Dear You,
Welcome to my window. Here you’ll find the world as I see it. I hope the thoughts, favorite writings, pictures, and human connections I’ll be sharing here will spark something to ponder in your mind.
Best wishes.
Barbara
INTRODUCTION
“How do you feel about anonymity?” That was the question asked of a 20-year-old English major looking for her first job as a writer at Hallmark Cards. I had already succeeded with the application (a series of writing assignments relevant to greeting cards). I had been flown across the country by the company for the in-person interview. (Pretty impressive for a girl in 1967.) My publication record at that time? A handful of poems in the college literary magazine. Anonymity was the least of my concerns. Landing a job with a stellar company? That was my idea of success. I soon said “Yes” to the job offer I got that day. The decision lasted 41 years.
BECOMING TRANSPARENT
When I become transparent,
I shall be a glass,
or prism or a waterbead
upon a vein of grass.
When I become transparent
I shall be the sky
or a single facet
in an insect’s eye.
When I become transparent
the universe will be
a little less invisible
through my transparency.
Barbara Loots
The Lyric
HAVE I STOPPED BELIEVING IN GOD?
When I ask myself that question, the answer is NO. But then I have to ask: What does it mean to believe? And who or what does the name GOD refer to? For answers (for today) I have three references: 1) Stories: the Bible, all scripture, religion(s), testimonies2) Nature: the immensity, continuity, imagination, and mystery of creation; the “laws” of physics; the precision of mathematics; and more.3) Personal experience: moments, including poetry, where I have
GOD DOESN'T MIND STARTING OVER
The Bible tells us the story of Noah, when humanity was reduced to one small family. Then there was Abraham arguing with the Lord about the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah. And what about the threat Jonah was meant to deliver to Nineveh? (Kind of humorous at the end). God wiping out people–entirely or selectively–happens pretty often in the Good Book. Meanwhile, Science has revealed in the deep layers of rocks and fossils the repeated