Photos from today's walk
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Today's walk...
It took a while to get out of my head today.
I felt I had to work through some "big" issues
related to my faith community. Aspects of my
business are in flux. Along the way, my judge
always takes a few potshots at me too...
I find there's always a pull to stay in my head.
Some people call this our "ego" and it doesn't
want to let go. It wants me to try and reason
things out and refine my answers and my logic.
To come up with the perfect argument and
convince imaginary people who want to debate
with me. There's nothing wrong with that,
I just don't want to live exclusively in my head
anymore and on my walks, in particular, I want
to be present and aware.
I dictated a few ideas into my phone as I walked
and that seemed to help me let go and be
more centered.
At this point in my life, I have about 101 tools
to be more centered and I pulled a few of
those out too.
Also, I find there is a natural physiological
reaction that takes place after I have walked
for about 45 minutes or more where my brain
gets quieter and I am more naturally centered.
This happened too. There was a point in my
walk where the struggle to not be in my head
ended and I realized, "Hey, I feel centered and
present."
Now that I'm home I'm thinking that the only
thing that is permanent is impermanence.
Maybe this is where I will take my stand.
Accepting what is and my divine connection
to all things. Maybe some answers will
emerge from there? And maybe not.
Who knows?
Take good care,
~ Rod
The meditation I created is called Experiencing Oneness in a Divided World. In it, we explore a deep and comforting truth: that everything is connected.
As I venture out this morning, I'm thinking about the Mary Oliver poem, wild Geese, where she says, “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
I just want to bow 🙇♂️ in gratitude (also laugh because there’s a 🙇 bowing emoji)
For a period in my life I used to go to a particular place in a park not far from my house to meditate and pray. It was the beginning of a practice that I continue to practice to this very day, although this post is about a time when I took a break.
Our guest today is author Eric Janzen. Eric is probably best known for his high fantasy fiction books. He's written a trilogy called The Dreamtrekker Journals Trilogy, and more recently released a new series entitled The Essence Tales. In Eric's bio, he says he will continue writing until he can't anymore.
Our daughter Jess gifted me with a poem today. She says... Wrapping up my last few days on the coast for now… it’s been so amazing to get so much “normal” time with my family, and one of my favorite things is morning walks with dad. His practice of noticing and of being quiet enough in spirit to notice the minute details is always a gift.
Our new little bundle of joy - August (Gus) Matthew Toews - has reminded us all how powerful and incredible love is.
I am contemplating emptiness this morning which I know sends cautionary shivers down the spines of some Christians. I was warned about this by a "well-meaning" Christian on the weekend when I used the word emptiness at a retreat I was co-leading.
snowy days (meditation) Hints of Gladness
Are sounds like this (birdsong, babbling brooks) meant to touch our souls? I think they are.