Doing Nothing
January 19, 2009
Dear Lord, I have tried my best today.
Some of the Cardinals are unhappy. Some of
the problems are overwhelming. News reports
reflect the displeasure of many with the
things I have done. But, Lord, I'm tired.
It's your church, it's got a lot of problems
and I am going to bed. Pope John
Paul XXIII
Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around
the lake. Wallace Stevens
"I can't talk now. I'm busy, I had a hectic
week, am being chased by a long to-do list,
plus I need to
write the new Sabbath Moment." I am talking
with a friend.
"Why don't you practice what you preach," she said, "take the day off."
I hang up the phone.
I don't like it when people meddle.
Even so.
I take her advice.
So I leave my to-do list behind.
I spend the day in the park with Pooh.
"Come on, Pooh," (Christopher Robin said) and he walked off quickly.
"Where are we going?" said Pooh, hurrying after him, and wondering whether it was to be an Explore or a What-shall-I-do-about-you-know-what.
"Nowhere," said Christopher Robin.
So they began going there, and after they had walked a little way Christopher Robin said: "What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?"
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best?" and then he had to stop and think.
Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.
And then he thought that being with Christopher Robin was a very good thing to do, and having Piglet near was a very friendly thing to have: and so, when he had thought it all out, he said, "What I like best in the whole world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You saying 'What about a little something?' and Me saying,' Well, I shouldn't mind a little something, should you, Piglet,' and it being a hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing."
"I like that too," said Christopher Robin, "but what I like doing best is Nothing."
"How do you do Nothing?" asked Pooh, after he had wondered for a long time.
"Well, it's when people call out at you just as you're going off to do it 'What are you going to do, Christopher Robin?' and you say 'Oh, nothing,' and then you go and do it."
"Oh, I see," said Pooh.
"This is a nothing sort of thing that we're doing now."
"Oh, I see," said Pooh again.
"It means just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."
"Oh!" said Pooh.
They walked on, thinking of This and That, and by-and-by they came to an enchanted place on the very top of the Forest.
(This excerpt sent by a Sabbath Moment reader from The House at Pooh Corner.)
Today is Domingo (Sunday), and I am affixed to a bench in Parque Central, in Antigua, Guatemala. The park is filled with people; families, clusters of friends, and couples, islands of their own. For those walking, the speed limit is amble. Or perhaps mosey. One thing is certain, there is no hurry here.
The people I watch are literally spending their Sabbath. Resting, talking, playing. The sun smoothes the edges of my anxiety. I smell earth and the fried foods of street vendors. I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of Sabbath. The water from the main fountain bounces and splashes and mingles with the laughter of children, and I am buoyed by the replenishing joy of doing nothing.
NOTE TO MY FRIENDS: Many of you took advantage of the Christmas special. For those who missed the opportunity, but wish to purchase books or CDs / DVDs from the website, we will continue the offer with a discount of 25% off any order until January 31, 2009.
Go to http://www.terryhershey.com
To visit the new Terry Hershey videos.
Go to www.terryhershey
"Why don't you practice what you preach," she said, "take the day off."
I hang up the phone.
I don't like it when people meddle.
Even so.
I take her advice.
So I leave my to-do list behind.
I spend the day in the park with Pooh.
"Come on, Pooh," (Christopher Robin said) and he walked off quickly.
"Where are we going?" said Pooh, hurrying after him, and wondering whether it was to be an Explore or a What-shall-I-do-about-you-know-what.
"Nowhere," said Christopher Robin.
So they began going there, and after they had walked a little way Christopher Robin said: "What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?"
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best?" and then he had to stop and think.
Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.
And then he thought that being with Christopher Robin was a very good thing to do, and having Piglet near was a very friendly thing to have: and so, when he had thought it all out, he said, "What I like best in the whole world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You saying 'What about a little something?' and Me saying,' Well, I shouldn't mind a little something, should you, Piglet,' and it being a hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing."
"I like that too," said Christopher Robin, "but what I like doing best is Nothing."
"How do you do Nothing?" asked Pooh, after he had wondered for a long time.
"Well, it's when people call out at you just as you're going off to do it 'What are you going to do, Christopher Robin?' and you say 'Oh, nothing,' and then you go and do it."
"Oh, I see," said Pooh.
"This is a nothing sort of thing that we're doing now."
"Oh, I see," said Pooh again.
"It means just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."
"Oh!" said Pooh.
They walked on, thinking of This and That, and by-and-by they came to an enchanted place on the very top of the Forest.
(This excerpt sent by a Sabbath Moment reader from The House at Pooh Corner.)
Today is Domingo (Sunday), and I am affixed to a bench in Parque Central, in Antigua, Guatemala. The park is filled with people; families, clusters of friends, and couples, islands of their own. For those walking, the speed limit is amble. Or perhaps mosey. One thing is certain, there is no hurry here.
The people I watch are literally spending their Sabbath. Resting, talking, playing. The sun smoothes the edges of my anxiety. I smell earth and the fried foods of street vendors. I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of Sabbath. The water from the main fountain bounces and splashes and mingles with the laughter of children, and I am buoyed by the replenishing joy of doing nothing.
NOTE TO MY FRIENDS: Many of you took advantage of the Christmas special. For those who missed the opportunity, but wish to purchase books or CDs / DVDs from the website, we will continue the offer with a discount of 25% off any order until January 31, 2009.
Go to http://www.terryhershey.com
To visit the new Terry Hershey videos.
Go to www.terryhershey
Poems / Prayers
Lake Isle of Innisfree
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
William Butler Yeats
Slow me down, Lord
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations -- of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
Amen.
Wilferd Arlan Peterson
Peace,
Terry Hershey
