weekly whispers

A site for thinking- pondering - creating - growing

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Rested Radiance

There is more to life than merely increasing its speed.
                              GANDHI

Wayne Muller wrote an insightful book on rest - I read Sabbath and find that I continually look back at my notes - recall my thoughts - and then start again.  I refer to this book that I bought at a second hand store over and over when I am deeply exhausted physically, mentally and/or spiritually.  Sabbath, meaning rest, is crucial to our very being, and we do way too little of it.

" A 'successful' life has become a violent enterprise.  We make war on our own bodies, pushing them beyond their limits; war on our children, because we cannot find enough time to be with them when they are hurt and afraid, and need our company; war on our spirit, because we are too preoccupied to listen to the quiet voices that seek to nourish and refresh us; war on our communities, because we are fearfully protecting what we have, and do not feel safe enough to be kind and generous; war on earth, because we cannot take the time to place our feet on the ground and allow it to feed us, to taste its blessings and give thanks."      from Sabbath by Wayne Muller

 Many of us take the time to cook with joy -- knowing that we are providing healthy meals to our families ?  Many of us do not - When we are exhausted and time deficient, the drive through is nearby and will have to do.  The tradition of meal planning and cooking that were once passed down through the generations are being replaced by bad habits and rushed meals.  Is there a way to change this?  Do we want to change this?

 We think we are giving our children quality time as we pedal them from school to sports to dance to music - stop for a quick eat on the run and finally home for homework - off to bed and repeat every day- This is draining.  What happened to daily talks about our day and our dreams....to sitting at the table and eating or playing games.....Is there a way to do better?   Do we want to do better?

The thought of sitting still (taking it slow) for the sake of renewal is merely a faint whisper.  We are too busy - our minds and bodies are racing - there seems to be no time for rest  -- so I decided to sit still - and for a task oriented person who loves the hustle and bustle of life  -  that is quite a challenge.  I honestly find it extremely difficult to rest -physically or mentally -  but I heard a whisper calling to me - telling me that if I did not take time to deeply ponder - to unconditionally love - to inhale joy - to slow my pace - that my entire being would suffer - and so would the lives of those I love .... I wanted to do better....

  So -  I took the last few months and sat into my issues ...I sat into my dreams and hopes ...  I sat through storms and rainbows ... I deeply inhaled and sat with visions and joys ... I sat through sadness and hope ... I sat and sat and sat - and the end result was so much more than I ever expected...... RESTED RADIANCE !!!!   I wanted to do better....I did... ..How about you?

1 comment:

  1. Beautiful thoughts here. Why do we wait to take a "sabbatical" until we are on the verge of exhaustion or breakdown? We need the course you prescribe... often enough to be a touchstone, a front-of-the-mind method for the skill of living in the present. Great insights.

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