Hello

Maybe there is a priceless ore deep down below the surface of the earth that spreads out over all the globe and unites every continent and all people.

DB - The Vagabond
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When I first came up with this idea I was thinking in geologic terms. I envisioned some primordial ash, from an ancient volcanic eruption, that had been buried under billions of tons of earth and compressed into a fine sacred stone. If we dug in any place, Siberia, Ireland, Botswana, Alaska and Argentina we would eventually come to find it in all those places.

Maybe it's there. But since then I've raised my consciousness a bit above the ground level up to where the blossoms are. I believe there is a priceless ore, but it's not to be found by digging.

I don't think there is any question that the most interesting creature walking upon the earth is the human being. We are seemingly endless in our different abilities, behaviors, characteristics, personalities, errors, dreams, illusions, accomplishments, idiosyncrasies, failures, forms, mentalities, reactions, perceptions, beliefs and destinies. The philosopher Immanuel Kant believed that the purpose of the human race is to become what it is capable of becoming.

I liken living one's life as a walk in a forest. Some times the way is smooth and pleasant and sometimes it's steep and harsh. Along the way there are some who will help you up the steep and rocky places and there are some who will kick dirt in your face. That's the human race for you.

I've had more than my share of dirt in my life and maybe I have even kicked a little in the past. But I've also been able to help a few people over the rough spots and I much prefer that. The dirt kickers are the enemies of humanity, of course, but there's an even worse enemy. It's known as "not caring" and it marches under the banner of inertia in the uniform of selfishness.

There is a vast web of friendship throughout the world and it is what is keeping civilization together. But it is a vulnerable cobweb and can easily be broken by inertia, by not caring. It is the sacred ore of the earth that unites us. We must never let it get buried.

So here is your mission, "should you choose to accept it." Make a list of people, 10 or so, people you know and like, perhaps they are people you haven't spoken to in a while, or people you mean to keep in touch with but don't, people who are somewhere along your part of the friendship web, and on their journal page, or in an email or on a postcard, simply say: "I'm thinking about you and I'm writing just to say hello." Or similar words of you own choosing. I will do the same.

DB - The Vagabond