I believe water and waves, it washes things like grief away but other things may come with it. Its just it, not good nor bad. Its a flowing state. You ride that wave, another forms. Its just how life is. Master it, dont let it master you but riding and understanding the patterns. Knowing when its too high to retreat and when low/mid enough to ride or walk through it. Can control it, let it flow.
I have to say all of it also. I did move to the Ocean state and fell in love with it 24 years ago. There are many Nature preserves that I enjoy walking and seeing wild life but my favorite are near river, streams, ponds or the Ocean. I am very fortunate to have found such a beautiful place to live that is very protective of green space.
I think it is all of the “edges”. The dawn, the change of seasons, the high and low tides, the buds, the seed pods, the cool changes sweeping through, the first fruits, the new moon, the full moon, the births and the deaths, the spilling of the tears, the sounds of the wind through the trees, the hello hugs. And so much more…
I have spent a great part of my (long) life near and on the water … lakes large and smaller, ocean, rivers, ponds. Water = Home for me. As well, among the trees, from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, I have marveled and appreciated trees of all kinds, and those wondrous creatures that inhabit these areas. This now includes the various trees and creatures I am gifted to see on a daily basis in my backyard, and Lake Michigan a mile away. I breathe and appreciate differently when I am privileged to be in these spaces. And I am SO grateful.
When I go exploring in nature world which is a little bit dangerous I ask first to give me permission to enter into your nature like the Taoists. “The taste of water. I am, thirst quenchng water”
I love all natural bodies of water. Just yesterday I drove half hour up a mountain road 10 miles to get natural spring water coming out of pipe.
All of it, and also very specifically SEEDS. They are absolutely amazing. So tiny, with so much variety in shape and size and color, and containing with them the entire story of what they will become. That first pair of leaves poking above the soil is patience, persistence, effort, uncoiling, reaching, stretching, growing, chancing.
To answer today’s question, the natural world pleads with us to join it in creating paradise. But today’s quote from Gary Snyder (“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”) prompted me to write the following reflection.
Morning Med April 22 2023
G.A. Studdert-Kennedy, a great interpreter of truth in his generation, wrote a book called “The Warrior, the Woman, and the Christ.” In it he said this: “LOVE IS THE JOYOUS CONFLICT OF TWO OR MORE FREE SELF-CONSCIOUS PERSONS WHO REJOICE IN ONE ANOTHER’S INDIVIDUALITIES AND… THROUGH THE CLASH OF MIND ON MIND AND WILL ON WILL WORK OUT AN EVER-INCREASING BUT NEVER FINALLY COMPLETED UNITY…AND THE PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THIS VITAL AND VITALIZING LOVE IS THE HOME.”
The key phrase for me in Studdert-Kennedy’s quote is “self-conscious persons.” Consciousness being persons who are awake; persons who are present to and aware of the part each plays in the ongoing act of creation.
What part have we as a species played in the evolution of our world? What is our relationship with self, with each other and with the rest of nature? How often when something goes wrong do we hear the excuse, “Well, it’s just human nature?” Is it? Or have we as a species failed to own our thoughts, feelings and actions? Have we chosen fear over love?
I share a piece I wrote that speaks to these questions”
Hope’s two daughters
Once upon a time there was a woman named Hope. She was a wise woman. When she birthed twin daughters, she named them Anger and Courage. She loved both of them dearly and equally.
Now Anger was born first. She was very outgoing …boisterous…opinionated and quick tempered. She was thinker. Her sister Courage was a bit younger…sometimes shy…patient but very determined and deliberate…a feeler.
When someone asked, “Why would you name your daughters Anger and Courage?” Hope replied, “Nothing would happen in this world if people didn’t get angry. Nothing would change. Anger is neither good nor bad. It is what we do with our anger that makes it either constructive or destructive.”
“But isn’t it better to just have courage?” another asked.
Hope thought for a moment and then she responded, “Courage is not better or worse than anger but I wouldn’t advise having one without the other. When Anger and Courage walk hand in hand, side by side, there is one thing I know: Neither will think or feel like a victim.”
What I hoped to express in this short meditation was that anger is of the mind; courage is of the heart. It calls anger to be accountable. There’s no “Well, it’s just human nature” excuse.
The ocean is my favorite. Many years ago I found my spiritual home on Maui. We traveled there every other year, until we just got to old to make the trip. I remember wanting to move by the ocean, but with our kids here, it would have been difficult for us to see them, so we stayed where we are.
If you ever find a spiritual home on this earth, spend several months in that place. If you still feel the same way, then move there. The kids will probably follow, or at least visit often.
I am so grateful for all the years we were able to visit Maui. Mahalo.
The ocean is my go-to. I’ve always lived within a short drive to the shore, and it’s always given me so much peace, joy, and helps me feel the connection of life and truth. Whether I’m sitting in the sand looking at the ocean, floating in the water on a calm flat day, or surfing… I do love Mama Ocean and all that she provides!
For starters, today’s beautiful picture in the Word for the Day, loved it:)
Mountains, caves, beach, moon, animals, bioluminescence – it’s all amazing.
HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYONE🌎
The interconnection of everything in and on our world and universe. A quote from an Alan Watts talk sums it up for me “…bees and flowers, where there are no flowers there are no bees, where there are no bees there are no flowers, they look very different but they are essentially one organism.”
Joseph, thought you might find this Alan Watts quote of interest: “Underneath the superficial self, which pays attention to this and that, there is another self more really us than I. And the more you become aware of the unknown self — if you become aware of it — the more you realize that it is inseparably connected with everything else that is. You are a function of this total galaxy, bounded by the Milky Way, and this galaxy is a function of all other galaxies. You are that vast thing that you see far, far off with great telescopes. You look and look, and one day you are going to wake up and say, “Why, that’s me!” And in knowing that, you know that you never die. You are the eternal thing that comes and goes that appears — now as John Jones, now as Mary Smith, now as Betty Brown — and so it goes, forever and ever and ever.”
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The Light which shines through the leaves of the trees and clouds, nourishing the world with its life-giving beauty.
I believe water and waves, it washes things like grief away but other things may come with it. Its just it, not good nor bad. Its a flowing state. You ride that wave, another forms. Its just how life is. Master it, dont let it master you but riding and understanding the patterns. Knowing when its too high to retreat and when low/mid enough to ride or walk through it. Can control it, let it flow.
I have to say all of it also. I did move to the Ocean state and fell in love with it 24 years ago. There are many Nature preserves that I enjoy walking and seeing wild life but my favorite are near river, streams, ponds or the Ocean. I am very fortunate to have found such a beautiful place to live that is very protective of green space.
I think it is all of the “edges”. The dawn, the change of seasons, the high and low tides, the buds, the seed pods, the cool changes sweeping through, the first fruits, the new moon, the full moon, the births and the deaths, the spilling of the tears, the sounds of the wind through the trees, the hello hugs. And so much more…
Amen
I have spent a great part of my (long) life near and on the water … lakes large and smaller, ocean, rivers, ponds. Water = Home for me. As well, among the trees, from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, I have marveled and appreciated trees of all kinds, and those wondrous creatures that inhabit these areas. This now includes the various trees and creatures I am gifted to see on a daily basis in my backyard, and Lake Michigan a mile away. I breathe and appreciate differently when I am privileged to be in these spaces. And I am SO grateful.
I breathe in Bliss and I exhale appreciation
All of Mother Nature, especially big trees, Redwood trees. The mighty Redwoods are my medicine, my healing balm.🌲🍃❤️
When I go exploring in nature world which is a little bit dangerous I ask first to give me permission to enter into your nature like the Taoists. “The taste of water. I am, thirst quenchng water”
I love all natural bodies of water. Just yesterday I drove half hour up a mountain road 10 miles to get natural spring water coming out of pipe.
I find peace and sanctuary in rivers, mountains, and trees.
All of it, and also very specifically SEEDS. They are absolutely amazing. So tiny, with so much variety in shape and size and color, and containing with them the entire story of what they will become. That first pair of leaves poking above the soil is patience, persistence, effort, uncoiling, reaching, stretching, growing, chancing.
So true Barb C!
To answer today’s question, the natural world pleads with us to join it in creating paradise. But today’s quote from Gary Snyder (“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”) prompted me to write the following reflection.
Morning Med April 22 2023
G.A. Studdert-Kennedy, a great interpreter of truth in his generation, wrote a book called “The Warrior, the Woman, and the Christ.” In it he said this: “LOVE IS THE JOYOUS CONFLICT OF TWO OR MORE FREE SELF-CONSCIOUS PERSONS WHO REJOICE IN ONE ANOTHER’S INDIVIDUALITIES AND… THROUGH THE CLASH OF MIND ON MIND AND WILL ON WILL WORK OUT AN EVER-INCREASING BUT NEVER FINALLY COMPLETED UNITY…AND THE PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THIS VITAL AND VITALIZING LOVE IS THE HOME.”
The key phrase for me in Studdert-Kennedy’s quote is “self-conscious persons.” Consciousness being persons who are awake; persons who are present to and aware of the part each plays in the ongoing act of creation.
What part have we as a species played in the evolution of our world? What is our relationship with self, with each other and with the rest of nature? How often when something goes wrong do we hear the excuse, “Well, it’s just human nature?” Is it? Or have we as a species failed to own our thoughts, feelings and actions? Have we chosen fear over love?
I share a piece I wrote that speaks to these questions”
Hope’s two daughters
Once upon a time there was a woman named Hope. She was a wise woman. When she birthed twin daughters, she named them Anger and Courage. She loved both of them dearly and equally.
Now Anger was born first. She was very outgoing …boisterous…opinionated and quick tempered. She was thinker. Her sister Courage was a bit younger…sometimes shy…patient but very determined and deliberate…a feeler.
When someone asked, “Why would you name your daughters Anger and Courage?” Hope replied, “Nothing would happen in this world if people didn’t get angry. Nothing would change. Anger is neither good nor bad. It is what we do with our anger that makes it either constructive or destructive.”
“But isn’t it better to just have courage?” another asked.
Hope thought for a moment and then she responded, “Courage is not better or worse than anger but I wouldn’t advise having one without the other. When Anger and Courage walk hand in hand, side by side, there is one thing I know: Neither will think or feel like a victim.”
What I hoped to express in this short meditation was that anger is of the mind; courage is of the heart. It calls anger to be accountable. There’s no “Well, it’s just human nature” excuse.
I enjoyed your reflection today Carol.
The ocean is my favorite. Many years ago I found my spiritual home on Maui. We traveled there every other year, until we just got to old to make the trip. I remember wanting to move by the ocean, but with our kids here, it would have been difficult for us to see them, so we stayed where we are.
If you ever find a spiritual home on this earth, spend several months in that place. If you still feel the same way, then move there. The kids will probably follow, or at least visit often.
I am so grateful for all the years we were able to visit Maui. Mahalo.
The ocean is my go-to. I’ve always lived within a short drive to the shore, and it’s always given me so much peace, joy, and helps me feel the connection of life and truth. Whether I’m sitting in the sand looking at the ocean, floating in the water on a calm flat day, or surfing… I do love Mama Ocean and all that she provides!
ALL of it!
Yes!
For starters, today’s beautiful picture in the Word for the Day, loved it:)
Mountains, caves, beach, moon, animals, bioluminescence – it’s all amazing.
HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYONE🌎
The interconnection of everything in and on our world and universe. A quote from an Alan Watts talk sums it up for me “…bees and flowers, where there are no flowers there are no bees, where there are no bees there are no flowers, they look very different but they are essentially one organism.”
Joseph, thought you might find this Alan Watts quote of interest: “Underneath the superficial self, which pays attention to this and that, there is another self more really us than I. And the more you become aware of the unknown self — if you become aware of it — the more you realize that it is inseparably connected with everything else that is. You are a function of this total galaxy, bounded by the Milky Way, and this galaxy is a function of all other galaxies. You are that vast thing that you see far, far off with great telescopes. You look and look, and one day you are going to wake up and say, “Why, that’s me!” And in knowing that, you know that you never die. You are the eternal thing that comes and goes that appears — now as John Jones, now as Mary Smith, now as Betty Brown — and so it goes, forever and ever and ever.”
Love the quote.
Thank you Carol.