Meditations Within and Without

A drippy day.

Lilac blossoms.

Milk and tea.

Quiet heart, meditative mind.

Rejoice in the Lord always.

April 1 - Vibrant Day

Beauty has many forms. Obvious and overlooked. In front of our faces and under our feet. Within us. Without us. It's everywhere.

To live a mindful life, to choose to see with eternity's eyes rather than the world's, this is my choice.

The more I learn of cultures far away the more I realize that the average American's life is so very utilitarian. Make money. Buy things. Make more money. Buy bigger, faster things. Make more money. Worry about all the money. Fix and insure all the things. Squeeze money from any source possible. Hoard, throw away, or sell cheap the old things then buy new things that will soon be hoarded, thrown away, or sold cheaply. And complain. All the time complain complain complain. Where is the beauty? Even children are rushed, pulled, shoved, exhausted, and exasperated.

The most heard complaints?

1. We are sooo busy.

2. We are sooo tired.

Is this really living? Or merely existing?

I find myself invigorated and comforted as well as amazed at the many forms of beauty in my life.

Simple things. Complicated things. Ordinary and special.

The hurry up and die life is not for me.

Savoring. That's the way I live.

Death will come soon enough. No need to hurry.

Today enjoy the vibrant day, the beauty. Slow down. Prioritize true quality over status quo, zestful living over expected plodding, loveliness over noise and toys, and lingering expressions of love over all.

January Promise

Energy vibrates. In people, flora, and fauna.

Stems shoot from winter's wet, dark soil.

Ebullience!

Pups, kitties, squirrels, calves, lambs, children transcend lethargy. Bodies - tense with joyous excitement - exhibit expectation, wonder.

"Something is on the way, something living, growing!" As if cocked ears can hear the earth's creaking, snapping, whispering, whooshing awakening from slumber, stretching upward, outward.

Heels skip high, kick, change direction in mid-air, meet the ground in motion.

Unhurried, Earth awakens. She takes her sweet time. Each signal offered is met with greeting, understanding, anticipation. Beauty. Warmth. Color. Freedom from stuffy homes and bulky cold-weather clothing. Bare feet, straight garden rows, scents sent from heaven which delight noses. High sunshine. Elixir of life!


Yesteryears past dance in the forefront of memory.


Celebration begins in the hearts and minds of the aware. Cycles noticed, appreciated. Welcomed.

These are things that unify. Sameness. Equality.

Spring envelops everyone, everything in its time.

We are more alike than different. Seasonal cycles remind us so.

We do well to listen.

Beautiful

My blog friend, Jill, lives in Alaska. She is a athletic adventurer who snowshoes, rides her bike on snow in grueling marathons, hikes, takes gorgeous photos, and writes. An amazing young person.

This photo takes my breath away. I'm borrowing it from Jill for my little blog scrapbook.

Inspiration takes many forms. This is just one.

Realizing Love

Sometimes a person just needs to make chocolate chip cookies.

With nuts.

With oatmeal.

With coconut.

When alone, Carly Simon on the stereo, pup curled on the kitchen rug.

No need to eat any. Strange. Sampled the dough of course, just to be sure it was right, wink wink.

It was.

And I have six dozen cookies less a few the daughters ate upon their arrival home from teaching children science at a daycare center.

Kept a few out for the working man's return. How I love hearing him return!

But most - the best - are stashed away for the sons this weekend.

Yes, when I make cookies for my people it is as though they are right there in the room with me. My love goes into the treats.

Cookies and love.

Miraculous.

The Story Teller and the Story

To open one's heart and mind to new things is truly important, this I know. Expansion results, personal growth, understanding.

Openness must be limited, however, or integrity is compromised. To open without reservation or discernment, without conservation of what has already been discovered, to let known context slip away in a flurry of untested ideas can lead to disintegration, confusion, uncertainty. Rebuilding is then necessary.

Better to be conservative in one's acceptance of new ideas and rejection of old. To swoop up others' notions like prairie wildflowers can lead to mistakes. Oops, there's poison ivy in there. Not good. Healing must ensue. To indiscriminately discard a considered philosophy is foolish.

Better to take the time to look things over carefully, honestly yes, slowly, steadily. Mistakes can be avoided. To replace one incorrect conclusion for another is pointless when it's the truth one is after. Worse to replace a truth with an untruth to achieve peaceful 'compromise', 'understanding,' or an unhealthy 'tolerance.'

True understanding comes from knowledge and knowledge from study, from listening and observing. Honesty requires that a person accept what is discovered whether comfortable or not. Truth is truth. Thankfully, it seems to be introduced in easy to swallow portions most of the time. A little more...a little more...and still a little more, building on the base.

When introduced to frightening, discouraging, repulsive information, hearts can break. But if true, better to have an aching heart than blithely skip and grin through self-concocted or ill-taught marshmallow fantasies.

Life hurts.

For the receptive, God's timely balms often bring comfort to the darkest of hurts.

For these hurts and comforts I praise and worship the Creator. Because I trust that life really is working for my good, the good of others but more importantly it ultimately works for God's purposes.

After all, it's not about me - or you - its about the Storyteller and the Story.

Enriching vs Defining

Our endeavors and achievements should enrich rather than define us.