The 60-Second Sabbath

Photography

  • Trust Life

    My parents raised meto distrust life.Despite their religious grounding–or perhaps because of it–life loomed, imperiously sinister.      "The world's a horrible place,    and we are horrible people." Enough. I shall trust life.I shall affirm and embracethe peace and loveat… Continue reading

  • Identity

    I am the same personall the time. I may be souras spoiled milk.I may be sweetas red velvet cake. I'm still fully,essentially,completelyme.  Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • How We Live

    Your perceptionscreatethe world you experience. Perceive the worldas evil, threatening and cruel,and you will live in a worldof danger, fear, suspicion and defensiveness. Perceive the worldas welcoming, generous and sustainingand you will live in a worldof creativity, compassion, joy and… Continue reading

  • The One

    If God exists,and God is All in All,then nothing that existsis not God. All faithsare expression of this One God,and all existwithin the wholenessof this All-EncompassingOne. Whatever differences we perceive(and we do perceive differences)–they will one day be seenas they… Continue reading

  • Conditioning

    I, the tiger,lean and sinewy,pace my cage–    ten steps to the east,    ten steps south,    ten steps west,    pause,    ten steps north… Then one day,the cage is gone–    no more bars,    no more… Continue reading

  • Convergence

    In the center of the villageseven dusty paths converge. An old man livesin a thatched hut that standsjust to the West. He watches and listensas each travelercompletes the journey. Older than the forest,more patient than the ocean,more stately than cranes,he… Continue reading

  • Life is the strugglebetween Ego and Stillness. Chin up, my friend:Stillness wins. Or more precisely,only Stillness is.  Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Sermon in the Park, Part 2

    The homeless guys,with their parked shopping cartsand scraggly, gray beards,nod as he speaks. "You can cling to the cross,with its dried blood and splinters,or you can come dancing with me." I feel safestwith my face pressed against rough wood,cheeks bleeding.When… Continue reading

  • Pinning Blame

    Who's responsible for this mess?     The "mess" in question is me. Who's to blame?Someone must pay!     Who is it    that wants    to pin the blame? Is it Stillnessor is it Ego?     Why… Continue reading

  • The Monkey and the Tree

    Your thoughtschatter like a monkey. You are not the monkey. You are themagnificent,stately,ancient tree,reaching to the clouds,rooted in the earth,offering shade,silent,strongand wise, through whose branchesraces the monkey. Shrug your massive branches,and let the monkey fall to the forest floor.He is… Continue reading