Posted in Philosophy

Two Ends, One Arc, One Humanity

Two unique ends joined together in beauty...

We stand in awe at the wonder of a rainbow, where two ends seemingly anchored move with your motion. Two ends unite in a seamless band of color that reflects our shared human experience. The same unifying bands remind us that despite our differences, we are connected through the same light, the same colors, the same humanity.

Christian Lent begins in one sanctuary with penance: remember your mortality and The Sacrifice. Islamic Ramadan begins in another realm with a whispered intention: remember your dependence. Different rituals: yet, both trace back to the same broad spiritual lineage—Abraham. Fasting, repentance, charity, and self-denial are shared practices rooted in this common heritage. They are carried forward in both Islam and Christianity, illustrating our interconnected spiritual traditions.

Between those ends stretches the rainbow’s spectrum — red to violet, each band distinct, each shade necessary. The beauty is not in uniformity but in ordered diversity. Every band retains its identity while belonging to and building something larger.

Bias is what happens when we insist that only our perspective is right. When we claim ownership of the light and forget that our perceptions are shaped by perspective, we neglect the reality that shared understanding and compassion define humanity.

Fasting under a church steeple or a mosque minaret confronts the same human experience and encourages acceptance and understanding. The rainbow does not advocate for which end is the original or correct. It simply refracts what already exists, the light that we all are.

Unity is not sameness. It is recognition and acceptance. For the rainbow to exist, there must be interaction between sky and earth, sun and rain, and yet we can stand on different ground and share the same light, fostering openness and clarity.

When bias dissolves, what remains is not a blurred identity but a clearer vision of our interconnectedness. We realize that the bonds we share are not forced but natural, like the spectrum of a rainbow that was always one phenomenon, reflecting the unity inherent in our diversity.

Two unique ends. Shared colors. Common light. Humanity does not need to merge to be united. It only needs the clarity to see the arc. NeverFearTheDream   simplebender.com

. –. . .- -.-. . / … …. .- .-.. — — / … .- .-.. .- .- —

On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Christians enter Lent and Muslims begin their first full fast of Ramadan. Ramadan and Lent align closely in 2026 and overlap meaningfully in 2027, a convergence that recurs roughly every 33 years, next appearing around 2059–2061. Ramadan follows a purely lunar calendar, while Lent follows a solar-lunar calculation tied to Easter; their seasons of sacrifice and faith overlap only when the drifting Islamic year aligns with the Christian liturgical cycle—an intersection that occurs roughly once every 33 years and can last several consecutive years before separating again.


Lap Around the Sun: Daily Steps Forward
by WCBarron

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Joy in Alzheimer’s: My Mom’s Brave Walk into Dementia’s Abyss
by WCBarron

Buy at Amazon Buy at Barnes & Noble Buy at Books2Read

Posted in Philosophy

Focused Past—Blurred Future

cartoon showing looking backwards and not forward will cause a wreck

People who stop overanalyzing the past have better odds at a successful future.

There is value in embracing the past and looking to the future simultaneously—to practice the philosopher’s “Janusian mindset”—while staying present in the moment. Yet, as we age, whether as individuals or nations, we tend to focus more on our past. We romanticize times when we felt invincible—periods of vitality, learning, and growth. We were finding our strengths, supporting and hiding our weaknesses, all the while learning to see the same in everyone around us.

Now, here we are—a little older, slower, and weaker, but much wiser. And therein lies the key to our future. The secret is not to dwell on who we were, but to leverage our accumulated knowledge and experience for the good of those around us. Greatness is not measured by what we’ve done, but by how we uplift others. As individuals, it’s in how we help our communities; as a nation, it’s in how we inspire global respect for democracy and human dignity. This is the message that philosophers, teachers, and prophets throughout history have conveyed. Greatness was never about personal glory—it was about collective well-being.

Let’s focus less on what we were and more on what we can become, using our experiences to encourage, not oppress. Let’s leverage those experiences not to oppress but to encourage and uplift. The sacrifices of the “Greatest Generation” showed us that we should stand up for those who suffer and support the vulnerable, both locally and globally. We, too, can inspire by looking back as we move forward, coaching the next generation to be better. We must be mindful of what we teach and how we act; the next generation and the world are watching — everything. Our ability to influence and guide them is directly related to our credibility.

Staring in the rearview mirror is a great way to have a wreck while driving forward. As this year ends and we begin another lap around the sun, glance back with gratitude, acknowledging the memories, but keep your eyes focused on the future—for all of us. NeverFearTheDream simplebender.com

First published in Bend Bulletin 1/7/26

Joy in Alzheimer’s
W.C. Barron
Lap Around the Sun
Daily Steps Forward — W.C. Barron