While her world is evolving and her days are revolving around the GROUND LEVEL explorations of her one-year-old, my daughter, Rebecca, has taken up the wooly feel of fine-grade felt and cotton embroidery threads, crafting stuffed, soft sculptures for the tactile world of her son. She just sent me a photo of one of her projects (Earth Blocks). Now I must tell you that, I opened up her email/photo, just after reading The Preamble to the Code of Ethics, as set out by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. No, this is not a daily habit by any means (although it would be a good one!). Rather, it is a new inpiration by AR stAR, Jessica Horton, to study and discuss, excavate and unlock the NAR Code of Ethics. I am very excited about it, and very grateful for the opportunity to re-view this with a group of REALTORS outside of a classroom. Jessica's leadership and exegesis approach to this subject is brilliant. (THANK YOU JH!) Visit THE CLASS here: Jessica Horton's BLOG: Unlocking the NAR Code - Exegesis of the NAR Code of Ethics. 1

Although I've read the Preamble before, this morning was the first time I read it, slowly, speaking it out loud, as if it were a prayer. I began to think about all that is going on in the world today, and the ways---both known and unknown---that we are impacting the EARTH--- our HOME. Is it still 'humility' if I tell you that, in my best description, I was left with a deep sense of humility? And a profound regard for each one of us that seeks or struggles to know his PLACE in the world? A place to stand and be understood, a place to harbor our highest regard for the abundant gifts of Creation--- a place to LAND and a place to grow where we are planted. I think of our troops that left these spaces to defend the establishment and privilege we are afforded for this most essential need--- LAND... the physical foundation for HOME.

Opening up the email & the photo of the EARTH BLOCKS for a child's world just got me completely choked up in a moment of deep connections about the simplicity and the complexity of making EARTH our HOME. Each one of us is a designated steward for the EARTH. As a REALTOR, I adhere to Standards guided by the Golden Rule, as stated in the NAR Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice: 'Accepting this standard as my own...pledging to observe its spirit in all of my activities whether conducted personally, through associates or others, or via technological means...'

It is a PREAMBLE. Today, it is a prayer...

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS Code of Ethics The Preamble to the Code of Ethics - Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. REALTORS should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment.

                                                        (the beginning...)