I heard the sound of a movement in the tree in front me, while on a walk this morning. I paused to scan the site. To my delightful surprise, I fund the two squirrels in a playful mood!
In less than a minute, they vanished from my sight!
When do we pause! Its is good to pause regularly by habit. However that does not happen to most of us as we are carried away in to the world of our responsibilities, which often occupy us and fully consume our attention.
Usually it is something that disturbs us which makes us pause!
Following the recent storm when seven trees fell, an electric post got damaged, and left us without power and water for five days, it was a reason good enough to pause.
Anna and I took time to reflect on our six years living in this cottage.
One insight we received during the times of of our silence, reflection and sharing was the wellness this place provided for us thus far. Although the house is 80 years old and there is perennial leak from the water canal passing through the compound, causing serious damage to the property, we did not feel the strain of the demanding times.
Why! Ou lives here have been well interspersed with joyful experiences of abundance in different ways.
Seeing the squirrels in their playful mood this morning, it was a message of considerable significance to us. They lived to relate and found pleasure in that!
As we grow older, what Anna and I find refreshing is the way we can grow in being mindful of each other. We restarted finding reading time together in the evening, which is a good way to close the day!
At the heart of our lives, is the opportunity for communion with God, with each other and others in our orbit.
The Benedictine monk, John Main, in his book, Monastery without walls, wrote something profound in the chapter, 'Recovering our roots' (page 88):
" The Gospel does not instruct us to choose exclusively, either to work with the poor, or to undertake the contemplative journey. It tells of getting lost in the vast breadth of possibility that its open command of love, lays before us. This is the challenge of the Gospel. Confusion results from evasion of breadth and integration. We find balance as a gift by facing and generously responding to the depth and breadth of the present moment. We do not create the balance from our resources. All is given. We simply have to learn to be open hearted in responding to the gift".
The situations which seemingly appear to be difficult or delightfully engaging experiences, are both given to us to receive the breadth and depth of them and integrate them for our growing experience to continue. Even this desire to resolve to live contemplatively is a gift of love from God, in 'whom we live, move and have our being'!
To live with an open heart and mind is our part in this experience of seeking common ion with God!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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