2014 June Newsletter

Hello Everyone:

Recently we held a meditation retreat at St Columba. During the two days we spent in silence, meditating, walking through the woods mindfully, and eating meals with focused attention, certain insights came easily into our awareness.

Uninterrupted by conversation, fully experiencing each moment and connecting with nature, one could experience the clean, crisp air passing through one’s lungs,while taking in the delightful aroma of wild sage and grasses in the grove in where we meditated each morning. (see picture).

Joyful birds trilled their unique morning calls, chronicling their exuberance in the gift of life itself- while remaining totally oblivious to potential dangers in their world. They gladly shared their celebration of the utter freedom and joy of being exactly (and ONLY!) what their Creator designed them to be!

Would that we ALL were to practice this wisdom, thrilling in the dance of life, lilting and lifting as Spirit sends the winds.

Years ago, one of my teachers asked the students, “What makes the room the room?” Of course , there were the walls, the furniture, inside the room, but those things missed the mark. He helped us see that what truly makes a room is the space within the room. So often, what cannot be seen is more important that what is visible.

I was reminded of that lesson as I “heard the silence within nature’s symphony. As I walked through the woods,it became apparent to me for the first time that, while the song of each bird is an opus of beauty,the silence between each note allows every sound to exist; in fact that is truly where the music begins.

“Here is the grotto where we were meditated at 7:00 am the first morning of our weekend. It smelled like crushed sage; the dew on the grass sparkled like jewels. The following morning we went to a lake to meditate, a lone duck swimming in front of us and a dogwood tree in full bloom on the other side of the inlet. It was marvelous to be outdoors and to sit and meditate with only the sound of birds surrounding you.” K. M. (Quote paraphrased)

After our meditation in the grove, the pace back to the lodge seemed to quicken, perhaps in anticipation of the breakfast that awaited us. A morning of silence enhanced awareness of the food that beckoned.
Delightful smells coming from the kitchen brought our hunger to a peak. An endearing addition was the smiling face of the cook, waiting to serve each person a goodly portion. Letting all concerns go,I allowed the moment to have its appropriate importance. Needless to say,the breakfast was great!

Enjoy each moment, every day,as seen through the eyes of a child.
Life is a gift that we must hold dear to our hearts.

Blessings,
Daniel

Thoughts for the Day

“Silence is a great teacher.
There is no substitute for the creative inspiration, knowledge, and stability that come from silence” -Deepak Chopra

“There are times when silence has the loudest voice.” Leroy Brownlow

“Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.” Oscar Wilde

Lite Thoughts

“Life can be so beautiful. To lie in the soft grasses waving around one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.” Revised Daniel

“Meditation is like being locked up in a closet with as lunatic with a megaphone.” Anne Cushman, writer for Yoga Journal