Thoughts: Look! Look Look!
Thoughts: Mysteries, yes …by Mary Oliver
Mysteries, Yes
by Mary Oliver
Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
Art by Sylvie Demers
Thoughts: Puddle love
Puddle love.
My friend Ellen is doing her teaching practicum at a pre-school…I asked her what interesting happened today.
She said she told a kid today that it wasn’t a great idea to drink out of a puddle. She brought years of biology (germs!), geology (mud!), anthropology (the other kids don’t seem to want to drink…this!), sociology (this isn’t something people in our culture usually do, you know!) to the discussion.
He listened, then spoke.
The kid brought his first-hand experience to the discussion (it tastes gross, but I was thirsty!) and was thus persuaded to go inside for a drink.
Win-win-win.
Thoughts: Think before you speak before you think
When I was in Chattanooga in the time after Mom & Dad made their transitions, I found some of my writing in an old ‘memory box’ from grade two (at St Gerard’s in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia), but it wasn’t writing like you expect.
I had gotten in trouble or something, so Sister had made me write ‘I will think before I speak’ a hundred times. Big pencil, big lines on the paper – I actually remember that. When I looked at the pages, I had a whoosh of memory about that, except for something new, which I held in my hands.
About two or three pages into the little stack, the words changed. ‘I will speak before I think.’ I don’t remember getting in trouble with all this (the writing part), so it must have been like that when Sister turned the pages over to my mom.
And now, as I learn each day more & more about what my heart says & what spirit says, maybe I’m getting closer to having them guide me a bit more. Pretty sure I’ve tuned in for long enough to all the often-noisy, often-insistent brain-noise that Sister wanted to be in charge.
Doesn’t matter if Sister was right.
Doesn’t matter if Sister was ‘wrong.’
Doesn’t matter if i was right.
Doesn’t matter if i was mixed up.
Just trying to keep listening.
Car facts: How much is it worth?
I love this story – it reminds of my Dad & his classic car club. (That’s his ’22 Model T in the picture, by the way…his first car!) It’s the kind of tale he’d mention, when I needed biz advice:
A father said to his daughter, “You have graduated with honors, here is a car I bought many years ago. It is a bit older now but before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them you want to sell it and see how much they offer you for it.”
The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because they said it looks pretty worn out.”
The father said, “Now, take it to the pawn shop.” The daughter went to the pawn shop, returned to her father and said, ”The pawn shop offered only $100 because it is an old car.”
The father asked his daughter to go to a car club next and show them the car. The daughter then took the car to the club, returned and told her father, ”Some people in the club offered $100,000 for it because it’s a Holden Torana and it’s an iconic car and sought by many collectors.”
Now the father said this to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way!”
If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you……Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.
Never!
Thoughts: What’s so wrong with being wrong?
Most of us will do anything to avoid being wrong. But what if we’re wrong about that? “Wrongologist” Kathryn Schulz makes a compelling case for not just admitting but embracing our fallibility. I always like her work with Grist – when you check this out, you’ll see why.
Thoughts: Ubuntu
An anthropologist showed a game to the children of an African tribe …
He placed a basket of delicious fruits near a tree trunk and told them: The first child to reach the tree will get the basket.
When he gave them the start signal, he was surprised that they were walking together, holding hands until they reached the tree and shared the fruit!
When he asked them why you did that when every one of you could get the basket only for him!
They answered with astonishment: Ubuntu.
“That is, how can one of us be happy while the rest are miserable?”
Ubuntu in their civilization means: (I am because we are).
That tribe knows the secret of happiness that has been lost in all societies that transcend them and which consider themselves civilized societies ……. !!
Happy Solstice, dear angel!
As many people in the world celebrate this Summer Solstice, I hope this day finds you listening to the love around you & finding the chances we have, to share & to give, and that it finds you smiling.
I hope this day finds you connecting.
Connecting with your father. And your mother. And the angels who got
you here.
Connecting with the friend you meant to call & haven’t yet. Call now.
Connecting with that friend you call too much. Call anyway.
Connecting with that old grudge & calling her. Calling him. Hard call, but
a chance to release and (I hope this for you, and for me) to forgive.
Connecting with the part of your heart that opens walls, opens the locks,
and lets the light in. Then call.
Within the embrace of your love, I hope you feel that love returned.
Love, Brother Ian
About Brother Ian
Over the centuries, Brother Ian has been collecting stories & information & discourses for the purpose of elevating the human condition as needed, dissecting it when necessary, and building the case for hope.
In the spirit of noting that organized crime, organized baseball, organized labour, and organized religion tend to engender controversy & occasional discord, I promise to be neither organized or critical of those who are.