OUR TRUE NATURE

We spend our summers at a lake cottage on the coast of Maine but this week my wife and I did something different. We enjoyed a house swap, staying in a flat just across the Hudson River from New York City. We took in museums, a Broadway musical, outdoor concert, comedy club, dinners out, subway, bus, ferry, taxi rides, Grand Central Station, Time Square, NYC Library, etc. Had a great time--while surrounded almost completely by concrete, glass, steel, construction, non-stop noise, smells, lights, action--and much of the time we were shoulder to shoulder with people speaking languages from around the world. 

Two things struck me. 1. The kindness of complete strangers who took initiative to be helpful on many occasions.  2. In the midst of all the concrete, steel and glass, signs of the presence of nature were everywhere . . . the Hudson River, waterfowl, birds, bugs, worms, wasps, cats, dogs, flowers, bushes, huge shade trees and gorgeous gardens on top of many of the buildings...and of course, smack dab in the middle of Manhattan is the magnificent Central Park with streams and ponds, bike trails and walking paths, glens of mature trees, large grassy areas and a zoo! 

Our deep human need for connection with the rest of the natural world was so obvious in the architecture, landscaping and urban planning of properties both public and private. Even the home we stayed in had a lovely oriental garden in the backyard. Every morning I sat on the couch and did my meditation while gazing out four large glass patio doors at tiered bamboo plants swaying gently in the breeze. And to top it all off, on our last night we watched the full moon rise over the Manhattan skyline.

While mesmerized by the moon's sallow beauty, I found myself thinking that no matter where we are or what we do we simply can't separate ourselves from nature--from our nature. It isn't just all around us. It's in us . . . just as we're in it . . . and, as part of nature, either we're in this all together or we're not in it at all.

That's an inspiring, if sobering, thought. 


"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)

SUMMONED BY LOVE

Just turned one, all of one.
Wiggly. Resolute. Joyful. Cranky.
Perpetual motion. Emotion. Commotion.
Jonah: my grandson.

He reaches for me.
No, throws himself at me,
knowing without knowing
that I will catch him.
“Leap, and the net will appear.”

The feeling elicited in me? Joy.
Such pure, sweet expression of vulnerability,
such harmonious fusion of need and desire,
such confident invitation into intimacy!

Love’s ancient and ageless summons,
this is what it looks like coming from one of one.
In the same instant freely given,
completely captivating.

To be sought after by one so young,
thereby invited into love’s rules of engagement,
is instantaneously disarming,
heart-warming, reorienting.

If such an incontrovertible subpoena by love
doesn’t immediately reset
all our defaults and presets,
all our attitudes and altitudes,
we’d better check to see
if we still have
a pulse.


Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

JOY HAS COME

Today,
I want my every thought, every word, 
every emotion, and every action 
to be bathed and buffed, 
cleansed and clothed in Joy.

Today,
I will practice both living in
and living out this Joy 
from this moment of sweet awakening 
until, at its close, that moment of savored rest.
  
Today,
I will treat all of creation 
with whom and with which I share 
this gloriously alive moment of Life 
with such Joy as Joy entreats me.

And then, at the end of this day,
before I close my eyes to its length and light,
I will look back on it and know
that Joy has come to me, too.

"You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, (Psalm 30:11)

BOTH WAYS

Closing my eyes, I try to imagine what it must have been like to hear Jesus speak the Beatitudes that first time there on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee on what was likely another beautiful and sunny, if earth-scorching, day.
        Frankly, for some these words must have been deeply disturbing and even threatening as it’s likely the crowd included at least a smattering of the rich and powerful who had simply come to check this “Jesus” character out. For them Jesus’ words must have felt like a scathing rebuke of the practices of the reigning powers-that-be (to which they may have adhered and belonged) and their tightly held value system that kept the poor poor and the peace-makers persecuted. 
For others Jesus’ words must have been incredibly freeing, inspiring and even exhilarating!—the kind of words that none of us can get enough of in our lives. Some in the crowd must have literally filled their lungs deeply with fresh vitality grounded in this new and expanding definition of blessing. They must have looked into each other’s sad, tired and maybe depressed eyes and smiled irresistibly at each other, maybe laughed deeply with each other, maybe even hugged and danced in place--joy bubbling up from somewhere deep inside at these incredibly life-giving words! They must have been giddy with hope, with feeling “Wow! No one’s ever put it that way before! My life is worth living! GOD LOVES ME, TOO. GOD’S BLESSING IS UPON ME AFTER ALL!”
Personally, I believe I need to hear these bold words both ways. The part of me that perpetuates and benefits from the practices of the world’s current powers-that-be needs to hear in Jesus’ words the thinly-veiled rebuke of a value system that thrives by virtue of inhumane domination of all creation. At the same time, the part of me that wants to dance with delight in the newfound joy, hope and well-being that these words cause to well up from deep in my soul needs to know that Jesus is talking directly, joyfully, lovingly, and most of all, UNMISTAKABLY to me...and you.


When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1–12)