being present to the life we have

 

 

“We travel so far only to land where we are.

We imagine other lives, only to meet who we are.

We seek out love in special ways, only to find everyone is special.

Humbly, we can’t avoid this journey.

It is precisely through it that, if blessed,

we wake to the life we want by being present to the life we have...”

 

- Mark Nepo

The Book of Awakening

 

taken from an ad for Mark Nepo’s LIVE workshop slated for June 2013 in Colorado

bless our journeys

This past weekend while attending a retreat

at St. Andrew’s House on the Hood Canal

I walked over to Harmony Hill and spent some time

within this exquisite seashell labyrinth.

And this morning I came across

this prayer from the Iona Community

which fits perfectly:

 

“Lord, bless the journeys we never planned to take,

but through your surprising wisdom

discovered we were on.”

-Peter Millar, "A Time to Mend"

 

 

Which of us could have predicted where our

journeys have taken us?

Sitting on bench in middle of labyrinth,

looking forward to the journey back.

 

plaque at entrance to shell labyrinth

“In memory of all those who have

walked this path"- The Ferrari Family

endow me

"Oh Lord, endow me with more contentedness in what is present,

And less solicitude about what is future;

With a patient mind to submit to any loss of what I have,

Or to any disappointment of what I expect."

-Bishop Simon Patrick, 17th century hymn composer

The Demands of Love

Here's another "Epiphanyish" thought for today. 

(The checks are mine.)

"Love will make demands on us.

(check)

It will question us from within.

(yep)

It will disturb us.

(double check)

Sadden us.

(God yes)

Play havoc with our feelings.

(triple check)

Harass us.

(sigh)

Reveal our superficialities.

(enough already)

But at last it will bring us to the light."

(Oh Lord! May it be so!)

-Carlo Carreto 1910-1988

this photo of an indoor labyrinth

 was taken inside the parish hall at St. Paul's Port Townsend

Labyrinth Playtime!

"Children have neither past nor future;

they enjoy the present,

which very few of us do."

-Jean de la Bruyere

As we walked the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral these children delighted the adults with their playfulness - and yet their mother kept apologizing for their lack of solemnity.  But I think they were modeling how to truly walk the path.

Labyrinth @ Grace

"Never trust a thought

that didn't come by walking."

- Nietzche

I love this photo of my husband walking the outdoor labyrinth at Grace Cathedral during our recent trip to San Francisco.   I wonder what he is experiencing as he traverses the twists and turns of the labyrinth?

The Labyrinth

Several days ago I took a walk on Elizabeth's+ delightful Labyrinth that is situated in the woods next to her home. I had not walked on it in over a year and was surprised by how much it had changed since the vegetation had grown considerably - or was it me that had changed? From the photo it looks rather flat but in actuality it has lots of twists and turns and obstacles (roots) to climb over - just like life. But don't be fooled - this is a labyrinth that demands your attention at all times.....no mindless strolling allowed here or you may end up on your butt!

I kept trying to remember what it was like during the last time i had entered it.....did this path turn to the right? Am i on the wrong path? Am i going the wrong way? Didn't i just make this turn? There was lots of chatter going on in my head and I had to stop occasionally just to quiet my thoughts.

Several times i looked up from the path in an attempt to see what lay ahead on this journey to the center & of course the path i thought would take me there was not the one that eventually did! It's true what they say - spiritual journeys are seldom linear. And that says a lot about all of our paths of discernment, does it not?

"What is a labyrinth? It is a path for prayer that leads from yearning towards joy, meaning, hope & peace. While it can be used for personal explorations, it also invites communal participation. What is planted here flowers in the gardens of our lives. Whether perplexed, overjoyed, confused, hopeful, hurt, distraught, happy, or simply curious, as we pray, God meets us here. It is not unusual to emerge from the labyrinth inspired, encouraged, grateful, and clearer about next steps." J.K.H. Geoffrion - Christian Prayer & Labyrinths