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Gratefulness
My early morning self is slow and simple, and remarkably creative and productive. Remembering this helps me be less complicated by the distractions of the day. Maybe I can learn to be slow and simple all the time.
Some have died, but they haven’t passed from my life. They have taught me skills I use regularly, and some gave me tools which I often use and call by their names. Craft is a living, embodied knowledge. passed on from those who carried it to those who carry it now. Craft is not just about the surface use of tools, it requires the deep heart understandings that guide and motivate good work. It is a wonderful practice to remember how many are still beside me as I work.
I might react less and respond more, being more in the present and less in my past.
I can start by remembering that the world matters more than me. Then I become free to act, to find out what I’m here for. Hello! Good morning!
Today I will do good work and hope my work is useful to others.
Gratefulness and respect are two ways of letting what is, be. They are two ways of giving up the demand that what is should somehow be different now. In doing this, I also forgive myself, lessening my emotional burden.. Breathing in, Respect says “O.K.” Breathing out, Gratefulness says “Thank You.”
I’m not sure I understand this question. In practice I am more likely to share when I feel I’m “up-to-date” in my responsibilities to myself, my family, my community near and far. It is a good feeling when we take care of ourselves together. If I’m giving what I can honesty give, it is a good feeling to give freely. But if I’m doing it to make myself feel better, I’m not sure that is really “giving.”
I don’t know about tomorrow, but I can ask what today reflects about yesterday. A very old friend fell as I was arriving to visit. I couldn’t get to him as the door was locked. He said “Don’t worry, no broken bones!” He is always so happy to see me, and he could be gone so suddenly. There may be nothing I can do to help. The time to receive his gifts is now. The time to receive everyone’s gifts is now.
…some people think I’m funny…I think…maybe…
My desire to be happy, to experience purity of heart. It can be a simple as filling the bird feeder or water dish. The happiest day in our community is when we make breakfasts for the homeless shelter.
Well, I see the world with a fresh right eye because I had cataract surgery two weeks ago. Tomorrow the surgeon will do the left eye. For the moment I value my original, highly myopic vision still in my left eye. Though I could not see distance well, my near vision was almost microscopic, and it influenced how I saw life, with a big general view supported by sudden detail. Tomorrow that will be gone, and I’ll see the world as most people see it. And with pure, bright colors. IR...
Well, I see the world with a fresh right eye because I had cataract surgery two weeks ago. Tomorrow the surgeon will do the left eye. For the moment I value my original, highly myopic vision still in my left eye. Though I could not see distance well, my near vision was almost microscopic, and it influenced how I saw life, with a big general view supported by sudden detail. Tomorrow that will be gone, and I’ll see the world as most people see it. And with pure, bright colors. I’m a little concerned about losing a special way of seeing that has formed my life, but am trying to be open to a new view of the world and a chance to reorganize very literally my vision of life.
Oh….YES!!!
By quietly remembering to let my heart open, which is its natural mode.
We live in a co-housing community. We own our house, a small bit of land and my shop building, and we co-own the surrounding land, parking area, common house, meadow and pedway with our neighbors, twenty-two households. We eat together twice a week and often get together for movies, games and celebrations. We manage our community in meetings governed by consensus. How’s this for a spiritual challenge! But it’s rich and quietly loving. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to n...
We live in a co-housing community. We own our house, a small bit of land and my shop building, and we co-own the surrounding land, parking area, common house, meadow and pedway with our neighbors, twenty-two households. We eat together twice a week and often get together for movies, games and celebrations. We manage our community in meetings governed by consensus. How’s this for a spiritual challenge! But it’s rich and quietly loving. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to not know my neighbors.
This question brings up many memories of moments of learning, given by people sharing their wisdom, experience and encouragement to the clumsy young person who was me. I can’t single out one, because it feels now as if they all were acting from Kindness holding all of us in Loving Wisdom. I am not a naturally kind person, but I have learned to step into Kindness’s gentle shelter and do what I can to pass it on. I look for these opportunities because they heal me. This makes ...
This question brings up many memories of moments of learning, given by people sharing their wisdom, experience and encouragement to the clumsy young person who was me. I can’t single out one, because it feels now as if they all were acting from Kindness holding all of us in Loving Wisdom. I am not a naturally kind person, but I have learned to step into Kindness’s gentle shelter and do what I can to pass it on. I look for these opportunities because they heal me. This makes me wonder where it all started, how far back in generations the sharing of experience goes. Let’s keep passing it on!
a smile…….ahhhh……
By peacefully delivering what I’ve promised and being careful about what I undertake, remembering to see, value and appreciate open space and open time. Taking time to see today.
Thank you. So beautifully said! I pause and just enjoy being.
Nice new picture!
News from Durham Friends Meeting is that spinal cord stimulation implant works very well with Quakers!
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