Today's Walk 2-24-2020
Photos are from today’s walk - February 24, 2020
It was a weekend full of lots of self-reflection.
Saturday - I don't have to be anything
I’m grateful for a contemplative community that
comes together every few months and practices
contemplation together and shares their insights
in a vulnerable way throughout the day.
Perhaps my biggest insight during our quiet
day was this one....
Once in a while, I need to remind myself that I
don’t have to be anything.
It’s more than okay to just be.
Then, standing outside beside a field...
I feel the cool breeze blowing
I hear the bird sing
and for just a moment
I feel free.
Sunday - Rest
On Sunday I did the best I could to rest.
It helped a little that I was having some vertigo
and needed to be still.
As a discipline, I try to be still and quiet most
Sundays and make it a day without
social media and as few screens as possible.
It feels really good and somehow builds up
the muscle of self-control. It’s not easy though.
I find, and maybe you do too, that when I try
to give something up even if it’s just for 24 hours
the pull to do it is really strong. Maybe stronger.
Sunday - Wisdom
I’ve been reading
Perennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent.
I am being reminded to...
- be “surrendered to Self”
- “Don’t change it, just observe it (the difficult truth about yourself)”
- “God is playing you, you are not playing God”
- “Spirituality isn’t about the cessation of doing, but the cessation of doing for selfish reasons”
- “...do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God“ Micah 6:8
Today I’m a little overwhelmed by everything
that I have on my plate which can be
paralyzing for an Enneagram nine.
Nevertheless, here we go.
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.