Pictorially, we again focus on Colorado.

Poetical Journal ©by Bob Casey

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Mission: To provide poetical and thoughtful comments on life

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VOLUME XXIII – Issue 10: Sunday, November 26, 2023 (267th Issue)

Welcome

I am pleased to have you as a reader. If you enjoy the PJ, please encourage others to subscribe.

If your country is not listed in the demographic section at the end, please let me know so I can update the list.

The next Poetical Journal will be out December 24, 2023.

I-70 follows the Colorado River across the state.

...Opening Comments from Bob

This Issue: The pictorial section again focuses on Colorado as we visit family. Jan and I are exploring the Castle Rock, CO, area for possible housing should we move there to be near our son and his family. All three poems, Art of Living, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Fruitless Efforts, are rather serious. Two talk about lessons learned in life and the other about a life well-lived but cut short.

Subscriber Residences: PLEASE let me know if your state, providence, or country is not listed in the demographic section at the end. There currently are subscribers in 27 states, 3 provinces, and 13 countries. See complete list near at the newsletter.

Next Month: The issue comes out on Sunday, December 24, 2023.

To become a friend on Facebook, click on this link.

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PLEASE! Supporting the efforts of the Poetical Journal is greatly appreciated! Any amount of donation is welcomed. To support, click here.

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Unless otherwise noted, the pictures that follow were taken along I-70 that takes you from Grand Junction to Denver.
Because the road travels at times over 10,000 ft. we experienced an early October snow. Luckily, the road was only wet.


Three Poems

Comment: A while ago, I listened to a speech by Nobel Peace Prize recipient and poet Thich Nhat Hanh
that he gave in 2020. This poem attempts to summarize his thoughtful lecture.

Comment:This is a form of a persona poem where the writer speaks and interprets what the individual
was thinking. Decades ago, while in college, I was a huge fan of Dr. Dietrich Bonhoeffer having read
several of his books. He was a world-renowned Christian theologian who was martyred for his beliefs
by the Nazis near the end of World War II. Decades passed and Bonhoeffer became mainly memories
to me. Last night, while searching for a movie on Amazon Prime I came across the movie “Bonhoeffer:
Agent of Grace” which I watched. Hence the poem, especially fitting for this season.

Comment: A light-hearted look at a universal problem.

 

Vignette: More on the Move

As discussed in an earlier issue, our son and family moved to Colorado. Over the next months, we will visit them but also be looking and deciding whether Castle Rock is an area we would like to also live. In September, we appreciated the beauty of the state but disliked the traffic around the Denver area. At that time I thought it was worse than the traffic around the Washington, D.C. area. During our ten-day stay in Colorado in October, I modified my position on the traffic and decided it was no worse than I-15 traffic in Salt Lake City. The plus was that the drivers were more courteous. (One national survey ranked Utah drivers as some of the most aggressive drivers in the country.)

Another bonus of the trip was that Jan and I reunited with an old friend Derek Kent. We arranged one day to make the 90 minute trip to pay him a visit. Derek and I taught together in the late 60s and early 70s. The last time I saw him was in the Denver airport in the early 80s. We had a wonderful time reminiscing and catching up on each other's lives. He is still a great guy!

You will hear more over the next months.

Derek and I at his home.

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Recommendation

Take time to give thanks.

Please take a look at the online book and gift pages.

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Quotable Quotes

"Most of us are scripted to think that life is a game, and the purpose of life is to win. But the divine truth is that life a gift, and the purpose of life is to love well." - Brian Zhand

"Sitting alone is better than walking with the wrong people." - Unknown

“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” - Joan of Arc

""We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated." - Maya Angelou

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A Bit of Humor

A bit of laughter is healthy for the soul

Limits on Giving

"You know, I think everyone should divide their worldly goods with the other fellow," said an office worker to another.

"That's a good idea. If you had two thousand dollars would you give me half?"

"Sure."

"And if you had two automobiles, would you give me one?"

"Sure."

"And if you had two shirts, would you give me one?"

"No."

"No? Why?"

"Because I have two shirts."

Compliment of A Joke A Day

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One shot of hundreds of possibilities - Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO

Ignoring the "Do No Climb" signs

Pictures taken at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.

Above and below: We enjoyed the 3+ hour trip up Pike's Peak (14,115 feet) on the Cog Rail. (Sadly, our son had to work.)

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Tai Chi Corner

ZOOM class with Dr. Lam (Click here to locate the name of a
tai chi instructor near you, or contact me directly.

PJ Forum

If you have comments, recommendations, or suggestions for the PJ, please e-mail them to bob@poeticaljourneys.com. I personally respond to all. (When editing the comments for publication, I eliminate very personal comments and edit for spacing.

". . .Pics outstanding - great fall." - Judith from Utah (Ed.: Again, thank you for being regular contributor.)

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Reader Demographics

States - AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, NC, ND, NY, OH, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, and WI     

Canadian Provinces - BC, ON, and QC;   

Countries - Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Turkey, UK, U.S., and Venezuela.

........Changes to this section will be updated monthly.

If your state, province, or country is not mentioned, please let me know.

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Book Reviews

Blast Series: Review by Janice M. regarding Blast Book Four: . . . I loved the book.  There were so many ideas floating around in my head from your writings, and I understood everything you wrote about.  I saw the visions while traveling through the pages. Thank you for your inspiration. . . ."

General: JJG wrote: I've read Bob's "To the End of Time" trilogy twice, each time gaining deep and deeper insights into the human condition. The three small volumes hold their own as good stories but also provide a unique glimpse into a new religious paradigm. Would that it could come to be.

Specific Book: To the End of Time and Back: An Epic Journey

David from Utah: "The new novel, To the End of Time and Back is a skillful account of two lovers on an 'Epic Journey,' racing through time and history to learn life-changing truths. Their spectral mentor, Arundel, sends them through difficult travels, but their relationship endures and remains strong despite physical, and psychological stress. Powerful emotions such as fear, anger and happiness, combine with lust, pain and sexuality to help them learn. Written in verse form, the story is an epic poem, painted to portray the duality of mankind throughout dimensions of human history that is sometimes cruel and horrific. The reader will come to know and understand what is being described and will certainly enjoy the stimulating elegance of the story and the philosophy. A thoroughly enjoyable read that is certain to make you think."
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Jim from Mt. Vernon: "I finished your book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was much easier to follow by having the whole thing in front of me, and reading as much as I wanted at a time. I felt pretty weary after bouncing around in time for many hundreds of years, but I was relieved to know that at least part of the world survived 'Armageddon'. What a feat you have performed."
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Kimberly from Ohio: "Well, Bob! I am rather blown away by your book. Finished it yesterday, and it only took four days, which means I was intrigued and wanted to know how the book ends. I'm a slow, deep reader and since my profession is writing and editing, I edit continuously as I read. Can't help it! But this book was worth dropping everything for and reading to the end. I admit to cynicism about your claim that it would change me, and I don't know that it has just yet but it won't be leaving my heart and head for a long time, and change could happen. I'm impressed that the book actually lived up to your claims for it. . . . I'm intrigued by this book because it rings so true, and I am therefore tempted to believe you actually were given the gift of this dictation. But if not and this is fiction, you have written one hell of a book, masquerading amazingly as non-fiction ... which is indeed one of the goals of fiction."
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An Ohio Reader: "WOW! WOW! WOW! I read it in one sitting and found so many things you wrote about 'true' for what I know and feel about past lives I've lived. Actually, the chapter about the Holocaust was something I couldn't bear to read–too sad and painful. (I've always felt that way about that period of history.) . . . it was very well done, Bob. Just beautifully done. I'm looking for the movie. . . I'm sure others will feel connected to this book just as I did. AMAZING. Just AMAZING. I couldn't put it down. There was so much anticipation with each chapter it hooked me from the very beginning. . ."
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Specific Book: Adelyn: An Epic Journey:

Ohio Reader: "In his book, Adelyn: An Epic Journey, Bob navigates the reader through a challenging journey in the time space continuum while exposing both the weaknesses and strengths of humanity. As Adelyn is exposed to the infinite love of The Source, the reader is challenged to understand how personal beliefs and actions often have more to do with cultural rather than spiritual influences. In a time and world filled with political anger and personal indulgences reading Adelyn offers the open-minded promise. It would make a great book study."

Specific Book: The Tao of Momentary Thoughts

Doug from Ohio: ". . . I was not prepared for page 116 Should have been because of the extremely personal nature of the entire book. Please understand that the unusual length of time to finish your book (especially for a binge reader like me) was because it screamed to be read thoughtfully in increments. For me that was 10-15 pages every weekend, often in quiet . . .Thank you for "putting pen to paper" and sharing your soul. Those of us who have followed Poetical Journeys will recognize much of the content. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to share part of your journey really feel a part of it."

Charles from Park City: "Hi Bob….I just picked up your The Tao of Momentary Thoughts.  It’s wonderful . . I love your book."

Ed from Seattle: The Tao of Momentary Thoughts: "I was smiling all the way through the reading . . .I think I will reread it again during the next week."

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PJ Online

To read some of the back issues of the PJ, go to here.

The next issue will go out on Sunday, December 24, 2023.

Until next time - joy and peace,

Bob

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Bob Casey
Poetical Journeys
P.O. Box 319
Midway, UT 84049
bob@poeticaljourneys.com

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