| Email newsletter from TerryHershey.com, Issue 37 | |
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In This Issue:
Simplicity
FEATURE ARTICLE
by Terry Hershey
It
is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things
never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will
reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like
running, but life is on a stroll. This is how God does things.
William Blake, seated, in his old age, beside a little girl at a dinner party; Blake leaned down to her, smiled, and said, "May God make this world as beautiful to you as it has been to me."
It
seems that we never had time to get things done because our days were
filled to the brim with lingering.
The
parts of the Christian story that had drawn me into the Church were
not the believing parts but the beholding parts.
If
you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a
penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact
planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of
days.
It
is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after
all.
For
unto us a child is born.
It's snowing here. The first day of December. Outside our kitchen window, the sky is filled with a flotilla of tiny parachutes, floating quietly from the heavens. These are whopping snow flakes (I think that is the technical term), and as the snow clings to the bare branches of Hydrangea and Viburnum, I can't decide if I'm seeing cotton balls or small scraps of fabric. "We're going to have a winter wonderland," Zach tells whoever is listening. "It's time to go sledding." It is no use pointing out the obvious to a ten-year-old; there is not yet any snow on the ground. Exactly one year ago, a snowstorm crippled the region. No electricity, trees down, roads now black ice. Plans, whatever they may have been, or for whatever length of time they had been on our calendars, changed. We hunkered down in our houses. This is the weather when one is given in to introspection. Or hot chocolate. Or a hot toddy (tea with honey, lemon and brandy). Or all three. Our storms make folks in Denver or Buffalo or Michigan's UP shake their heads and snicker. "You call that snow? That's just a few flurries, son." This year, it's not the crippling kind of storm, but even so, hunkering down seemed a good idea, so I spend some time going through a stack of magazines that's been accumulating. I started with an excerpt from a book about relaxing. "Cleaning is overrated," the author says. He believes that laziness and sloppiness can be a good way to save time. He'll get no argument from me, but I had to laugh. We're such a driven culture (requiring productivity) that it isn't enough to be lazy for it's own sake. Now there needs to be a payoff (in this case, saving time). I perused another article about people who have shunned cell phones. "They will find me if they need me," said one man. The article quoted a lawyer who practices Shabbat, turns off his cell phone and computer and email on Friday at sundown. He's got the right idea. And that part resonates with all of us. SIMPLIFY. We're on the same page. Except that the next thing you know, we make an assignment and duty out of it, as if there will be a test. It reminds me of an out-of-the-box take on the Sermon on the Mount: And Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." And Simon Peter said, "Do we have to write this down?" In the end, what happens? We focus on the endeavor of simplifying, instead of. . .well. . .just simplifying. (Or in the words of Guillaume Apollinaire, "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness, and just be happy.") There is the cartoon about the two monks sitting in meditation. The older monk is responding to a question from the novice monk. "Nothing happens next. This is it." That's a tough one to grab hold of. You know, the letting go of all the mental stuff we need for our tomorrows (and that we carry with us from our yesterdays). When I live in Southern California, I spent three days a month at a Benedictine Monastery out in the high desert. (http://www.valyermo.com/) It was my periodic trek to a place where I could slow down long enough to pay attention. Truth is, I wanted to learn how to be alone with myself and like it, because I want' very good at that And, I wanted to learn how to be alone with god and like it, because I want' very good at that, either. On one visit, a friend asked one of the monks, "What exactly do you guys do here?" "We pray." The monk replied simply. "No, I mean really. What do you do?" "It is enough just to pray," the monk told my friend. I heard a great story about an older man who stopped at a church in the late afternoon, ever day after work. The man would sit in the back pew. For a good bit of time, sitting still and silent, looking straight ahead. After time had passed, the man would get up and leave. The parish curate was quite puzzled by this regular visitor. One day he decided to ask. "I'm wondering sir, why you come here. You have no prayer book. You have no Bible. You carry no Rosary. Your lips do not move while you sit. You are clearly not praying. So what is it?" The man answered the curate, "Well, I come here every afternoon, usually after a long and tiring day. I stop here to pray. So I just sit here and look at Him, and while I'm sitting here, He just looks at me."
Looking for insight in all of this is a good way to miss the moment. You never see a child step back from playing and say, "Oh, so that's what I experienced."
In last year's blizzard, we needed to take the afternoon ferry from Seattle to our island. I was cold and ornery. Zach is shuffling along in the snow, past a cluster of waiting commuters huddled together for warmth. They reminded me of a waddle of penguins, huddled and somber. Zach is kicking snow, oblivious to the downside of this weather or this moment. He is repeating, over and over, "This is so great. This is soooo great." Here's what I know: We simplify our lives not by theory or a 7-step-program for life management. We simplify when we follow the example of the old man on the back pew. We simplify, when we sit a spell. Why? Because sitting let's us SEE. It's another way of saying that we are practicing the sacrament of the blessed present. Rilke once wrote of how he learned to stand "more seeingly" in front of certain paintings. That's what I want. To live this moment more "seeingly."
Stopping
leads to seeing.
Mary Oliver talks about "naming" with her poetry. "I am fascinated with naming. This is, specific names, the exact right word for things. Yes, naming suggests a kind of power, even if false or fleeting, but naming also praises, honors, celebrates." It is what poet Frank O'Conner referred to when he said that the moral basis of Poetry "is the accurate naming of the things of God."
Here is an 83 year old woman who would agree. Here is her letter to her friend Bertha. "Dear Bertha, I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not ‘saving' anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event, such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank. ‘Someday' and ‘one of these days' are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was. I'm guessing; I'll never know. It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband /wife, friends and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God." As my grandmother would say, That stuff will preach.
It's been snowing steady for some hours now. We have about 4" of snow on the ground. As if this stuff doesn't come home to roost, Zach's been knocking on my study window for the past 15 minutes, needing me to drive him up the road, to a great sledding hill. I keep telling him, "In a minute son, Dad's busy." I could have told him about simplicity, and life being pared down to the essentials and non-negotiables, about my insights for this newsletter. Or, I can take him sledding. Insight can wait. Now it's time to kick the snow.
Praying
It doesn't have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don't try to make them elaborate, this isn't a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak. Mary Oliver
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Sts Simon & Jude Parish, Huntington Bch, CA Dear Terry, In a short amount of time, you did what Jesus did so well - told a few stories, reminded us of the Father, and left our hearts changed forever. You left us with hearts filled with laughter and lumps in our throats from your tender stories. You inspired us to stop and treasure the moment and not allow "if onlys" to deter our gratitude. We are deeply grateful to you for the time and effort you took to come to Sts. Simon & Jude Church to share your beautiful insights into the music of life. May the joy you give to others return to you one-hundredfold. Gratefully on behalf of all, Patsi Wagner Pastoral Associate, Sts Simon & Jude Parish, Huntington Beach, CA
The Inland Empire Gardeners, Spokane, WA Terry Hershey has a gift for people and storytelling. Our garden club has hosted hundreds of speakers over the years and I would put Terry Hershey on the top of the list. His presentation to our group was truly a joyous occasion. ViAnn Meyer, President, TIEG
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Lewiston, ID This has been the best Employee Reflection Day ever. I had a great time. How I live was reinforced. I am happy to say, as I age, I discovered the treasures of happiness, silliness, contentedness, day dreaming (a favorite) and grace. You reminded me of Tim Allen - and I laughed all day - except when you made me teary. Your sense of humor tickled my funny bone. I imagine you must see the beautiful garden beyond the broken garden gate - I do. Bless you.
Recommended Books
Amish Grace - How forgiveness transcended tragedy
Dancing with Joy
Websites for the Journey
What does it take to become a truly healthy woman? At Mind Body & Soul, we recognize there's more than one answer to that question. That's why we approach women's health from a multi-dimensional perspective. In other words, it's all about achieving balance. Quiet Gardens and Quiet Spaces A Ministry of Hospitality and Prayer
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By cutting to the truth of our experience, poetry shakes us and awakens us. Through it we open our eyes to what Robert Frost called "the pleasure of taking pains." And what is gratitude besides this playful engagement with life as it unfolds in all its challenges and delights. (The society of childlike grownups: tools, toys and field trips to keep you young at heart)
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Letters
I do enjoy receiving Terry's emails. Thank you. Cindy Hurst
Dear Terry, Thanks for a different look at those yellow buttons of expedient regeneration. Remember - the garden-type dandelions you speak of can also be eaten! Full of nutrients, apparently. So says a good friend who is combating a debilitative joint condition with Super Strict Healthy Diet. Then the dandelions are not merely an opportunistic weed, but a contributor to our personal good. And the point of embracing our spiritual, emotional, situational dandelions? Let them be blessings that become a part of us and clear our eyes to see God's love for us, warts and all. I easily forget that when HE came here to be with us, he came as us, and chose to hang with the dandelions among us. EA
Dear Terry, Thanks, once again for the "breather" in a busy chaotic existence.
Maybe it's ADD, but I feel fortunate to be blessed with being grabbed by the "duckling moments" quite consistently. The ones that particularly stick in my mind (most likely because I first jump out of my skin) are when a praying mantis makes it's presence known. They like my front porch, it seems. Perhaps it's easy to hide there, considering the array of stuff that somehow settles next to the door, modern evidence of the comings and goings of at least half-dozen humanoids. When the mound gets too big, I am forced into the clean-up mode . . . but finding a mantis is a task-stopper. They are so bizarre looking, but with a quiet, dignified way about them - if there is insect intelligence - they appear to be Einsteins. They must also be the Ghandis of insects. No violence there. No movement even. I stop and watch and wonder, knowing that this giant went through many a new exoskeleton to get to this size. What I love then is the excitement of showing the critter to my kids - that's going to happen for not many more years, as they are growing up fast, and going on soon enough. OK, ducklings are MUCH cuter (and fuzzier) than a twiggy, stickly bug . . . but He did create it ALL. And . . . you take the duckling moments as they are. EA
Hello Mina, Thanks for sharing from Terry Hershey. He is really good! JD
Terry, It is good to hear from you again. Life is always enriched when we connect. I look forward to the weekly one pager. Blessings and peace, Arthur Campbell
Dear Terry, How nice to receive your reminder to slow down . . . one of those back-burner things that I always mean to get to. Yes, just another one of those people who have qualms about DOING NOTHING . . . Yet I am aware of a small grotto within me - a pinpoint entry leading to a swift current of soundless being, flowing into an ocean of quiet wisdom and peace, emptying onto an unmarked shore of mind, spirit, body. It is getting to the niche that requires so much of Nothing. Nothing can be quite daunting. Here's to Nothing.
Dear Mr. Hershey, Let me begin with a personal introduction: My name is Kris Chisholm, I am sure you remember me from the Los Angeles Religious Ed Congress last spring. I was the overworked, underpaid, and overjoyed Catholic high school English teacher sitting in section B5 up in the rafters. I thoroughly enjoyed your speeches, and I equally enjoy your newsletter. I appreciate the joy and thoughtfulness that you put into your work. I wanted to forward a couple of thoughts regarding your most recent issue, entitled, "Bliss." Your words meant a great deal to me as I often feel that I "miss out" on "THE MOMENT" because I am busy planning the next series of moments, or re-hashing the last few moments to see how they could have gone better! As a teacher, I think that doing all of that is a part of my job. However, as a mother of three, I have trouble shutting that teacher stuff off to just enjoy the moment at hand. Your words were touching reminders that other folks deal with "shutting it off" as well... Now that we know each other a bit better....I looked up definitions for bliss, and alternative quotes kept popping up. The most interesting one was from Aristotle who said, "Happiness depends upon ourselves." I find it fascinating that even four hundred years before Christ (before indoor plumbing, Tivo, and oooh no, the Iphone!), over two thousand years ago, there were people struggling with how to feel, how to savor, how to hold onto their inner bliss and happiness. I think that this quote indicates that I am not suffering from just a "teacher thing," but I must be suffering from a very real, "human thing" to miss these moments. ( I think that his idea that we each make our own happy state or condition is fodder for another letter!) In any event, I find it comforting that all humans suffer from this "not savoring the moment" complex. I just wanted to share with you that quote, along with a hearty thanks for the work that you do everyday. I really appreciate your thoughts. Warmest wishes, KC
Hi Terry, Thank you for sending your monthly newsletter. Please pray for my mother, Margaret who is quietly and serenely passing into eternal life. She 98 years old. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Gratefully, Mary
Terry, I was at Gardens and Grace this summer at Kanagha, NC. I left early due to my father's accident. The morning of the evening when I received that call you lead a session that started with a scripture reading that has supported me through my journey ever since. All the town was there. Jesus healed many. Jesus withdrew to the garden. My dad has passed. I would like to read that passage at his service. I do not have my notes with me. Would you please send to me the book and chapter. Thank you, Diana
Thanks for the Sabbath Moment, Terry. I met you at a Writers Conference in Arizona a couple of years ago. Like your style. You may enjoy checking out my blogsite. Feel free to use it if says something to you. HM
Greetings from Malta! Thanks for the reminder of what is important. I have attached a short story about Bethlehem I recently wrote about my visit there. I have also attached a photo my husband took this week in Malta. It seems when we travel a rainbow appears. This CoCathedral is the St Paul Church which is located on top of the cave where St. Paul was imprisoned for 3 months after being shipwrecked here with the Roman Soldiers. This island is still so Catholic and it all started with one man, St. Paul. Enjoy! Keep up your vital work of reminding us what is simple. Blessings, Hilary
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Sabbath Thought
Some days we think we can't go on
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he refreshes my soul.
Even though I walk
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
Poems
Hold on to what is good, even if it is a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it is a tree which stands alone. Hold on to what you must do, even if it is a long way from here.
Pueblo Verse
Black Oaks (you probably know the latin name - but alas, it escapes)
Okay, not one can write a symphony,
or a dictionary,
Not one can manage a single sound,
though the blue jays
But to tell the truth after a while
I'm pale with longing
and you can't keep me from the
woods, from the tonnage
Today is day like any other:
twenty-four hours, a
Listen, says ambition, nervously
shifting her weight from
For there I am, in the mossy shadows, under the trees.
And to tell the truth I don't want
to let go of the wrists
Mary Oliver
If we surrendered to earth's intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees. Instead we entangle ourselves in knots of our own making and struggle, lonely and confused. So, like children, we begin again to learn from the things, because they are in Gods heart; they have never left him. That is what the things can teach us: to fall, patiently to trust our heaviness. Even a bird has to do that before he can fly.
Rilke
Words to Live By
I am the utter poverty of God. I am His emptiness, littleness, nothingness, lostness. When this is understood, my life in God's freedom, the self-emptying of God in me is the fullness of grace. A love for God that knows no reason because God is the fullness of grace. A love for God that knows no reason because God is God; a love without measure, a love for
God as personal.
If you doze off, don't give it a second thought. A child in the arms of a parent drops off to sleep occasionally, but the parent isn't disturbed by that as long as the child is happily resting there and opens its eyes
once in a while.
"The
next time it begins to rain... lie down on your belly, nestle your
chin into the grass, and get a frog's-eye view of how raindrops
fall... The sight of hundreds of blades of grass bowing down and
popping back up like piano keys strikes me as one of the merriest
sights in the world."
".
. .making a difference: every morning, look for ribbons (narrow slice
of water where trout are found in fly fishing). One person in need.
One deft paragraph to complete. One smile for a stranger. One small
thing you sense could be done with full-on attentiveness and love.
And after you finish it, look for another one. Ad infinitum.
"We
wonder with so many miraculous testimonies around us, how we could
escape God. But somehow we do. We live in an art gallery of divine
creativity and yet are content to gaze only at the carpet. The next
time you hear a baby laugh or see an ocean wave, take note. Pause and
listen as His Majesty whispers ever so gently, 'I'm here.' "
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