If we lived close to nature in an agricultural society, the seasons as metaphor and fact would continually frame our lives. But the master metaphor of our era does not come from agriculture – it comes from manufacturing. We do not believe that we ‘grow’ our lives – we believe that we ‘make’ them. Just listen to how we use the word in everyday speech: we make time, make friends, make meaning, make money, make a living, make love.
Parker J. Palmer
On my way to the coffee shop I just had to stop at campus and accept this image of the morning’s sunrise. It was a deep red minutes prior to taking this image. It is a much warmer day for us here in Colorado. The kind of day to be expected because it is the season of winter.
I’ve read this quote before and agree that many in our culture no longer see themselves as growing into our lives but think we make our lives. I’m one of those. I tried to make my life happy but discovered the daily struggle to control my life and those around me wasn’t working. I’m finding it much more enjoyable to face life for what it is, gradually gaining in wisdom what I can change and what I can’t. My prayer is to continually grow in the discovery of who I am becoming. Part of growing in life is growing older, which includes all the positive stuff and the negative stuff. And, it seems when I stop trying to make my life into my wishes, I have more choices in growing into my life. The bumps are less dramatic and chaotic. Stay warm and dry!
2 Comments
geri oster
Thank you, Monte for the word grow vs. make…if I see myself as the white bamboo shoots gifted to us by our neighbor this New Year’s, just being and allowing the light, water and warmth of Something Greater Than Me to be my nourishment today, it will be much easier for me to just rest, be and grow. That beautiful sunrise just enhanced my growth as well today, Monte! Lovely! It’s sunny and above freezing here today! Dandy!
Blessings.
Monte Stevens
I do like your metaphor of the bamboo shoots. Life truly is about growing up, which includes growing older. Nature teaches us all about growth when we open to its lessons. Stay warm up there!