Tuhan, Takdir dan Setan

Ada seorang pemuda yang mencari seorang guru agama, pemuka agama atau siapapun yang bisa menjawab 3 pertanyaannya. Akhirnya sang pemuda itu menemukan seorang bijaksana.

Pemuda : Anda siapa? Bisakah menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan saya?

Bijaksana : Saya hamba Allah dan dengan izin-Nya saya akan menjawab pertanyaan anda.

P : Anda yakin? Sedang profesor dan banyak orang pintar saja tidak mampu menjawab pertanyaan saya.

B : Saya akan mencoba sejauh kemampuan saya.

P : Saya punya 3 buah pertanyaan.

1. Kalau memang Tuhan itu ada, tunjukkan wujud Tuhan kepada saya.

2. Apakah yang dinamakan takdir?

3. Kalau setan diciptakan dari api kenapa dimasukkan ke neraka yang terbuat dari api, tentu tidak menyakitkan buat setan, sebab mereka memiliki unsur yang sama. Apakah Tuhan tidak pernah berfikir sejauh itu?

Tiba-tiba sang orang bijaksana tersebut menampar pipi si pemuda dengan keras. P(sambil menahan sakit) : Kenapa anda marah kepada saya?

B : Saya tidak marah... Tamparan itu adalah jawaban saya atas 3 buah pertanyaan yang anda ajukan.

P : Saya sungguh-sungguh tidak mengerti.

B : Bagaimana rasanya tamparan saya?

P : Tentu saja saya merasa sakit.

B : Jadi anda percaya ba
... baca selengkapnya di Tuhan, Takdir dan Setan Cerita Motivasi dan Inspirasi Nomor 1

Hubungan ?Makanan? Dengan Keselarasan Tubuh Dan Jiwa (Ayurveda Bagian 3)

A hariyate iti ahara: Segala yang memasuki tubuh kita dikategorikan sebagai makanan.

Ada beberapa pertanyaan yang menggelitik hubungan seputar asupan makanan dan minuman dengan emosi. ’Kenapa makanan pedas kurang baik bagi proses pengajaran di kelas?’ Atau:’Kenapa murid-murid sekarang banyak yang memalak temanya atau gelisah di kelas setelah jam istirahat selesai?’. Atau, ”Anak saya sehabis minum minuman kaleng merek Anu pasti hyper dan nervous, deh… Sampai-sampa pegang gelas juga meleset…”

Pada beberapa tulisan yang terdahuluyang telah diterbitkan pada bulan Desember 2009 dan Januari,2010 saya menulis tentang konsep hidup sehat ala Ayurveda serta mengenali karakter tubuh, maka kali ini saya akan menulis tentang hubungan makanan dengan keseimbangan tubuh dan faktor kejiwaan. Makanan mempunyai fungsi yang sangat penting dalam menyelaraskan pikiran dan emosi kita. Makanan sangat mempengaruhi keadaan mental kita. Contohnya, untuk sebagian orang begitu minum alkohol seteguk atau minum kopi setengah cangkir maka mereka langsung gemetar, pikiran sulit diajak kompromi, da
... baca selengkapnya di Hubungan ?Makanan? Dengan Keselarasan Tubuh Dan Jiwa (Ayurveda Bagian 3) Cerita Motivasi dan Inspirasi Nomor 1

Water Sampling and Campfire

Last Friday's Campfire was a blast. I was able to get everything accomplished on time, and although it rained, all of the events were over by the time rain drove the horde away. I believe the cross-cut saw contest ended with two teams tied in victory with a time of 23 seconds.

This week has been water sampling centered. Tuesday were the wells and the tap, and today was the lake. The process of sampling the lake was roughly outlined to me--they take a boat out, divid the lake into three sections, and then test the water at 3 different depths. Generally, the levels of dioxane have been reported as decreasing. I should be getting the report from last years samples shortly.

This morning was stunning. Saginaw has a way of being particularly spectacular when I'm going through a rough time. Whatever mood I wake up with, it dissipates at least temporarily when I head out for morning rounds. The light filtered through the trees in that special way that gives you pause, and the fog over the lake slowly swirled away before my eyes. The witch hazel is looking magnificent, yellow flowers on yellow leaves.

Sometimes I can't believe I live here.

Out in the boat sampling. Chilly morning activity.

Hi, I love you.

You are magnificent.

MAGNIFICENT

Work!

Campfire is coming.

The to-do list is long, and every day I seem to be getting an email requesting information for this or that. Earlier this week, I cut the perfect log for the cross-cut saw competition. Today I kind of ruined that log dragging it to the barn. Idiotically, I did not notice that it was being chipped away by the road. So now the back third of it is a smaller diameter. Alas, it will have to do. What is done is done. And my calves hurt. Many thanks to Bill, Oliver, and Lauren for the help!

Today was a full-on Saginaw day. In addition to the log dragging, I did rounds, attended a Properties Committee meeting, cleaned up the bonfire pit, and mowed down the zen meadow. I'm whipped.

Class use this fall has been extensive. Several ecology classes have been out in the woods, and a few others may be seen floating about the lake. My first year landscape architecture students have made several field trips out here (and will be out again tomorrow). As they research the site for their projects, a lot of interesting photographs and information have become available. One student in particular found some excellent old images at the Bentley Library. So much flannel!

Before.

After

Last weekend I cleared some deadfall from the driveway, and also attended the Native Plant Sale at the botanical gardens. I picked up a hefty load of my favorite perennials to plant around the cabin. My hope is that they will ultimately disperse their seeds throughout the wood. Saginaw, my gift to you.

The big witch hazel by the cabin is already blooming! It is lovely, but much earlier than anticipated.

Spider flowers.

Oh, you pretty.

Fall, y'all

I love this time of year.

Turtlehead looking fly.

It's like this nebulous thing...post-summer...pre-fall...The days are somewhat chilly, the nights quite a bit chillier. The trees are just barely starting to turn over in color--I've watched the subtle and slow bronzing of canopy across the lake--and yet the fall blooming flowers are out in full. Aster. Goldenrods. Turtlehead. I noticed the buds of the witch hazel starting to form (and am already looking forward to its lovely November exhibition). I could walk around this place in circles for hours and hours and never care about anything else. Sometimes I do just that. Some of you might have noticed this by now.

Fall, yo.

Tomorrow I am giving some students a tour of the forest. They will be doing some research on improving the educational value/experience of the SNRE properties, but particularly this one. Saginaw Forest is the most well-used of SNRE's research plots, being so near to downtown. I don't think that much will happen in the remainder of my time here in terms of big projects, but it's exciting to discuss them nonetheless. I do still continue my desperate "battle for the barn" and volunteer tools. One hinges upon the other. I am persistent but not hopeful.

Give us a wave if you are around the woods. This is a happy time.

Activity, activity.

Things amped up around here the last month or so.

"Amped up" by 80-acre forest standards,  I mean.

Between students coming out to do research and classes starting up, bodies have been busy here around the moss house. Some of you may have noticed this weird contraption out on Third Sister.

I refer to it simply as the "robot boat." But really it's an interesting project being tested by a group of engineering students. Their goal is to design a new and improved method of measuring evaporation on the Great Lakes (current measuring tools are land-based, not real-time). Different versions of Robot Boat have come and gone from our waters as they tweak the design (leaking seemed to be a problem).

A more permanent installation has been put in place to monitor the flash floods of Honey Creek, just behind the outhouse.

Classes are going to start using the site soon as well. Soil Ecology, Woody Plants, and even the class I'm the GSI for--the first year landscape architecture studio. I'm really excited to be working with a class taking on a design project out here. Talk about a perfect opportunity for all involved. I've been gearing up for the influx of activity with meetings, clearing honeysuckle/buckthorn, mowing, and collecting tools. This is an exciting fall.

The weather wreaked havoc on tree branches here last night, as I'm sure those of you in Ann Arbor can believe! But I do love this place post storm. It takes my breath away every time.

Enjoy the goldenrod.

High Summer

July is waning.

I've been bad about blogging. I spent two weeks in Alaska working on my masters project, and although I had many things going on in the woods before and after these travels, I completely failed with the reporting. I'll run you through a few of my activities.

Alaska, ooo baby.

Major developments prior to my departure can be attributed to the outstanding help I received from a friend of mine. Chris assisted with meadow mowing, porch enhancements, and clearing trees to the fence line of the berm road. Lots of work done in a short period of time! It was very exciting, and I'm eternally grateful for the time he put in out here. It was a hot week, too.

Zen meadow.

Cutting 'em back.

Other pre-trip activities included tool maintenance--chainsaw sharpening and cleaning and a lawnmower tune-up. Everything is working spectacularly, which makes my job much easier.

Right before I returned home, the drive-way was finally regraded! No more broken shocks for me. I can't tell you how nice it is to not have to hold my breath inching over the enormous chasms in the road.

Since getting back, I've been out and about mowing, pulling purple loosestrife, clearing back overgrowth on the trails and boardwalk, and telling people to stop fishing. I missed home, and have loved every minute of being back on the trails with my loving partner, Leto Little-Wolf.

Today I'll be up on Liberty clearing back honeysuckle obstructing the view of the road. See you all around...