Day 186 of 365 - Stillness & Flow
It's one of those days when my mind is flitting about, like a bird gathering bits for it's new spring nest. I can't seem to settle on any one thing and keep getting distracted by yet another shiny object.
But, a few things I've already looked at online today clearly demonstrated both stillness and flow. They can and do coexist. We see it so obviously in water. Sometimes the surface appears very calm, yet there is always current moving in the water below, at least in living water. There is something inherently soothing in that.
When I was growing up, we had for a time, a cottage on a large river less than 10 miles from our home. It was the river near which my father's hometown was also located. I think that river was a special and meaningful place for him. In the evenings, he loved sitting quietly by himself on the big front porch of the cottage, just gazing at the river. It seemed both calming and healing for him.
Imagine his disappointment when we reached our teens and decided the cottage was a boring place. We'd rather be back in town for the summer, where the flow of action and 'real life' among friends happened. Life is like that. It pulls us in different directions and promises us the moon, if even only for a moment. It's so enticing to be drawn to the excitement.
However, there is beauty and depth in the stillness too. Perhaps as we get older we appreciate this more. I sure wish we still had that cottage now! We can learn just as much by observing the flow of life around our stillness as we can from being in the thick of action. That's the beauty of contrast.
A river, and life, clearly shows us both. Our free will let's us make a choice, moment to moment and day to day.
Right now, it is technically spring and the earth, air and water are very gradually warming up. The trees are still basically bare. The ground looks pretty barren except for a few shoots. But I know there's an awful lot going on below the surface and that one day, before too long, there will be what appears as a sudden burst of growth and color. It will have been happening all along, just out of sight.
Engaging with nature can increase our awareness of these subtle, ongoing changes happening on a gradual basis. This might occur by choosing a regular time to look out the window at the same tree or garden each day, maybe walk that area, or, if you have your own property to work your land a bit.
There is a small river running through the city where I live. I have never had an attraction to it similar to the large river of my father's youth. But, I could probably learn a lot from it about the flow of life in both it and me if I walked along it or gazed upon it more often.
A little pondering for a Monday morning. This is what ultimately drew me, rather than a physical 'to do' list. How blessed I am to have the choice where my mind and body meanders.
But, a few things I've already looked at online today clearly demonstrated both stillness and flow. They can and do coexist. We see it so obviously in water. Sometimes the surface appears very calm, yet there is always current moving in the water below, at least in living water. There is something inherently soothing in that.
When I was growing up, we had for a time, a cottage on a large river less than 10 miles from our home. It was the river near which my father's hometown was also located. I think that river was a special and meaningful place for him. In the evenings, he loved sitting quietly by himself on the big front porch of the cottage, just gazing at the river. It seemed both calming and healing for him.
Imagine his disappointment when we reached our teens and decided the cottage was a boring place. We'd rather be back in town for the summer, where the flow of action and 'real life' among friends happened. Life is like that. It pulls us in different directions and promises us the moon, if even only for a moment. It's so enticing to be drawn to the excitement.
However, there is beauty and depth in the stillness too. Perhaps as we get older we appreciate this more. I sure wish we still had that cottage now! We can learn just as much by observing the flow of life around our stillness as we can from being in the thick of action. That's the beauty of contrast.
A river, and life, clearly shows us both. Our free will let's us make a choice, moment to moment and day to day.
Right now, it is technically spring and the earth, air and water are very gradually warming up. The trees are still basically bare. The ground looks pretty barren except for a few shoots. But I know there's an awful lot going on below the surface and that one day, before too long, there will be what appears as a sudden burst of growth and color. It will have been happening all along, just out of sight.
Engaging with nature can increase our awareness of these subtle, ongoing changes happening on a gradual basis. This might occur by choosing a regular time to look out the window at the same tree or garden each day, maybe walk that area, or, if you have your own property to work your land a bit.
There is a small river running through the city where I live. I have never had an attraction to it similar to the large river of my father's youth. But, I could probably learn a lot from it about the flow of life in both it and me if I walked along it or gazed upon it more often.
A little pondering for a Monday morning. This is what ultimately drew me, rather than a physical 'to do' list. How blessed I am to have the choice where my mind and body meanders.
Comments
Post a Comment