I Have A Ranch To Come Home To

Dr Johnson and Felipe, walking Raven Ranch in its wintertime phase.

In all its funk and glory I love Raven Ranch. Please let me express my gratitude for this tiny oasis in the turmoil of it all. We have light bulbs out and dead meal moths on the counter and scotch broom weeds sprouting up in all the odd places outside. But that is it, part Felipe order and part Nature reclaiming. Or is it part Nature and Filipe reclaiming. It’s ying yang swirling before my eyes.

And my lungs and liver are a tiny microcosm of this ten acre play that is working itself out on the land. I have tumors which we, the royal we, have been able to blast,coax,coerce,zap,pickle and bully into very slow growth. It’s party time for Felipe in the short term but obviously this glacial movement will crush him eventually without some sort of balance achieved.

We had a meeting this morning, my tumors and me, and I apologized for my treatment of them but it has been my only option so far. I acknowledged them as being part of me and not some alien entities. They are a rebel faction, a very robust one. But my job as I see it as guardian of my whole being, including all rebel factions, is to strike balance. My intention is not to eradicate but to strike a workable balance.

They do their jobs these tumors with amazing tenacity in light of all we have been throwing at them and they just show up “Monday morning” with their lunch pails ready to go back at it again. And they are like the light bulbs and the meal moths and the scotch broom in that they have a job to do and I don’t hate them for it but I just have to play my part to keep them within what I have visualized as a workable balance.

So, many great blog ideas have crammed into my head lately. I have material for a week ahead. One, just a sneak preview, is that Our Catherine, has written a book which I just started on last night. So, now we can say Catherine Johnson as her name is out “naked”in the world. Although lately I have been calling her Dr Johnson around the ranch and environs. And it is entitled “Finding Mercy In This World – A Memoir”. Way to go Dr Johnson!

Well, I have to go outside and collect my bandannas with St Bridget dew on them. I will stack them up on my chest and shiver. Love you, Felipe.

6 thoughts on “I Have A Ranch To Come Home To”

  1. Oh Phil, you have really posted a fine fine post today. Amazing amazing. Thank you. I have posted by St Brigid’s candle on Facebook, I got from Kildare Ireland a couple of years ago and was lit by the frame that has been going for hundreds of years. Thousands if you don’t include the Ollie Cromwell time when it was distinguished.
    But it’s a light for all to find their way.
    That’s all for now, praying for you and with you

    Dr Jessika
    (Yes you are surrounded by them!)

    PS I can’t wait to read what Dr Catherine wrote!

    1. Dr Jess ~ yes, I am surrounded by my Doctors, Lawyers and Indian Chiefs. And I just write what occurs to my as I walk my own personal Camino, it’s a documentary. Every once in a while I hit it out of the park with a blog post. I will have to admit that that one was particularly good. My three bandannas got nice and wet over night by the way! Felipe.x

      1. I have one hanky left. Others floated away or grew legs. Maybe Brigid’s taken them home. I dunno.

        1. Dr Jess ~ mine did some moving around too. They were new ones that I got to bandanna my newly bald head so they are nicely broken in now. Well, that is a fine little ritual! Felipe.x

  2. I loved this post and I love you my dear friend, who also happen to be my boss now, but also my teacher. Thank you Felipe, you are given us so much with your thoughts… reflection, fun, different points of view of regular things, images of your island, images of God too… I would summarize this as Beauty too.

    Gracias!
    I am touched!

    And I cannot wait either to read Catherine ‘s book! I know it will be a well for refreshment!

    Love to my Islanders friends! Thinking of Pilgrim Farmer John too tonight!
    Dr. Cris

    1. Dr Cris ~ yes, good idea, all Bureau Chief’s receive a doctorate as part of the deal. Thank the Holy Spirit for a lot of what comes out of me. It was a particularly good blog post if I do say so myself. And yes PFJ is in the hospital for an operation and he needs our prayers. Yes and Dr Johnson memoir should be available at the regular big time places. Later, Felipe.x

Comments are closed.