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abide, dwell, flow, Henry David Thoreau, Joyce Rupp, present, The Sophia Center for Spirituality
I love words like abide and dwell. They create in me a sort of longing for stasis, peacefulness, or even rest. I imagine entering a room where everyone is sitting still and silent and puts a finger to their mouth saying, “Shhh…” as I walk in and sit down. I want to stay there.
Where did that come from? Likely from the morning after a weekend filled with a dozen wonderful people at a workshop here at the Spiritual Center. Deep sharing and appreciation of each one’s giftedness mingled with a sense that, at the core, all is right with the world, if only we stay present to deeper meanings and potential. The concepts of lovingkindness and beauty rang true in the presentations and interactions of participants.
The question of how to remember and keep alive such an experience was answered for me quite simply from Henry David Thoreau this morning, as quoted by Joyce Rupp. It speaks to my first thoughts today while also allowing for the movement necessary to avoid stagnation. Thoreau says:
Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.
May we all flow with ease this week while dwelling in sweet surrender to our life’s journey.
Yesterday I made my way along four hours of beautiful New York and Vermont highways, bowing inwardly to the majesty of mountains, trying not to be disappointed that there is no autumn color yet on the trees. It is, after all, still September. I sit this morning in the familiar gathering place aptly named Hallelujah Farm, ready or not to begin the annual meeting when we are privileged to recommend grants that will assist worthy organizations to continue the work of spreading wisdom – so needed in our world today. This will be the last of these privileged granting events as our dear friend’s money has been generously distributed over the past five years and is now doing its work. Helen Daly was a delightful, determined, dedicated woman who passed from this world too early for our liking but whose surrender was a lesson to us all. Her vision will continue to be manifested in the work of more people than she could have imagined in projects that continue to be birthed in ripples all over our country.
The Sophia Center for Spirituality 