Two friends came over for dinner last night. The conversation came around to the value, if any, of protest. Both have been or are involved in protests in favor of protecting wilderness and against man-made climate change.

I told them about this quote that often crosses my mind:

I love the story about A.J. Muste, who, during the Vietnam War, stood in front of the White House night after night with a candle – sometimes alone. A reporter interviewed him one evening as he stood there in the rain, “Mr. Muste,” the reporter said, “do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle?” A. J. responded, “Oh, I don’t do this to change the country. I do this so the country won’t change me.”
            - Andrea Ayvizian, The Sun magazine.

You can’t go out there hoping that after you give your best, work until you hurt, that people will throw a parade for you, or confirm your goodness. If you think that, you will get disappointed and give up. It’s not about slaying the monster. You don’t give it a kick and then go home and have a beer. Most of this work has to do with gathering up all of your peace and calm and sitting down next to the monster, without trying to kill it and without being intimidated by it. And not losing your calm.
- John Calvi, Quaker Healer (Issue 4, Heron Dance interview)

I repainted the watercolor sketch of Rick Rubin, and redesigned the poster, that was in Friday’s Pause for Beauty. Visit here to see it.