Waste Not Wednesday: Keep it Simple

"My message for the whole world is 'God is Love.

He loves everybody. So why don't we keep it simple, and love.'"

The story of Leonard Knight has been told thousands of times. Millions, even. In a simple youtube search, one is flooded with videos from visitors of Salvation Mountain. Some of them more professional than others, but all with the same heart. I could watch them all and never tire of hearing what this man has to say. And the more videos I watch, the more I realize just how much Leonard has impacted this world. And I know first hand. Leonard Knight is an inspiration.

A few days ago a friend directed me to a KPBS story regarding Leonard Knight & the future of Salvation Mountain. It broke my heart. The thought of millions more people missing out on the experience that is visiting Salvation Mountain and hearing Leonard's story first hand is saddening.

When you arrive at Salvation Mountain Leonard would seemingly pop out of nowhere, welcome you with open arms, a giddy smile & a story on deck. Leonard would tell this story multiple times a day- never tiring of it. He would tell you how glad he was that you were there, & say "I'd like to show you some things..." He would show you his truck tire trees, his hand painted bluebirds, the Yellow Brick Road, and the museum of Salvation Mountain. He would tell you how he came to Niland, CA in 1984 and had a hot air balloon with the words "God is Love" written on it. And how he has been living in his Dodge pickup since then, next door to Slab City, building the Mountain out of Adobe & thousands of gallons of donated paint. He would then tell you his simple message of Love.

I left the mountain feeling Wrecked. Inspired. Small. Encouraged.

This man, living in the desert for almost 30 year- Every day wakes up, and lives out the love that so many of us ignore. His faith is unwavering. His dedication is unmatched. His heart is pure. His message is SIMPLE.

LOVE.

Though my strong distaste for anything Eddie Veder has kept me from actually watching the movie, I have watched Leonard's scene from "Into the Wild" numerous times. Today I watched again:

(please note: this scene is not scripted. This IS Leonard Knight)

Leonard's face when responding to the question "You really believe in love then?" is quite possibly the most honest and sincere in the whole world. Today that made me sob.

How does one get to the point where they can believe so wholly in something that their expression becomes that of Leonard's in this scene. It's mind blowing, beautiful & inspiring.


Today, Leonard's story is stirring in my soul. If one man can impact so many people, how can those people come together and continue on what Leonard so humbly started?

This is where I am. Thinking....Thinking....Thinking. What will it take? What can be done?

I come to a slight realization that it might not have anything to do with saving the mountain itself, though I will admit that is a hope of mine. But if all the people who have heard Leonard's story & have been impacted by it in any way, carry on and just LOVE... I think we can save the purpose of Salvation Mountain, and that is how we can Keep it Simple.


for leonard.

Blindsight

file:unknown

The scary realization of just how unknown the future is hit me yesterday. I have been so caught up in the present, that the future just wasn't on my mind. And something is happening right now that is NOT something I am used to. It's scary. And real. And causing my mind to drift off into the future. To places it doesn't belong.

I'm frightened, Auntie Em, I'm frightened.

And trying to get my grip back on the present, without hindering the possibilities of the future. And trying to to put too much weight on this stupidly scary situation. And I keep telling myself, I'm cool. I can do this. And I keep thinking of all of the possible outcomes. And turning off the brain is near impossible.

And i look into my future and my vision is empty.

And I'm relieved, and scared shitless at the same time.

and also being over dramatic. because, really it's not that big of a deal.

right.... right?

Waste Not Wednesday: Joy Germs

I was going through some of the footage of the Zombie Fashion Show I was a part of a week ago. I came across this clip, and cringed.

Ugh. ew. who laughs like that? so awkward. so loud. so obnoxious. I thought back to previous times I have watched myself on camera. And always the same reaction. "EW". How can people stand that? I am such a loud obnoxious human being.

But Later that night, I went into my place of employment, grabbed a beer, sat at the bar and started having a conversation with a co-worker. Something made me laugh, and I can only assume it sounded something like this clip. Instantly another of my co-workers quickly turned his head-realizing only by the sound of my laughter that I was there- and let out a somewhat mocking impression of it, and then smiled a big fat cheesy grin. (this particular co-worker of mine is in the very regular habit of mocking my laughter on a daily basis)

Only a few days before that my boss was mentioning how she always knows when I am working, because she can hear my laughter in the back room. (if you understood the noise level & layout of this particular alehouse I speak, you know how much of a feat that really is).

After all this I, of course, start thinking back to past jobs where boss's & co-workers have said similar things. "we always know when Emily is around, you can't miss that laugh anywhere." I've always been aware that I am a loud individual, and that I have a very boisterous laugh.


I am not so narcissistic as to sit at home and analyze the sound of my own voice and the reactions it causes in the world- usually. But in doing so this day, I came to a conclusion that I will now wrap up in a cute little package with a pretty pink ribbon, just for you...

open it

WHILE I am laughing I don't think about how I sound in the slightest. Because the mere fact that I AM laughing, means that I am filled with joy. And that laughter is how I am expressing my joy. And while it might seem (and it did for a while) that when my co-worker mocks my laugh (ps-he's not the first one to ever do so) that he is making fun of me, and maybe I should be offended (me?never!)- the truth is that after he mocks my laugh, he lets out his own brand of laugh. I gave him the joy bug. You see, Joy is contagious. (google it)


Proof:

sibling joy

exploiting friends' joy

The point behind all this nonsense is this: Laughter & Joy are not meant to be analyzed. They are meant to be shared.

And if you care about what you look/sound like when you laugh- you're missing the point.

My joy is a gift that I give through my laughter. And embarrassment can't keep me from sharing it with the world....


AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!