Category Archives: Peace

Pagoda

Posted on April 20, 2021 by John Swinburn

Until this morning, I have given the subject of pagodas only a passing nod of attention. But for reasons hidden inside my brain and outside my sphere of consciousness, I felt compelled to explore why I suddenly said to myself … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Peace, Serenity | Leave a comment

Here and Now

Posted on February 28, 2020 by John Swinburn

Time and distance no longer matter when the only moment is now and the only place is here. Memories lose their grip on the soul at that juncture. All existence takes place in the present; neither the past nor the … Continue reading →

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Looking for Serenity

Posted on February 11, 2020 by John Swinburn

Attempting to achieve anything remotely resembling a sense of serenity these days seems to be a fool’s errand. We are bombarded around the clock with news telling us that almost everything we hold dear is under assault in some form … Continue reading →

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Along the Bloody Spectrum

Posted on January 29, 2020 by John Swinburn

I am an old infidel. A practicing heathen. A believer in knowledge and a follower of facts. Those truths notwithstanding, I am no longer the active antagonist toward religion I once was. There was a time I would have called … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Philosophy, Religion | Leave a comment

Education Trumps Racism: Give Peace a Chance

Posted on August 13, 2016 by John Swinburn

I mentioned at the end of last month that I would participate in an online discussion dealing with racism, with a focus on racism leading to the death of young Black men at the hands of police. My interest in … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Philosophy, Racism | 2 Comments

Choking

Posted on April 28, 2015 by John Swinburn

I know the streets of large cities are filled with disaffected youths. I understand that their arrogance is hard to accept and harder still to deal with. I realize there’s a massive gulf between my experiences and the lives of … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Poverty, Racism, Rant | 1 Comment

Pearl Harbor Remembrance

Posted on December 7, 2014 by John Swinburn

Seventy-three years ago, “…December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” Eighty-one percent of American homes tuned in to … Continue reading →

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Stress Washes Away in Water

Posted on October 20, 2014 by John Swinburn

Our next-door-neighbors took us out on their pontoon boat yesterday afternoon for three-plus hours of drifting along the shoreline of Lake Balboa, exploring little bays and coves, and looking at some spectacular lake-shore homes. During the cruise, we talked about … Continue reading →

Posted in Happiness, Peace | Leave a comment

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2013 by John Swinburn

Whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, or Other, most people acknowledge this day as Christmas day.  We’re not all celebrating the same thing when we celebrate today, but I think we’re all acknowledging the capacity of humanity to have good … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Philosophy | 6 Comments

Relief Valve

Posted on December 22, 2013 by John Swinburn

My decisions are revocable. That’s what makes them seem wishy-washy; by definition, I suppose they are. My latest decision is to take another temporary breather from Facebook.  It’s not because I think it will have any lasting effect on me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace | 12 Comments

The Sounds of Water

Posted on July 8, 2013 by John Swinburn

Much is said about the relaxing sound of running water. Listening to the gentle sound of a bubbling brook tends to relax people who pay attention to the sound. Fountains and water features are big sellers due, in part, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Water | 2 Comments

The Mortar of the Morning

Posted on September 20, 2012 by John Swinburn

I am back at home, fresh from a five mile walk.  I sit at the breakfast table, the casement windows open wide so I can enjoy temperatures hovering in the low 60s.  The clear sky this morning is bright but … Continue reading →

Posted in Happiness, Housiing, Peace, Philosophy | Leave a comment