Twenty-one Gun Salute Meditation / A Show Of Peace / Fistful of Rain / Train of Thought

From an article titled Forgiveness 2018, from a Parabola magazine article by Tracy Cochran:

"Like many men of his generation, my father was a veteran of World War II. At the conclusion of his funeral, an honor guard fired a Twenty-one Gun Salute. This ritual came from the custom of ships firing off all their guns to show that they came in peace. With no time to reload before they were in range of the shore, the ship was voluntarily defenseless. To ask for and offer forgiveness is to put down arms, daring to show ourselves as we are without defenses. This New Year, may we all dare to put down our guns–to take off our armor. Why not sail into the New Year disarmed and vulnerable? The unknown. The unknown is our own greater potential. May we and all beings be forgiven and peaceful and begin again. ♥"

I had no idea that the 21-gun salute ritual came from a custom indicating that the men with guns came in peace, defenseless.

Mama put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore
That cold black cloud is comin' down
Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door
(lyrics by Bob Dylan)





"... In a heart there are windows and doors
You can let the light in
You can feel the wind blow
When there's nothing to lose
And nothing to gain
Grab a hold of that fistful of rain ..."
(lyrics by Warren Zevon)