I love the story of relocating the mice and providing them a premium home in the forest. Thank you for inviting us to sit with one of the most essential questions in life.
“My work is loving the world” This line from Mary Oliver’s poem “Messenger” has been with me like a mantra over the years. Your question expands in my mind as “who and what do I love?” Because I immediately feel the presence of more than human world. The almond blossoms that are blooming right now, the hawk that circles above my head, the smell of rain on the earth, the gentle touch of water in the sea near my home… the poems that carry me through the despair or the songs of the ancestors of my land that teach me patience and lightheartedness.
And I am a student and an apprentice to loving humans and human experience in the Earth School.
It’s a beautiful game (or experiment) to feel the heart, feel the sun shining there, illuminating everything it touches with its warmth, when it’s directed to whatever we see at that given moment. Maybe a friend talking to us or a total stranger walking down the street or a cat sleeping on the tree or a flower waiting to be smelled. This light sometimes goes further, reaching people that can be unkind or cruel, in our looking saturating their being with its warmth. And then it even reaches out further to non-living beings like the asphalt road or the door of the elevator or the spoon that you stir your soup with. I guess it’s all about intimacy that shines forth when all the defenses and resistances are let go of. This intimacy is so sweet. What we call love is that I believe. It’s always new and it’s always the same, waiting there to be recognized.
This recognition put me into tears yesterday when I was reading about the moment of the same type of recognition which was experienced by Rumi. In the book, the page was telling about the day when he suddenly stopped walking in the bazaar of Konya and started whirling with ecstasy in the middle of the street when he heard the rhythmic, even melodic sounds of the hammers of the goldsmiths working in their ateliers. Then when he is asked, he simply pointed to the truth that the source of human soul which is nothing but only Love resides everywhere. We don’t need to look far. It is there in the worldly ordinary everyday life that we can experience any time.
Congratulations for the birth of Holy Mischief! I am so happy to be here in this space with you and Filiz and other friends. Thank you for initiating this fertile, playful ground. I feel love, I feel embraced and I feel excited. A biiiig hug to you dear Debra.
Ah dear Deniz it is so good to hear from you. Your writing lands like a prayer in my heart. Thank you so so much. I very much look forward to the next time life brings us together ... here, in Turkey or somegoodwhere. Sending love and blessings ❤️
What vibrant questions!! I love people most easily when I am in one to one connections with them. I work in a rural community providing home health services and I find that I often fall in love with folks that I would never have considered or approached otherwise. Upon reflection I am realizing that it is their hearts, their kindness and their letting me into their lives and door that opens my heart. I find that this heart connection is stronger than my mind judging their political or life choices...( which closes my heart). Thank you for asking.
I love the story of relocating the mice and providing them a premium home in the forest. Thank you for inviting us to sit with one of the most essential questions in life.
“My work is loving the world” This line from Mary Oliver’s poem “Messenger” has been with me like a mantra over the years. Your question expands in my mind as “who and what do I love?” Because I immediately feel the presence of more than human world. The almond blossoms that are blooming right now, the hawk that circles above my head, the smell of rain on the earth, the gentle touch of water in the sea near my home… the poems that carry me through the despair or the songs of the ancestors of my land that teach me patience and lightheartedness.
And I am a student and an apprentice to loving humans and human experience in the Earth School.
So beautiful Filiz, thank you so much. That is also one of my favorite Mary Oliver lines ❤️
It’s a beautiful game (or experiment) to feel the heart, feel the sun shining there, illuminating everything it touches with its warmth, when it’s directed to whatever we see at that given moment. Maybe a friend talking to us or a total stranger walking down the street or a cat sleeping on the tree or a flower waiting to be smelled. This light sometimes goes further, reaching people that can be unkind or cruel, in our looking saturating their being with its warmth. And then it even reaches out further to non-living beings like the asphalt road or the door of the elevator or the spoon that you stir your soup with. I guess it’s all about intimacy that shines forth when all the defenses and resistances are let go of. This intimacy is so sweet. What we call love is that I believe. It’s always new and it’s always the same, waiting there to be recognized.
This recognition put me into tears yesterday when I was reading about the moment of the same type of recognition which was experienced by Rumi. In the book, the page was telling about the day when he suddenly stopped walking in the bazaar of Konya and started whirling with ecstasy in the middle of the street when he heard the rhythmic, even melodic sounds of the hammers of the goldsmiths working in their ateliers. Then when he is asked, he simply pointed to the truth that the source of human soul which is nothing but only Love resides everywhere. We don’t need to look far. It is there in the worldly ordinary everyday life that we can experience any time.
Congratulations for the birth of Holy Mischief! I am so happy to be here in this space with you and Filiz and other friends. Thank you for initiating this fertile, playful ground. I feel love, I feel embraced and I feel excited. A biiiig hug to you dear Debra.
❤️
Ah dear Deniz it is so good to hear from you. Your writing lands like a prayer in my heart. Thank you so so much. I very much look forward to the next time life brings us together ... here, in Turkey or somegoodwhere. Sending love and blessings ❤️
Beautifully written. Thank you for reminding us to always choose love! 💜🔥💜
Thank you so much River. I really appreciate you 💜
What vibrant questions!! I love people most easily when I am in one to one connections with them. I work in a rural community providing home health services and I find that I often fall in love with folks that I would never have considered or approached otherwise. Upon reflection I am realizing that it is their hearts, their kindness and their letting me into their lives and door that opens my heart. I find that this heart connection is stronger than my mind judging their political or life choices...( which closes my heart). Thank you for asking.
I am so moved by your response, Lynda. Thank you. You named some things that are true for me too. I appreciate your shining the light. ❤️