A sunflower from Mom's funeral flowers, 11/23/09
My spiritual salve the past few days has been listening to some talks from John O'Donohue.
Last week, my friend Mary Frances who introduced me to O'Donohue through his poem, "Beannacht," gave me a a divinely timed CD with one of his lectures entitled, Love is the Only Antidote to Fear.
I was so moved by it that I have been listening to everything I can get my hands on. (I downloaded three more lectures from iTunes here and here and here.)
I can't quite put into words why I am loving his lectures so much. It's part his Irish brogue and sense of humor, part his weaving of poetry, spirituality and scholarly themes in such a clear way, and part a case of the right message at the right time.
Whatever the reason, I'm deeply grateful for some deeply soothing balm for my soul, which is feeling tattered and weary of late.
Last night I was listening to O'Donohue's lecture on beauty, and he closes with this quote:
"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour. Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered...
1) Where are you living?
2) What are you doing?
3) What are your relationships?
4) Are you in right relation?
5) Where is your water?
6) Know your garden.
7) It is time to speak your Truth.
8) Create your community.
9) Be good to each other.
10) And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said,"This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.
"Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
"And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
"The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we've been waiting for."
— attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder, Hopi Nation
May the coming week bring you moments of beauty, soothing and calm.
P.S. I apologize for not posting a Flowering Friday last week. It was something I chose not to do last week with the fullness of planning for our first gathering at our house, nursing a slight cold, settling into the new house (all boxes unpacked!!) and re-staging our "old" house (long story short: buyer's financing is not yet coming together so we are actively showing it again). Love and warmth to you all!