Tags
@TheosTrek, Alternate Reality, Global warming, Rod Serling, Sidey's Weekend Theme, Twilight Zone
photo by angrywhitedude
. . .a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That’s the signpost up ahead — your next stop, the Twilight Zone.”
~~Rod Serling
The wonderful opening words to “The Twilight Zone” echoed through my mind when I first read Sidey’s weekend theme – “An Alternate Reality.” Next came these few words:
Once upon a winter’s day:
I grabbed my coat, my hat, scarf and gloves,
And stepped outside to breathe the air,
Stretch my legs, relax my brain
Enjoy the weather while it’s fair.
January 22, was the month and the day
And my house was in a northern clime
I should have been freezing, chilled to the bone
Instead I’m writing this stupid rhyme!
What’s going on? I thought to myself –
Are those bulbs sprouting up through the ground?
Where had I gone when I walked out the door
Had I entered a dimension of new sight and sound?
I’m in the Twilight Zone, I thought!
It’s supposed to be a cold afternoon
But this day in the middle of winter
Is as warm as the middle of June
Amazed and confused, I shrugged off my coat
Threw my hat, gloves, and scarf to the ground
This isn’t right, I said to myself
Why is there not one snowflake around?
Then I remembered some photos I’d seen
Of polar bears searching for ice,
Habitat diminishing, food sources scarce
Life for the animals isn’t so nice.
We are supposed to care for the world!
But some think it’s just fine and dandy.
“There’s no such thing as climate change –
We’ll just keep on with our modus operandi!”
I know the reason for the strange weather,
Even though there are many who do not agree.
It’s not a different dimension we’ve stepped into –
Global warming caused this alternate reality!
**********
Not to end on a total downer, I will share with you my Monday joy: yesterday Hubs and I had the blessing of witnessing the baptism of our beautiful granddaughter, Zoë Alyson Calhoun. The rite of infant and child baptism is a commitment made by the parents of the child and the community around her to live a life that becomes the Gospel, so that she might see the blessing of relationship with God and one day choose that for herself. It was a double blessing, because Ashley was privileged to be the one to preside over the ritual. We enjoyed the time spent with our family members present, and with some close friends within our community of faith.
It was a wonderful afternoon, and blessed with the abundance of enough. . .
Reflections From a Cloudy Mirror 
Great poem Paula. I comfort myself that the global warming and onset of ice ages and so on take place over many thousands of years, and that these short term bursts of warmth are part of cycles which are much shorter than that! Not to say we shouldn’t take care of our little globe.
And Baptism always fills me with joy. I pray that God will be an everlasting magnet for the growing one.
John
Perhaps we are experiencing the beginning of a new ice age – or whatever. But, as you say, there is no excuse for taking care of our planet, and the need to do so is urgent. In such a short period of time, humans have laid waste to so much of creation. . .wish we would all wake up and take our stewardship seriously!
Baptism always does the same to me. There is something about the newness and the promise that just gets to me!
Have you given any thought to the fact that the strange weather we had last year and this year is caused in part by the massive Icelandic volcano that erupted in 2010? I for one was not surprised my last years record snow fall and flooding, nor this years subsequent lack of snow. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/15/iceland-volcano-weather-french-revolution
That particular explanation had not occurred to me, but it doesn’t surprise me. My main complaint with people who say that there is no such thing as global warming is: SO WHAT? Maybe there isn’t, but that is no reason not to take good care of our planet! So many people seem to think that we can do whatever we want, and there are no penalties for our behavior. We are supposed to be stewards, and instead we are behaving like destroyers.
Hey Paula, great poem and really interesting direction… and please check your email… I am watching our girl carefully, she has doubled in size since Christmas, but not sure if she is pregnant… the email I sent to ALL your email addresses is frigging amazing… I think so anyway. *Smile* Thanks for the visit and comments and links …will follow them all in due course…. Chat soon, *Mwah* Mands
what a lovely celebration!
Glad your Sunday was filled with JOY . . . and that you didn’t have to dress like a polar bear to go find it. 😀
I didn’t think of the twilight zone.
So glad you enjoyed the baptism. This week I have discovered two couples I know have become great-grandparents
Well said. Strangely warm weather alternating at times with very frigid weather. Could be the effects of global warming and changing weather patterns. Let us pray that this isn’t permanent. Yes, it was a privilege and a blessing to officiate at the baptism of our first grandchild. Hopefully there will be more such occasions.
Hubs,
Paula, it’s been a warm winter for us a little south of you, too. Disconcertingly so. I wish I could channel words into poetry. You do it so well.
Life sends us little Zoes to combat the mystery of the rest of it. Congratulations. 🙂