Today I sat with a friend who was just diagnosed with lung cancer. Turning towards what is scary and wounded in my dear friend is a practice of Radical Joy. In loving her: her fierceness, her humor, her vulnerability, I feel the incredible preciousness of life and the incredible joy and richness she has brought to my life. I feel deep love for her as she sings a song to us about a lady with a ukulele. I will be by her side no matter where her path is headed. I feel the courage in that, knowing how habituated it is to turn away from pain and fear. I spent the evening tonight with my sweetheart at our local state forest. DAR State Forest in Goshen MA, over 1000 acres donated in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution. It is beautifully cared for. Kayaks and swimmers share space with the ducks and other wildlife: moose, deer bear and fox. It is a place of joy for many beings. I swam in the clean fresh water this evening feeling so deeply grateful for this preciously preserved land. I met a group of young people in their 20’s who were camping there. They stopped at our little resting spot( my wife Judith and I) as we all looked at this beautiful view (see photo ) and watched a mama duck with her 7 babies swimming and feeding. May generations beyond us sustain and be sustained by the grace and beauty of this planet! May wisdom , courage and compassion guide our actions in all our relations to all of life.