I'm getting scared of plastic

Have you noticed that it is everywhere? We wrap our food in it, carry our water in it, let our kids play with it, carry our purchases in it. Now that I've started looking, I'm blown away by how this unnatural substance has invaded our lives.

It concerns me particularly when I read things like this:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/07/scientists-warn-of-the-dangers-of-a-chemical-found-in-plastic.aspx
That is some nasty stuff!

I do not as yet have a solution in mind; it's hard to imagine what else I'd package food in; which in itself is telling, I think. For water, I"m looking into these metal bottles:
http://www.kleankanteen.com/
No-Impact-Man recommends glass, but I worry about breakage.
For the rest of it, I'll let you know.

The Water Bottle

I took my Nalgene water bottle on a recent trip to Toronto (fabulous Baha'i Studies conference, people!). Though I had to empty it before I could get through airport security, the flight attendants very kindly filled it on every leg of the flight, without hesitation. I recall trying to get them to do that with a plastic mug maybe 7 years ago, and they were very confused. So it seems awareness is growing.

By the way, I'm hoping to switch to a metal water bottle to avoid plastic leachates ... but this one will do for now.

Spiritual inspiration and balance

Had a great study circle tonight - we're going through a book on working with Junior Youth, their capacity, and fostering the development of spiritual qualities. One section we looked at discussed the self, ego and selfishness, and how to overcome them. The quotes were so inspiring -- here's a couple for example:
These tests ... do but cleanse the spotting of self from off the mirror of the heart, till the Sun of Truth can cast its rays thereon; for there is noveil more obstructive than the self, and however, tenuous that veil may be, at the last it will cmpletely shut a person out, and deprive him of his portion of eternal grace.

And again:
only surfaces that are pure and polished can reflect [the sun's] glory and light.

So I'd like to really re-focus my life on service, goodness, spiritual growth and transformation of character. But how do you do this while maintaining balance? It seems that growth either accelerates towards more and more service and activities until exhaustion sets in; or towards increasing self-aborption, until I've forgotten to put others ahead of my own needs. I want to think about this more -- because I want to be inspired, and become a better person, and I also want to live a life of peace, pace, love and calm.

Love and appreciation

Today I went with some of our house-guests up to the local school where they had found some broken glass yesterday. We went armed with a broom and dustpan and cleared up piles of glass. One of the bottles was a beautiful green, and it just makes me wonder, how can someone not appreciate the beauty of these objects? And how can you wilfully destroy them -- potentially causing injury to a child? I wish more people could love and appreciate the beauty in simple objects.

Tonnes of Buns

Owing to intensifying industrial development in my town (i.e., Walmart parking lots), a large number of rabbits have been displaced. One area of town is now Bunnsville. Driving through the area is dangerous -- driver's attention may be distracted by frequent bun-sightings. I went through the area the other night -- all colours and sizes, nibbling and hopping, utterly adorable.