Thursday, August 17, 2017

Don't just visit the world!

Pay Attention

Ten times a day something happens to me like this—some strengthening throb of amazement—some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.”
Mary Oliver

Some folks idolize great athletes, glitzy pop stars, or famous actors—I idolize Mary Oliver. I honestly think I could sit at her feet everyday for the rest of my life and be contented. I wonder whether she ever says anything trivial, or harsh, or banal. If so, it never shows up in her writing. The way she lives, and the way that she writes are one thing—she does not differentiate between work and play—she just lives absorbed. She writes: “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” Her advice to the rest of us is: “Love yourself. Then forget it. Then love the world.” In three short sentences, nine words, she sums up the life cycle of adult humans. First we love ourselves, are completely caught up in the glories of youthful bodies and minds. Then we forget all that as we grind out those middle years of work, child-rearing, relationship building and too often, relationship ending. Parents fall ill and eventually die. We cling to our life preserves and just hope for survival. And then, we fall in love all over again, this time with the world, and with its people and its creatures. It's amazing how beautiful the world looks in these later years, how precious.

I had an encounter a few nights ago. It was bedtime, and I was headed that way when I heard noise outside. I thought it might be thunder or fireworks, so I walked out on my porch and looked west, checking for lightening. Suddenly, from the street out front, an owl flew up and lit on the light pole. He was at least two feet tall, and magnificent! He sat there for several minutes, while I held my breath, and then he flew away. I have been listening to that owl calling to his mate for years, but I have never before caught even a glimpse of him. It was a holy moment.

Mary Oliver wrote: “I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.” If you feel that way too, pay attention. Soak it up. Let yourself experience the beauty of it. This is your “one wild and precious life.” Don't spend it being distracted by your cell phone. The world won't be the same tomorrow, and neither will you. Seize the day!

                                                                      In the Spirit,
                                                                        Jane



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