OLIVE BLOSSOM IN MAY

You never hear people say 'let's go and see the Olive blossom.'  Cherry blossom in Kyoto or almond and citrus in Valencia are always a bigger draw.  But look more closely and a treat is in store.  From a distance the blossom blends in to the leaves.  Close up it is a delicate white petal with a soft yellow centre.  It sheds  its petals to the ground like confetti for a pixie wedding.  Now you are close take a longer look at this amazing tree.  Some say if you eat olives every day you will live forever.  Some say olive trees never die.  The olive tree of Vouves is known to be at least 2000 years old and may be more than 4000.  At this grand old age, or perhaps its middle age, it still produces olive some ambling time after its May blossom.  It is 4.6 metres wide and 12.5 metres measured round its waist.  Take a look at an olive tree next time you are near one.  You will see character, personality and a knowing presence that says 'I've seen a thing or two.'
Some people around you are like the olive tree.  You don't see them as the eye is distracted by the captivating colours of cherry or the nose is hooked by the scent of citrus.  But look again and make them a friend and you will live a life enriched that may possibly last forever.

THE DECEPTIVE IGNORANCE OF BLISS

One of the wonders of human experience is that it could all be an elaborate illusion.  We know that people walk out of a room more slowly after hearing words referring to old age than they do after words around youth.    School people in logic and science and the only true meaning that follows comes from rational explanation and objective analysis.  We are both locked in the the mould our learning has created for us and unaware of our given shape.  Many are happily ignorant of how they have been cast and live the reality they are in as if it is the only one that exists.  Is this ignorance a blessing or a curse?
A friend referred to the comforts of materialism and consumerism masking the existential anxiety we are all experiencing.  Striving for more, a bigger house/car/boat/church...,and living with plenty in some way overcoming the questions of who we are and why we are here.  Her phrasing gets you thinking and sends you deeper and deeper in to enquiry about the hard work and stress of the world today.  One possibility is that sufficient food to keep you alive today and no attachment to thoughts of greed and desire is all you need for a perfect life.  This is currently rejected in favour of working harder and harder to amass more for the self in the expectation that one day we can have enough.  Then we will be able to relax, enjoy our life and reap the benefits of all that hard work.
Ignorance is bliss has perhaps never had such twisted meaning.  I am like many and worked hard to gather comforts and material possessions around me.  I am now learning from special friends that there might be simpler truths for contentment and finding the enquiry in to them rewarding.

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