Spring 1829, Aaron Katz, flees his home in the Russian ‘Pale of Settlement’ to his father in Siberia. Not a place he could survive, Aaron travels on to Russian-Alaska. First in Southeast Alaska, then on the banks of the Yukon River, Aaron learns that life is more than constant obstacles to overcome; he grapples with living as a journey inward.
Maps
Pride
Are we not quickly pulled by the sweetness of pride?
Worse than jealousy as the energy we receive intoxicates. Most hide in the warmth or boast at the power. But when our conscious mind wakes, we know the dangerous dance has begun.
Fool is the one who maintains confidence in the face of misunderstanding.
Yet, lack of pride produces unneeded hurdles with others.
Like the spinning circle of Yin and Yang, you need to keep moving to stay balanced between light and dark.
Fear
Far more for the unknown than for what stands before us, humans are a fearful bunch.
The rustle in the darkness is rarely understood as the scurrying mice.
The slight from a friend is misunderstood as anger instead of the bad day she is having.
We let fear run our lives and our anxious reactions control those around us including the ones that love us.
A hovering mother does much because of her fear instead of love.
The aggressive father yells because of his dreaded repeated failures instead of accepting.
When the object of our fear is revealed, acceptance as well as progress follow like rains on dry lands.
Thad Keener is a long-time resident of Fairbanks, Alaska, where he lives with his wife Amy Gallaway, and their two rescue dogs. He built his Alaskan home before his long career as an elementary school educator and administrator. His profession taught him that a better world comes through personal development while Alaska taught him a deep level of acceptance. After a visiting rabbi shared his Siberian stories, Thad enjoyed researching about our northern neighbors and their time in Alaska.
Thad Keener 