Lately
November 9, 2010
Lately I have been much more invested in experiences that are face-to-face ~ where I can see a friend’s smile slowly emerge from deep within or reach out and hold a hand ~ rather than through connections that are only possible with my keyboard.
Lately I have been reading seven books at once ~ two literary journals, two books of poetry, one novel, one self-help, and a small book called The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron. This sounds rather chaotic, but moving between all of them over the course of a long stretch of time has been a magnificent tour of a large dance floor, each book with its own rhythm, style, and beauty.
Lately I have been practicing the art of observation, particularly in moments when I behave in a way I’m not especially proud of. Rather than judge, I observe. Rather than dive into immediate frustration in situations that I think I should be “past” (“I’ve done so much work ~ I should be over this by now!”), I try to lean into those uncomfortable feelings even more.
Lately I have been thinking quite a lot about you, dear readers, and about the mystery of finding people in the blogosphere. How do people stumble upon this space, and how do I happen to discover my favorite online treasures? Lately, as I run errands, clean my kitchen, and take Tilda for walks, I have been saying tiny prayers of gratitude for everyone that comes here and takes the time to leave a little note. You can do anything you want with your time, and you choose to come here. I am grateful beyond words.
Lately I have been recognizing how much the life I am now living makes sense, not because I set out with a Master Plan in my twenties, but because I have walked this earth with a certain kind of determination, a specific approach to my work and my well-being, and I have rarely wavered from that.
Lately I have experienced more moments when I see the light and love that unites everyone on this earth. They happen a lot when I am in my car, at a stop light, and I look around at all the people walking by. This is Los Angeles, so at one intersection on Wilshire Blvd. I might see an old man pushing a grocery cart ~ which clearly holds everything he owns in the world ~ a young woman with Ugg boots, short shorts, and big sunglasses, and a man who looks to be from India in a rush somewhere with a backpack. At every intersection and on every corner there are people from all walks of life going here and there, doing what they need to do. And in these moments, lately, I look at all of them and I remember ~ they have all been loved ~ by someone, somewhere ~ they all want to feel safe, they were all once little children with magnificent dreams for themselves.
The phrase “We are all one” has always elicited a certain resistance on my part. It always feels too pat, too simplistic. But at the end of the day, there is more connecting us than perhaps we care to acknowledge, and even though I might not be able to do anything about whatever hardships, struggles, or difficulties all these people I pass by are carrying with them, I still want to sink into the compassion I feel when we cross paths. That compassion doesn’t vanish when the light turns green and I drive onward, it stays with me, and provides a stronger foundation for the compassion I want to provide for my family.
God Just Came Near
No
One
In need of love
Can sit with my verse for
An hour
And then walk away without carrying
Golden tools,
And feeling that God
Just came
Near.
~Hafiz
You are most definitely a writer (read in a previous post!), and such a one as I love to ‘choose to come here’ and read your sublime words. :~) Blessed be.
p.s. thank you for Hafiz too ~
There is a lot of power in this. Compassion is so important, but it’s something that is often overlooked, and it’s power is underestimated. Thank you for your insight.
Your words are beautiful truths. Every day I get to read them shines brightly.
Many thanks…
i stop here at your blog because i love your writing…i admit that i lurk more than leave messages but…i really relate to what you write, it has a lot of meaning to me and i love your collages as well!!
i love coming here. you are clear and wise.
Thank you.
We are totally all one…no resistance here. Lately, knowing this is true affects my emotions more than the tangible aspects of my own world. Aside from the immediate satisfaction of my children’s antics and affections, it is this underlying truth that we are all so connected that permeates my being and brings me to tears.
I love visiting your corner of the world here in the blogosphere. It always reaffirms my faith in all of us.
xo
I can relate to so much of this. And am very grateful to you for the wisdom and goodness you share here.
…and I am grateful that I can come here and always read something fine and honest and real….
ps. also love your picture for this post
agreed :0)
more face to face would be great! but i come here too, to collect little snippets for my scrapbook of life, the one upstairs in my noggin that will see me through the rest of my days
thanks for contributing to my life Christine xoxo
i miss you too.
i come here because in so many ways than one you have been a great part of my creative journey. perhaps someday i’ll see you walking by. we never know, right?
wow. you know when you think you’re the only one thinking some of these exact same thoughts and woundering if you’re the only one….i guess i’m not, thank goodness. i very much enjoy reading your words, christine : ) you have so much beauty to share and i love it!
compassion is a must and should ALWAYS be shared.
xoxo and smiles~ jill
love the hafiz quote.
lately, i’ve been playing in the world and not so much online. reminding myself of why i love london, moving out of our house, excited about going home to new zealand and also a little sad to leave my friends in the UK.
grateful for all the connections i have – both on and offline. grateful for you being here and telling me a part of your story.
blowing you kisses over the seas
xx
yes. yeS. yES. YES! i feel like that when i’m driving to and fro, all the people going here and there. and i know we are all ONE, just in different costumes. thank you for that and for the whole post. YES!
I love all of this, all of these “latelys” for you … and the one that sticks with me most are the images of all those different people with different stories scurrying by a random Los Angeles intersection. It amazes me sometimes, how each and every person on this planet has a story. We get to know so few of them. The stories must boggle God’s mind.
And then I’m reminded of something Mccabe writes on her blog every once in a while: we’re all doing the best we can. It’s so true. And yet, too often, many in the world don’t afford other this grace. I want to live in the light of this truth in the world.
Love to you, dear one.
xoxo,
Christianne