My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
The governor resigned his exalted office and came to the Master demanding to be taught.
Anthony de Mello
”What is it you wish me to teach you?” asked the Master
”Wisdom.” was the reply.
”Ah, my friend! How gladly would I do that were it not for one major obstacle.”
”What?”
”Wisdom cannot be taught.”
”So there’s nothing I can learn here.”
”Wisdom can be learned. But it cannot be taught.”
“Don’t ask the world to change….you change first.”
Anthony de Mello
It was one of those moments. The ground around me was changing every second as leaves from the elm trees were constantly descending everywhere. I took three photos before I stopped and settled into just being the observer of the beautiful moment I was experiencing. If you look closely you will see one leaf in mid-descent just to the left of center.
Had a wonderful lunch with my oldest daughter today. We talked about those questions we all seem to ask, “What do I want to do or be when I grow up?” She is one of many who have attained the career goals, the family, home, cars, money and more. She now asks what else is there? Seems I’ve reached a point where things do not have the value of the past. What’s important are those things I cannot grasp but only experience and live: peace, serenity, love, compassion, family, friends, journaling, photography, and… you can fill the rest of the list. Sounds like changes are about to happen in her life.
It’s been a cold day. Finished my steps and I’m in for the evening. Will have a Zoom chat with a friend who just moved back east.
“When you come to see you are not as wise today as you thought you were yesterday, you are wiser today.”
Anthony de Mello
I like this quote and have felt for the past few years that anyone with the answers was not someone I wanted to hang with. However, I must confess there was a time when I thought I thought I knew the answer(s). It has been through the experiences of living my life that has taught me the range of life’s grayscale goes way beyond St. Ansel’s black and white zone system of 10. I’m just not as wise as I think I am or I think I should be. (Notice all the “I’s” in that sentence?)
As I look out at the world I see it only through my eyes, not yours. Therefore, my wisdom is often times different than someone else’s due to life’s experiences, culture, upbringing, lessons learned, or not, in each of our lives. Just knowing that will makes us wiser today.
And, if there is anything I would change in de Mello’s quote, I would replace the exclusive word “you” in his quote with the inclusive word of “we”. But, I’m wise enough to leave it alone. 😁
“Wisdom tends to grow in proportion to one’s awareness of one’s ignorance.”
Anthony de Mello
From an afternoon walk at the Environmental Learning Center earlier this month.
Definitely needed to clean my lens. 😏
“Spirituality means waking up.”
Anthony de Mello
Good morning! Hoping you’re awake. And, if not, then I’ll let you know this is my desk lamp with shadows coming in from my bedroom window. Another one of those surprise scenes that was given just as I was about to leave the house. Had to be awake though.
Seems I have lived most of my life with a thinking cap that believed the best time to start a project and put the work in to move towards finishing the project, was tomorrow. At this stage of life I approach each day with new attitudes and a trust in myself that was missing in the past. I attribute this change to some healthy maturity, some inner work, authors who have helped me, photography, journaling, unclouded thinking, accepting failures as a part of life, finding a spiritual path, putting in the work and chocolate. Having a network of fellow photographers has been essential also. Those of you who follow along on this blog, sharing your insights with me can pat yourselves on the back. I now have on a new thinking cap. Hope you have a great Friday and weekend!