Daily Compass

“The object of the artist is the creation of the beautiful. What the beautiful is is another question.” ―James Joyce

What do you find beautiful that others often find unattractive?

So many markers, row on row, in so many cemeteries around the world. And each grave marks a hole in the hearts of family and friends whose loved one was torn away from them. So many markers. So many more holes.

Who will you remember this Memorial Day?

A single stalk of iris flowers often contains a blossom in full glory, one tightly in bud, and one fading and shriveled and nearly gone. We think of life as full of good times and bad, days of joy and days of sorrow, but often as not those things happen at the same time, birth and death, pleasure and pain, all gathered on the same stalk.

What contrasting events are you holding in your heart?

Sometimes roads diverge and you have to choose, but sometimes the way forward is pretty clear cut. There is always another path, but much of the time it’s pretty obvious that you need to walk the narrow bridge, not swim the river. But although your path may be constrained you still get to choose how you will go. Even on the narrow path you can run or skip or walk, you can rush across or you can take a break and stare at the river as it flows by.

What choice do you make about how to move down your path today?

The universe is awash with tiny diamonds, formed in the explosion of dying stars. These infinitesimal diamonds rain down on us from the skies. On any given morning, thousands of spider webs sparkle as the morning sun hits the tiny threads covered in dew. The priceless is everywhere, but without velvet cushions to put these jewels on display, more often than not we miss them.

What priceless thing have you found today?