Thursday, June 10, 2010

Ordinary Thoughts While Walking

The longer I live the more I realize (make real) my purpose. My purpose is the apprehension of beauty. No more, no less. The rhythm of nature is so slow, so in tune with the beat of the heart, and the sound of breath. I know this when I am walking in the park. I feel the breath of Eden, sustaining. I slow down.

The rhythm of nature is not out of time with the heart of God in full measure, but it is slow compared to the way that mankind has chosen to measure time...the speed at which society goes. True peace is measured in breath. In this moment, there is stillness.


To apprehend means to understand with the senses, to become conscious of, to grasp. When I apprehend beauty, especially through nature, I feel complete.

Thomas Merton said there is a wisdom in becoming content to live ordinary lives. Who wants that? I thought. But as long as we are grasping for some future thing we think will make our life complete, there is disorder and disharmony. Maybe I am, years after I read it, beginning to grasp what he meant.

There is something ordinary, and also extraordinary about a walk in the park.

9 comments:

AngelStar said...

Thank you, all for your insightful comments on my last post about the meaning of life. Yes, even more important than allowing happiness is living in the now, enjoying, (and accepting) what comes.

An English Shepherd said...

A walk in the park always cheers us up :-)

Old Kitty said...

Awwww - a walk in a beautiful park is always lovely. My favourite is Regent's Park in London. It is maintained lovingly with so much to see and do. A pleasure to walk through any day.

Take care
x

Pat Wahler said...

In the big scheme of things I guess most of us do lead ordinary lives. We might as well be content with it.

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful writing here, Angel-Star.

As for walks in the park, I usually love just going around the neighborhood and taking a breath of fresh air.

It is amazing on how I miss some of the things when I'm driving my car around the neighborhood. And when I take a walk and notice the finer details that I missed while driving and pay close attention to them. A walk always gets my mind flowing in a positive direction. The nature in my neighborhood is astounding, all I have to do is open the door to my house, and take a walk.

Nature is truly beautiful and there is something extraordinary and ordinary going on at the same time, you just got to keep your eyes peeled.

Write on!

Rosaria Williams said...

Beautiful thoughts! I can see the influende of Rumi, and Thomas Merton here. Thanks for signing up to follow Italian for Beginners. All prossima volta!

AngelStar said...

Thank you my fellow beauty lovers for your breath of fresh air insights...

Ralph said...

You are indeed a thing of beauty yourself now there is a thought a walk in the park with a beautiful being. My park would have to include a high place I like to see the world from on high.

AngelStar said...

sweetest ralph! you are a gem of so many facets!!! may you ever have a higher viewpoint!