“To live a spiritual life requires that we choose the values that will ground our hearts, stretch our vision, and give new energy to our hopes.”
Joan Chittister
Happy Memorial Day
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What Life Should I Live?
What does it mean, say the words, that the earth is so beautiful? And what shall I do with it? What is the gift that I should bring to the world? What is the life I should live?
Mary OliverSomeone has planted Irises along the parking area at Pineridge Natural Area. I want to thank the beautiful soul(s) for planting them and the gift they brought to the world! Now I’m offering this image of them covered with raindrops from a nice refreshing rain. We had a nice lovely rain yesterday and can expect the same today.
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Be Alert
Everything can be used as an invitation to meditation. A smile, a face in the subway, the sight of a small flower growing in the crack of cement pavement, a fall of rich cloth in a shop window, the way the sun lights up flower pots on a windowsill. Be alert for any sign of beauty or grace. Offer up every joy, be awake at all moments, to “the news that is always arriving out of silence.” Slowly, you will become a master of your own bliss, a chemist of your own joy, with all sorts of remedies always at hand to elevate, cheer, illuminate, and inspire your every breath and movement.
Sogyal RinpocheI spotted this Iris from a distance because it was the only one in bloom at this small island on the entrance to the Lory Student Center. The flower takes the name from the Greek word for rainbow primarily because of the wide variety of colors they come in. It is also a favorite pollinating flower of insects. Yes, be alert to the beauty around us.
I was surprised to awaken to clear skies and sunshine this morning. They were predicting 4-12 inches of snow. We so need the moisture whether in the form of rain or snow. We do have the cold, though. Have a great weekend!
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Iris
Iris Up Close Wonder can’t be packaged, and it can’t be worked up. It requires some sense of being there and some sense of engagement. Eugene Peterson
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Enjoying Her Garden
Iris Leaves My sister, Sheree, has been spending a lot of time and effort in her yard over the past 2-3 years. Her garden therapy session includes learning about the many plants available then putting them in and nurturing them (yes, she talks to them.) But through this process, her garden sanctuary is developing. As a visitor I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying her garden, checking on each new plant as it breaks through the soil sending shoots into the sunlight, grabbing my journal and lounging in one of her Adirondack chairs. While sitting on her bench along the east side of her house I noticed the back lit sun against the Iris leaves. First a smile of pleasure, enjoying the light, then grabbing the camera to take a photo. And, Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers in my life: mom, Chris, Monica, Marcee and Sheree!
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Yellow Iris
Iris from Inniswood Gardens -
Music from Within
Iris I sure don’t sing very well. Practice would probably help but I doubt I could make a living at it. I would most likely loose a few friends if I sang too often. I also do not listen to much music since the radio in my car and my home stereo went “kaput.” I have an iphone but have not music on it. The music I enjoy at this place and time in life is sounds of nature: wind as it blows through trees, birds sining their morning song, water flowing in a stream, leaves crunching under foot, rain falling and even the quiet of snowfall.
But there is another enjoyable music in my life. I find at times while riding in my car or on a walk, that a song will rise up inside me and my spirit will quietly sing. There are those songs from the past, stored in my memory, that rise up and every once in a while a newly created song will flow forth. So when my spirit wants to sing, I do. It’s music from within, not from my ipod.
