Thursday, March 25, 2010

Synchronicity



Earth. Rushing water. Blueys. I walk down the gravel path beside the swollen creek, sneakers crunching, heart beating, my soul lost in the song of the morning. The sun warms my cheek as my eyes drink in the cache of tiny blue flowers blooming along the creek bank. Others delight in robins as heralds of spring; I look for ‘blueys’, a wild variety of figwort or speedwell that I affectionately nicknamed.

The highway in the distance rumbles and pulsates with work traffic; the road behind me is alive too. Redwings call, a little song sparrow sits on a dead sprig pumping his little throat with jubilant song. Pines along the creek dance and sway, boughs whispering secrets of earth, water and sky. I walk, breathe deeply of earthiness, of the joy of living, of the dankness of goose droppings and dead night crawlers washed up, vulnerable and exposed on the path, their lives sacrificed and now fertilizing, sustaining us all. I show respect and gratitude as I step over each offering.


Carey, my Australian Cattle Dog, is in complete sync with me. I walk and she trots. I stop; draw in a quick breath over a flash of blue brilliance, she stops, waits, watches. Does she see the bluebird too? I resume walking; she trots. I turn, cock my head to listen. Cardinal is whit-whit-whitting somewhere high in a tree, Blue Jay screeches, a goose rises up from still waters, all dripping and feather rustling, then settles into stillness, the construction site to my left spills noises of pounding and sawing. I suddenly notice Carey also paused, ears perked, head cocked for better listening.

Awe washes over me, warms my belly, tingles my skin. Every cell in my body vibrates. I am the wolf pack. I am the earth. I am dying. I am fully alive. I am synchronized, united with dog and earth and Love and wonder. I am community, sharing nature’s Eucharist.

In one instant I know more of God than ever before, and also realize I know utterly nothing about God. I have just experienced love expanding me; I don’t need any search for meaning. I am simply here, strengthened by rushing creek water, enlightened in the song of the mocking bird, receiving God smiles in blue weed flowers, communing with the Whole.

Joyfully,
Sharon



Carey, 10 years young!


Monday, March 22, 2010

Savor the Ordinary

For the last few months I’ve drawn, painted or colored a mandala each week. Wikipedia says: “Mandalas are a generic term for any plan, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosm of the Universe from the human perspective.”


I use mandalas as a way of connecting to my soul, to hear God in fresh ways, to stimulate my right brain, and to just play. Playing is fun! I am relearning how to playfully create and not take creating so seriously. Creations don’t to be worthy of selling or sharing to be fun and meaningful.

The last retreat I co-facilitated I wanted a visual to symbolize impermanence, so I created a mandala of candy. I enjoyed the simple beauty that arose; those who ate the candy enjoyed the beauty and the impermanence! Ordinary candy, ordinary people, ordinary play, became a feast of admiring, savoring, and letting go.

Find beauty in the ordinary. It doesn’t take time, just a shift in awareness. You don’t have to stop to smell the roses; simply inhaling deeply as you pass will do. Savor ordinary meals, ordinary days. Savor each connection with humanity, no matter how brief. Brief eye contact here, a smile there is a beautiful way to notice another. The simplest noticing often makes a difference in someone's day. Life isn't mostly heroics; it's about showing up day and after day, present, aware, and purposefully looking for beauty, truth and goodness.

Love deeply, find beauty everywhere, play, create, and let go!

Joyfully,
Sharon

 The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart.  ~ Jelaluddin Rumi
 
It's the beauty within us that makes it possible for us to recognize the beauty around us.  ~ Joan Chittister in The Psalms
 
Beauty saves. Beauty heals. Beauty motivates. Beauty unites. Beauty returns us to our origins, and here lies the ultimate act of saving, of healing, of overcoming dualism. Beauty allows us to forget the pain and dwell on the joy.  ~ Matthew Fox in Original Blessing
 
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~Paul writing in Philippians 4:8