Edwin Markham, now deceased poet from Oregon City, Oregon, wrote 4 lines that lassoed my attention over 40 years ago. And the truth of his words rings in my ears often. I admire his simplicity of wisdom in poetic form; like Burma Shave signs along my journey. Here are a few of his signs:
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"He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic , rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!"
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"There is a destiny which makes us (brothers);
none goes his way alone.
All that we send into the lives of others
comes back into our own.
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"For all your years prepare,
And meet them ever alike;
When you are the anvil, bear--
When you are the hammer, strike
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
Starting From Scratch
A story I heard years ago told of a man studying to be a priest. One of the students'challenges was to speak extemporaneously on a topic written on a piece of paper under their dinner plate. This young man's paper was blank! Nothing on either side. He hesitated to collect his thoughts and then said, "On this piece of paper there is nothing," (pause for colleague laughter) "And it was from just this kind of nothing that God created everything." He then launched into an inspirational message on creation.
August is my piece of nothing. Since early childhood this is the month I wanted to wish away. My beloved trees are beginning their transition to winter rest. Garden harvests are dying on the vine. Grass becomes amber instead of emerald. And something in the air just pats down my energy like a salve I can't breathe through. August is my transition month and I'd like to eliminate it. This time period zaps my energy rather than sparking it. I feel the call to sleep in every cell of my being; to rest up for the real love of my life, -- adventureous learning! In my youth going to school to unlock more secrets than I knew existed and savoring each (except math maybe) was like an unending buffet.
I'm in a different school now. The longing to learn still pulls at me during this languishing month each year. Yet I don't have the control of a calendar starting date. Aging forces me to set goals in new ways; on my own and with little help from guidance counselors. What will I make of my nothing? A long list of things I always thought would interest me? One specific focus that will consume all my energy and focus my three months heading into Christmas? Or perhaps no list at all; just tear that paper nothing into a ship or star and let my imagination lead me to all things exciting and nourishing.
From nothing God created all things. Perhaps I could create just one?
August is my piece of nothing. Since early childhood this is the month I wanted to wish away. My beloved trees are beginning their transition to winter rest. Garden harvests are dying on the vine. Grass becomes amber instead of emerald. And something in the air just pats down my energy like a salve I can't breathe through. August is my transition month and I'd like to eliminate it. This time period zaps my energy rather than sparking it. I feel the call to sleep in every cell of my being; to rest up for the real love of my life, -- adventureous learning! In my youth going to school to unlock more secrets than I knew existed and savoring each (except math maybe) was like an unending buffet.
I'm in a different school now. The longing to learn still pulls at me during this languishing month each year. Yet I don't have the control of a calendar starting date. Aging forces me to set goals in new ways; on my own and with little help from guidance counselors. What will I make of my nothing? A long list of things I always thought would interest me? One specific focus that will consume all my energy and focus my three months heading into Christmas? Or perhaps no list at all; just tear that paper nothing into a ship or star and let my imagination lead me to all things exciting and nourishing.
From nothing God created all things. Perhaps I could create just one?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Spice It Up
One mallard duck is swimming on the tiny pond just about 50 feet from my viewing point. Wide spread pine limbs are raining down yellow needles in clumps of two. One duo lands like a finger pointing to a passage in my open book where on page 52 it clearly marks the words, "Ask the universe to make clear where you should put your energies next." WHOA. That is the quickest answer to my thought question that I've ever gotten. Just seconds before I wondered silently what I should explore next on life's journey.
The outdoor weather worn deck of our local library is providing me with the view, the peace, the air and the privacy to wonder 'where to next with my life?' As the surprise awakens me the next image I 'see' is me lining up pieces on a gameboard deciding what to move where. I blink and a second image shows me choosing spices to shake on that same gameboard laying receptively before me.
I understand the imagery. I am being presented with options to spice up my life. The choice is clearly mine, yet I still do that childlike thing of waiting for the universe to throw down the clearly written choice I SHOULD make.
The outdoor weather worn deck of our local library is providing me with the view, the peace, the air and the privacy to wonder 'where to next with my life?' As the surprise awakens me the next image I 'see' is me lining up pieces on a gameboard deciding what to move where. I blink and a second image shows me choosing spices to shake on that same gameboard laying receptively before me.
I understand the imagery. I am being presented with options to spice up my life. The choice is clearly mine, yet I still do that childlike thing of waiting for the universe to throw down the clearly written choice I SHOULD make.
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