Meditations in the National Parks comes from my learning in nature. Inspired by contemplative spirituality, I’ve meditated and taken notes in the parks. This series is the formation of those meditations. All words and photographs are my own. Saguaro: Dance Desolation contains abundant life. Easy as it may be to simply acknowledge this terrain as desert …
Author Archives: michaeldstark
Transition (Great Basin)
Meditations in the National Parks comes from my learning in nature. Inspired by contemplative spirituality, I’ve meditated and taken notes in the parks. This series is the formation of those meditations. All words and photographs are my own. It is summer as we leave Denver. It is winter as we pass the western Colorado mountains. Summer …
Grey (Badlands)
Meditations in the National Parks comes from my learning in nature. Inspired by contemplative spirituality, I’ve meditated and taken notes in the parks. This series is the formation of those meditations. All words and photographs are my own. As I trod through the Badlands, the greyness overcame me. Grey ahead of me, grey behind me. …
Lessons from Picard on Social Distancing & Friendship
March 24th brings the finale of Star Trek: Picard, the series in which Sir Patrick Stewart returns to the famous, titular character. The world in which we now inhabit is starkly different than the on in which Picard premiered a mere ten weeks ago. For the premiere, I hosted a watch party. For the finale, …
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The Chain of Command
The two-part “Chain of Command” is often hailed as one of The Next Generation’s best. It starts off with an absolute shock. Picard is relieved of his command of the Enterprise before the opening credits. Immediately after, there is no slowing down. Riker meets the new captain, an Edward Jellico, who is in charge of …
The Inner Light
I’ve had relative ease writing this series examining the character of Picard. I know the episodes of The Next Generation well. I’ve seen them countless times throughout my life. Yet no episode is as unique as “The Inner Light”, and I’ve been dreading how I’m going to approach this particular element of Picard. By now, …
I, Borg
Unlike one of the later iterations, such as Star Trek: Voyager, The Next Generation never delved too deeply into Borg mythology. This less-is-more approach enhanced the mystery and dangerous nature of the Borg. When they appeared, the Borg brought a thrilling and existential threat to our main crew. Anything after “The Best of Both Worlds” …
Darmok
Have you ever been in a situation where you and another person simply don’t understand each other? I’m not talking about a mere disagreement of a difference of perspective, but a deep misunderstanding because of communication? That is the situation Picard finds himself in during “Darmok”, though perhaps the challenge facing him as tenfold. Picard …
The Drumhead
Principled values show their strength when they are tested. This is the case in “The Drumhead”, as an admiral comes onboard to investigate a possible sabotage on the Enterprise and a potential larger threat to the Federation. There was, indeed, an incident, and an implicated spy onboard. This concluded rather quickly, leaving us to realize …
Family
Picard’s assimilation saga, in my mind, is not restricted to “The Best of Both Worlds”. It continues into the eighth film, Star Trek: First Contact, but in-between there are two fundamental episodes that deal with Picard’s experience, “I, Borg”, which will be explored elsewhere, and “Family”. If “The Best of Both Worlds” is a Riker …
Former Aspiring Philosopher 