmental degradation that are usually driven by economics, and ignorance of the ultimate costs of environmental destruction. The solution has to do with educating people and providing opportunities for people to get exposure to the wonders of nature, and for them to experience nature in new ways - in the hopes of an awakening of the spirit. To this end the founder of Solomon Source has been on a personal mission to develop solutions that can be adapted and utilized in the current socio-economic paradigms.
Initially, our approach seems to focus on tourism. However, on closer examination, it is apparent that tourism is used as a vehicle for interaction, and a platform to establish opportunities for people to experience the out-of-doors. We used the term "Experiential Tourism" to describe this opportunity space, mainly because there has been so much fragmentation in the tourism industry, with new terms being constantly created (e.g. ecotourism, nature tourism, heritage, shopping, etc). Ultimately it all comes down to experience. Satiating people's curiosity and providing them with meaningful, memorable experiences.
We promote tourism development, within context, while at the same time empowering rural communities and their citizens to expand the economy, creatively and responsibly (especially agricultural). Tourism must be blended and be complimentary to the existing economy. At the same time, careful considerations are made for a holistic approach to protect the environmental, social and cultural characteristics of the communities and the region. We also focus on rural, but it is important to note that a critical relationship exists in what is called the "rural-urban nexus". In short, these two exist in absolute dependence. Rural places provide the food, water, natural resource management and respite from urban life, while the cities utilize the products of the rural places. We have said for some time that "everyone can't live in the city", nor would we want them to. However, if we don't support rural places through policy and through rural and agricultural innovation, we will have even more serious problems than we currently do.
So if you look at Solomon Source, it appears that we do many things. We do. But it is necessary to look at the bigger picture in order to blend these new opportunities into the environment and to advancing humanity. We build teams from our experts, but more importantly we emphasize empowering the local citizenry to be the "masters of their own destiny". Because, at some point in time, our team will go home and the community will need to carry on. So again, the solution is about education, and empowerment.
We are also very excited about how the Internet, and new emerging technologies can support these efforts. It is our opinion that we have barely tapped into the potential, however, we need to remember that these new technologies are only a tool. Ultimately we see tremendous hope for the changes that are happening, people awakening and developing "grass-roots" initiatives and recognizing the urgency of our task - to take care of each other, and the planet.
For more information please drop us an email. If you decide to contact us, please tell us how you found us.
All the best - Andy
Interestingly enough, I received a message from my friend John Campbell about the new Web site. It was sychronistic because I had referred to John in yesterday's blog, and I haven't heard from hum in nearly a year. He sent me a very kind message and some suggestions.
I'd like to share with you my response to his second message of the day. It might help explain why I chose the name Solomon Source.
John said: "The word "Solomon" suggests wisdom. Remember the wisdom of Solomon...it is Biblical."
And my response . . .
John,
Thank you for your kind words. I am absolutely honored to have you communicating with me. I still remember very fondly you driving through a snow storm last year to meet with me at my hotel. And what you said about being honored for my visit - I am the one who is tremendously honored to have you as a friend.
Solomon is an interesting story. Our family name was Solomon before it changed to Skadberg when my grandfather moved to the Skadberg farm as a young man in Norway. Then my grandfather ventured over to the U.S. at age 17. He did not like the mountains and ended up becoming a farmer in Carrington, North Dakota. The place is the second flatest place in the world I have been, the 1st, I think, is Levelland, Texas.
I didn't remember my family name story interestingly enough until I came to Colombia this January to pursue a project with a large gold mining company that wanted to manage impacts on the nearby agricultural community. The project (rumored to be the 2nd largest discovery in history) has been shut down by the government for several months due to concerns about environmental impacts.
Finally, your reference to Solomon takes me back to a conversation with a boss, Jack Carls, who when I was 26 got me promoted from a custodian to become the maintenance supervisor at the North Grand Mall in Ames, Iowa. It was a very proud time for me, although I realized I wasn't cut out for mall management. It didn't have much meaning for me.
Jack told me two very important things that I will always remember. He was a wise and kind man. First, he taught me to always keep the restrooms clean. And second, he told me about the wisdom of Solomon - his genius to surround himself with the best advisors. And I suspect, what I have learned in the last few years, Solomon probably knew to keep harmonious relationships with them.
I don't know if I am a decendant of Solomon, but I have strangely enough collected elephants, which I understand is one of the symbols of Solomon. It is the only thing I collect. Surprisingly I didn't make this connection until I was meeting with another wonderful friend Desmond Green for our project in Jamaica a few months back, after reading one of his treasured aphorisms about an elephant.
I concluded the message to John with my gratitude for his taking the time to send me a message. He also approved me to feature his paper that he presented about Land Grant and Education in India here on Solomon Source. Look for that article soon.
To conclude my thoughts for the day, I have been almost haunted with synchronicities in my life. It is a wonderful thing to be haunted by. It is gratifying to experience the magical connections, that I think pervade all things. But sometimes it is perplexing, to figure out their meaning and the subsequent actions I am to take. I'm still trying to figure this out, the larger meaning of synchronicity (from the great Carl Jung). At this point, I have come to the conclusion that they act as "signposts" showing me that I am headed in the direction of my desired destination.
I am grateful to my friends and to the opportunity to be sharing my experience with ya'll ( a Texas remnant).
All the best! - Andy
Today the idea that has been bubbling around my head is of building bridges. There is this desperate "reality" of locked-up systems - of money and encumbered bureaucratic entities. Dealing with these "apparent" obstacles and entities is exhausting if one finds oneself falling into the trap of frustration and resistance - as per the amazing quote from Carl Jung "What you resist, persists".
However, during this very reflective time, since the beginning of 2008, I have come to believe, and now know, that this "reality" of systems is only as real as we believe. We human-beings made it this way - we can change it.
In the past year I have been exposed to people who are spiritually and consciously advanced so far that I have to stretch myself beyond my current thinking paradigm to grasp a small portion of their message. And yet as I make the effort, I find my problems and struggles melting away like ice in summertime. These beings (and there have been beings through the ages who have been similarly enlightened) show me that there are dramatic changes happening in the world and the "Golden Age" is coming.
And yet, on the other hand, I work and see and meet people who are so far away from this "new reality"- many people walking the streets, working at their jobs, struggling with their families and lives. They cannot comprehend much beyond their day to day existence. How are we to assist these people?
I think this is about building bridges. We need to bridge the gap between these two, apparently, disparate realities. Another idea along these lines would be one of an "interpreter". Since I began my professional career in the early 1980's, I have found myself in positions where I can see both sides of situations. I won't bore you with examples, but the most distinct is between "scientists" and people who needed their knowledge. It has been my observation that most scientists are not very interested in "interpreting" what they learn down to the level of the lay person. In fact, it seems that often the various disciplines actually encourage their science to be more and more obscure, complex and incomprehensible to us "regular folks". And yet when this new knowledge can get into people's minds and hands, sometimes astounding changes are brought about. Two acclaimed scientists who were the exception to the rule are Albert Einstein and Carl Sagan. They both saw that the contribution they could make to the world was dependent upon "the masses" understanding what they had discovered. I believe both of these enlightened individuals made their respective sciences meaningful to everyone. And their influences continue even after their deaths.
So, what does this all have to do with Solomon Source? Well this is a Blog, and so it can be based on random thought, and yet these ideas have been in my mind since my Leisure Studies degree began in 1984. I am not suggesting that I am in the league of these great scientists, but I see that there are important "gaps to fill", or "bridges to build".
I see that we need to start connecting the dots of the fragmented "reality" that science has helped create. We need to put the pieces of the "puzzles" together (in context) and communicate applied, pragmatic solutions to people who are struggling day to day with survival. In language that they can comprehend. This was the vision of the Land Grant University system (an idea signed in law by Abraham Lincoln) - and Extension was to be the vehicle. However, this area of Service has fallen way short of its intended goal, in my opinion. For more great thoughts on the role of the Land-Grant, look into John R. Campbell's (past president of Oklahoma State University) work "Reclaiming a Lost Heritage: Land-Grant & Other Higher Education Initiatives for the Twenty-First Century"
Additionally, we need to be building bridges between the great spiritual truths that are being broadcast globally on a scale that is mind-boggling. Not just as a "get rich quick" scheme, but as a solution to people's day to day struggles. Introduce to people that life is not just a series of problems and obstacles to be overcome, but one of abundance, joy and true freedom. One that is guaranteed since the beginning of human experience on this planet, it's all a matter of our thoughts and conscious awareness. We can deliver a message that will allow people to understand that they can create their own individual "new reality" based on what is truly valuable. As Earl Nightengale suggested - the BEST things in life are free - family, friends, love, life!
We won't necessarily be able to deliver this message from a pulpit or a mountaintop. I think this message will be delivered over the bridge through a true desire to be of Service. A bridge that disregards, and melts the idea of separation, in any form. A bridge that is based on what the greatest teachers have suggested to us in all their messages. That bridge is Love.
All the Best - Andy
