sights

I see life in nature: strong and shading trees; unmoveable mountains; unobtrusive Pacific Ocean waves; the water cycle either as snow, rain, or fog; home-owners leaving their uniquely architecturally-designed homes that take advantage of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, dogs cowering from the unusually colder weather, cyclists freely speeding down the road en route to the city. Vancouver is full of life: vegetation stretches farther to soak up the rare sunshine, healthy citizens explore their surroundings, natural cycles continue to provide life.

But death is here as well: fallen or cut trees; rubbish collected near water sewers; lonely faces; persons coping with HIV or AIDS (in North America, it is here where the highest percentage of people who are HIV positive or who have AIDS live); shopping carts full of people's only belongings or maybe full of bottles collected hoping to get some change in return to buy a small meal; hopelessness; consumerists unconsciously purchasing beyond their needs or financial abilities; depression; empty churches. Vancouver is full of death: waste, marginalized people reaching out for hope and mercy, emotionally, mentally, sexually, physically, and spiritually torn apart.

Life and Death. This world needs some things to die: selfishness especially of the rich, abuse of the weak, ignorance of the cries of fathers and mothers and children dying in far-off places, sexualized content everywhere, passivenes. Death comes from life. Life comes through death.

This is what I see.