It's the little things
December 03, 2007
Little things mean a lot.
Willie Nelson
Consider the
lilies of the field. Jesus
"Here's your assignment," I instructed the group of
educators at a recent retreat. "Take a walk. A specific
walk. Walk to the harbor park. Walk to the
government building. I want you to walk to that
destination as fast as you can. Eyes straight ahead.
Focus only your destination.
After you arrive, stop, catch your breath.
Now, I want you to return here by walking (sauntering, loitering, ambling, meandering) s l o w l y. If you took 5 minutes to get there, take 15 minutes to return. This time . . . Notice. Pay attention . . . to your senses. What do you see, notice, smell, hear, even taste?"
The responses were surprising.
People talked about colors. Sounds. Conversations. Images. Specific pictures.
Here's the instructive part. What did people notice? All the little things. The little things that are a blur when we are moving too fast. At another recent retreat, I had the participants collect items for a "sacrament box". Among the items in the box, a heart-shaped stone, the exoskeleton of a dragonfly, the spiny nut from a sweet gum tree and a cobalt-blue morning-glory flower.
Sacrament. Translated means a "sign of grace".
Every time we give in to a culture that ratchets up the noise about whatever is bigger or faster or newer, we worship at the altar of the superlative. As a result, we miss all the good stuff.
After you arrive, stop, catch your breath.
Now, I want you to return here by walking (sauntering, loitering, ambling, meandering) s l o w l y. If you took 5 minutes to get there, take 15 minutes to return. This time . . . Notice. Pay attention . . . to your senses. What do you see, notice, smell, hear, even taste?"
The responses were surprising.
People talked about colors. Sounds. Conversations. Images. Specific pictures.
Here's the instructive part. What did people notice? All the little things. The little things that are a blur when we are moving too fast. At another recent retreat, I had the participants collect items for a "sacrament box". Among the items in the box, a heart-shaped stone, the exoskeleton of a dragonfly, the spiny nut from a sweet gum tree and a cobalt-blue morning-glory flower.
Sacrament. Translated means a "sign of grace".
Every time we give in to a culture that ratchets up the noise about whatever is bigger or faster or newer, we worship at the altar of the superlative. As a result, we miss all the good stuff.
Poems / Prayers
Poem
The Sacraments
I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel, about the Sacraments--
he got so excited
and ran into a hollow in his tree and came
back holding some acorns, an owl feather,
and a ribbon he had found.
And I just smiled and said, "Yes, dear,
you understand:
everything imparts
His grace."
St. Francis of Assisi
Translation by Daniel Ladinsky
Love Poems from God: Twelve Voices from the East and West
Prayer
This day and this night
may I know O God
The deep peace
of the running wave
the deep peace
of the flowering air
The deep peace
of the quiet earth
The deep peace
of the shining stars
The deep peace
of the Son of Peace.
Celtic Prayers from Iona. J. Philip Newell
The Sacraments
I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel, about the Sacraments--
he got so excited
and ran into a hollow in his tree and came
back holding some acorns, an owl feather,
and a ribbon he had found.
And I just smiled and said, "Yes, dear,
you understand:
everything imparts
His grace."
St. Francis of Assisi
Translation by Daniel Ladinsky
Love Poems from God: Twelve Voices from the East and West
Prayer
This day and this night
may I know O God
The deep peace
of the running wave
the deep peace
of the flowering air
The deep peace
of the quiet earth
The deep peace
of the shining stars
The deep peace
of the Son of Peace.
Celtic Prayers from Iona. J. Philip Newell
Peace,
Terry Hershey
