Weekend Reflection
"What is right in front of us we see least. We take the plants in the room for granted. We pay no attention to the coming of night. We miss the look of invitation on a neighbor's face. We see only ourselves in action and miss the cocoon around us. As a result, we run the risk of coming out of every situation with no more than when we went in into it.
.... See everything in life as sacred ... This neighborhood ... This tree ... This work ... Everything if life, in fact, is speaking to us of something. It is only when we learn to ask what the world around us is saying to us at this very moment, in this particular situation, that we tend the seedbed of our soul."*
~Joan Chittister, OSB,
Illuminated Life
Take a look around you today. What is right in front of you that you did not see before?
What is it saying to you?
I'm eager to hear ...
~~~~~*Excerpted without permission from Illuminated Life: Monastic Wisdom for Seekers of Light by Joan Chittister. This is another of my favorites books. I return to it again and again for reminding." Learn more about Sr. Joan's work at http://www.benetvision.org/
"Trees" image courtesy of http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs324/s09/lab4/trees,jpg/s04/lab4/trees.jpg
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14 comments:
Hi Jan!
I know there was a time in my life when I hurried about and probably missed a ton! I'm enjoying being older. I take my time, I do pay attention to things and since practicing Zen I try to be acutely aware of my surroundings. I refuse to rush, I don't wear a watch but I am never late and this whole slow down process (aging) is being embraced now. I'm still VERY active, mind you, but the pace is wonderful! Wish I'd done this years ago! :)
I'll take your question literally, looking right out the window in front of me at a gray sky drizzling rain. At first I'd thought what a punky couple of days it's been, but heck. Now I look at it as what a perfect day to be home, cozy, with my family, enjoying the essence and colors and peace of my abode :)
I try to be present and most mindful. When I think about your words, though, everything around me in my life at this time seems to be saying "play with me"--my children, my friends, my boat, my backyard, my mountains, all saying play with me. I've discovered lately that I've been guarded, so maybe it's saying let down your guard and just be. I've also discovered I've been "bogged down" by responsibility. So, I'm going to take notice and to play:)
I'm seeing these days right in front of me is profound change. The sun is lower in the hemisphere, the shadows are longer and less bright than in summer, the air has taken on a chill. The earth is preparing for quieter times, putting away the noise of summer.
I am still without work, but with the change in season, I feel a change within, an OK-ness about it and a deep trust that all will be as it should be. I have the gift of time right now. Instead of spending my days only looking for work, I will enjoy some of this time while I have it.
SuZen,
Congratulations on this! You have made wonderful choices to be perfectly present. :-) I don't wear a watch either and I still get everywhere on time too! Nor do I rush anymore, not worth it and my body doesn't like it. Ain't life grand?
Joanne,
I appreciate how you have reframed what could be perceived as pure yuck of a day. The scene you describe has such peace...
Joy,
Play is so good AND healthy! Your kid are gonna love you for this breakthrough. Enjoy!
Rose,
Great attitude. I know when I was out of work for a period a number of years ago, I reframed this time to be "me time, actually education time where I was literally "growing myself." It brought ease to the days. Hang in there. I hold you in heart and thought that good things will come...
I often fall prey to the 'not enough' syndrome, and even when I have it all, see instead what's missing. Or what I perceive is missing.
This post is reminding me to take everything around me into consideration for what makes my life perfect right now. If there was to be more, it would be here now. Since it's not, what I have is all I need.
Thank you, Jan.
Hi Jan,
Recently I have come to realize that what we are looking for or rather the answers that we seek, are usually right in front of us. When we are mindful to our surroundings, we kind of find the pieces of the puzzle. So that is what I have been realizing this past weekend. :)
Time/pockets of time.
Far too often I gripe about not having enough time for this or that, when the truth is, time/ packets of time are always tucked into my day.
Sure sometimes I see them but I might be so engrossed in being busy with some household chore, some other task or project. I don't move quickly enough to lap up the time and use it to take a much needed break, relax and refresh my spirit, my mind and my body.
I spent most of this year talking about how tired I was of my 45 minute commute to work. Same bumpty roads, same frustrating traffic every day. And then they tore up one of the major roads along my route, and I found a detour that took me on a 25 mph street through a neighborhood with lush green lawns, a sparkling pond and stately trees whose graceful branches arched over a two-lane ribbon of asphalt. No more boring commute. I've had several of those 'perception shifts' over the past few months. I don't always slow down appreciate everything, but now I recognize that's really all I have to do to change the way I feel. Wayne Dyer is absolutely correct in this: When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
I saw a beautiful thing today - a female blackbird gathering strands of grass for her nest. (It's spring here you see). She was very energetic and focused. I sneaked out and placed a few tufts of fleece near where she had been foraging – but when she came back she didn't take the fleece, instead seeking out a very specific type of dry grass from the floor outside my window. I'm moving house soon - and I think this was a message to me that all will be well but I have to put in the effort (like the blackbird). Also, I need to be choosy (!)
For me slowing down still needs permission once in a while. I can stay and sit longer enjoying the sun because it is Sunday, or I have done well this morning etc.
And when I have permission to slow down I can look at things without judging it good or bad. Rain becomes beautiful, sunshine becomes beautiful. I feel so much more tolerant and I seem to see the beauty in things far more easier.
Right now I hear the birds, see the flowers and see the blossoms and see the promose of new life and that is actually my wealth right now.
Hmm.
There are days when I miss the night coming or miss the expressions on the faces of the ones I love, but there are other days when I see it all with wonderment and awe. I am finding that a daily practice of mindfulness and awareness is so valuable. Even when things go terribly wrong this practice provides a holding space of beauty. Our tears rest in beauty. Our joy rests in beauty. ... There is beauty all around us constantly consistently and tuning into it creates a world that is a sanctuary.
Megan,
Beautifully said! You express profound trust in what is here, right now. Yes, ultimately, trust is all we need. :-)
Nadia,
Wonderful awarenesses! One of my favorite quotes is by St. Francis of Assisi who said: You are that which you are seeking. Meaning, all that we seek is really within. I love that...
Cheryl,
Another grande awareness. We DO focus on time and lack of it, don't we? And what if we didn't? Would we have even more time than we think? Hmmmmm.....Here's to you savoring (and making good use of) those pockets....
Joni,
Love this story. So simple and yet so powerful, illustrating how everything is a matter of perspective and choice. Enjoy the fall colors on your slow drive!
Stoneweaver,
This story of yours offers such insights. Also interesting perspectives. How often do we think someone needs something better so we provide it? I admire how this little bird knew what she needed and stuck to her plan (despite your gesture). May your moving plan unfold with ease....
Wilma,
How nice that you were able to take a conscious morning of slowing down, deeply seeing and appreciating. Yes, it seems the slower we go the more we see. I have come to regard going slower as a true gift of the spirit. (A number of illnesses and an injury or two over the years reinforced this.) Love Thich Nhat Hanh's thought: Go slowly, breathe and smile. Enjoy the day!
Kat,
Lovely thoughts. You weave such a picture with your words of how being mindful allows us to hold everything in acceptance and beauty--even the difficult things. I agree, though it takes practice. But that is why they call it "spiritual practice." (LOL)
I do attempt to be mindful and pay attention. Lately what has called out to me are the trees,turning so many colors and bringing tears to my eyes on a daily basis with their beauty. xoxo
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