KAREY SHANE

The Lost Lamb and the Shepherd Dog

This video footage I shot a few weeks ago needs no explanation. For those interested, I've written the story of how I came upon these sheep below the video.

A few weeks ago as I was driving down Provo Canyon I saw a cream-colored line moving horizontally along a hillside that curved into Wallsburg Canyon. The hills and mountains by now were dry and brown. I couldn't figure out what would move like that on a hill.

When I got closer I realized I was looking at hundreds upon hundreds of sheep that were following each other to new pasture.

I pulled my car over and watched in awe. One sheep had ended up on the wrong side of the fence and as I heard him call out to the sheep who had stopped to graze on the other side, and watched a big, white dog come up to him and try to get the lamb to follow him. He eventually did. At the end you see what may be that lamb in the new pasture, with the dog watching over him.

We Are the World: New version / Original version

After spending a 12+ hour day getting the Secret Speakers files ready to submit to the printer on Monday, it was, sigh, wonderful to turn on the TV and catch the entire We Are the World 25 video playing on CNN, thanks to Don Lemon. It's been a lonnng day, and this left me with such a good feeling. Of course, the message goes far beyond just making us feel good...we can all be someone's hero and make a difference. I've spent the last hour watching the old version, looking up why Taylor Swift wasn't in the new one, (which might have to do with cupcakes in Fundon?) and I'm about to post the old and new versions and the lyrics below (from the original version).

There comes a time when we heed a certain call

When the world must come together as one.
There are people dying and it's time to lend a hand
To life - the greatest gift of all.

We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone somewhere will soon make a change.
We are all a part of God's great big family

And the truth
You know
Love is all we need.

We are the world
We are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving.
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives.
It's true
We'll make a better day
Just you and me.

Well
Send them your heart

So they'll know that someone cares

And their lives will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread

And so we all must lend a helping hand.
We are the world

We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we make a better day
Just you and me...

The Principle of the Chinese Bamboo Tree

Have you heard about the Chinese Bamboo Tree? It grows differently than other species of bamboo. Those who plant them nurture the bulb in the soil every day for four years, and nothing happens. Nothing. Then one day it takes off. Within one week it grows up to 90 feet tall. It almost sounds unbelievable.

Yet, all that time the bamboo roots have been developing into a massive system to support the incredibly quick growth of the plant once it's matured. It seems to me that the life process of this miraculous plant works on a true principle.

Serenity Please

I've been listening to Debbie Ford's 21 Day Cleanse on Oprah.com, and although right now I'm having a hard time doing things that require a lot of mental concentration, like write a letter, or write out statements about forgiveness, it's wonderful to discover that this is just one more drop to quench my thirst for peace, for meaning, and for love. It is, in a word, joy rising. Even with my physical limitations, how wonderful to discover that nothing can stop my spirit.

One thing I've come to realize is that I want serenity in my life. Just that: a little serenity, please. I want to be able to respond to life with serenity in the same way tend my garden--with love. In my mind I see those images of a Buddha who's laughing, unbothered by the challenges of life, because he sees beyond the trivial.

Spiritual Rescue

This mom has spent more time on her knees over the last few weeks than she has in a long, long time. Through a lot of prayer and pondering it has become very clear to me that I have a singular purpose on earth, aside from my cherished and divine role as a mother and wife. It sounds boring, perhaps, or maybe it sounds bizarre, but my greatest desire is for That Something Else: to fill the thirst and hunger I have those things which fill my spirit and give my life meaning, and purpose, that allow me to give and receive love, and that which allows me to know inner peace.