Walking late this afternoon, I decided to reverse my usual route, which tweaked things quite a lot. I think I may have even seen some things I wouldn't have, otherwise--the pair of hawks that flew across the path in front of me, the leaves I feel compelled to collect, the clouds breaking up overhead after a rainy day, and the zinnias that are still blooming in someone's yard. I imagine the zinnias have been there for weeks, if not months, and I've never notice them till today.
Living Room Leaves
Yesterday, Kay and I had lunch at Gateway and crossed the street for a long-ago-promised walk together through Woodland Cemetery, and came upon this Celtic Cross. The cross, the falling leaves, the briskness of the day, all reminded me of Cynthia Bourgeault's Fall Triduum encompassing Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. You can read about it here: http://www.contemplative.org/fall-triduum/
Bourgeault says that both spring and fall Triduums deal with that passage from death to life which is at the heart of the Christian mystical path, and in fact, all mystical paths. But they do so in very different modes, with a very different emotional and spiritual coloration. At Easter the days are lengthening, the earth is springing forth with new life, and resurrection energy is already coursing trough everything in the physical universe.
In the Fall Triduum the movement is more inward, against the grain. The days are shortening, the leaves are fallen, and the earth draws once again into itself. Everything in the natural world confronts us with reminders of our own mortality.
In other words, A Reversal.
I've been giving a lot of thought to Advent lately, partly as preparation for my own inward journeying, and partly for the purpose of preparing a retreat for some people in our church. So I keep bringing it up with friends, one of whom has declared Advent her favorite season. Another said he thinks we should observe Advent by taking away one thing every day. I liked Ted's idea, and we talked about ways we might put that into practice. There are plenty of things in our lives that we could easily live without.
The weather has stayed so mild, this morning may even have been our first real frost, not a killing one, and they say it will be back up in the 70's in the next few days. Whether due to El Nino, or God, or Climate Change, I do not know, but I'm experiencing this as Gift, and am grateful to have morning glories, nasturtiums, the red geranium, and my cosmos still blooming:
In the Fall Triduum the movement is more inward, against the grain. The days are shortening, the leaves are fallen, and the earth draws once again into itself. Everything in the natural world confronts us with reminders of our own mortality.
In other words, A Reversal.
I've been giving a lot of thought to Advent lately, partly as preparation for my own inward journeying, and partly for the purpose of preparing a retreat for some people in our church. So I keep bringing it up with friends, one of whom has declared Advent her favorite season. Another said he thinks we should observe Advent by taking away one thing every day. I liked Ted's idea, and we talked about ways we might put that into practice. There are plenty of things in our lives that we could easily live without.
The weather has stayed so mild, this morning may even have been our first real frost, not a killing one, and they say it will be back up in the 70's in the next few days. Whether due to El Nino, or God, or Climate Change, I do not know, but I'm experiencing this as Gift, and am grateful to have morning glories, nasturtiums, the red geranium, and my cosmos still blooming:
Here are some things that are on my mind, one of which I mentioned in the last post: some of my skewed impressions of women in power/politics. Not to give anything away or name names, I think I'll just list some of the thoughts that go through my head when I hear some of the women who are out there in the public arena: "flake" "ridiculous" "liar" "evil" "severe" "harsh" "deceptive" "power hungry"--well, you get the idea.
And I'm attempting to reverse my reactions to my sisters by creating this list, and also journaling as I did just this morning: You know none of these women personally, have never gone for a walk with them, had a private conversation, let yourself be openly curious or compassionate or listened honestly. You have only glimpses to go on, and sound bytes of some of their very worst moments. And I realize that if a woman (or any person) does very much public speaking at all there are inevitably going to be blunders, misspeaks, gaffes, and faux pas, even without the misrepresentation provided by the media.
I'm Just Sayin'.
And I'm attempting to reverse my reactions to my sisters by creating this list, and also journaling as I did just this morning: You know none of these women personally, have never gone for a walk with them, had a private conversation, let yourself be openly curious or compassionate or listened honestly. You have only glimpses to go on, and sound bytes of some of their very worst moments. And I realize that if a woman (or any person) does very much public speaking at all there are inevitably going to be blunders, misspeaks, gaffes, and faux pas, even without the misrepresentation provided by the media.
I'm Just Sayin'.
A group of us spent most of the day today in retreat with Fr. Larry Gillick, a Jesuit and spiritual director in the Ignatian Exercises. You can learn more about Fr. Gillick here:
http://www.stbenedictcenter.com/ And I'm serious when I say this. If you are planning a retreat in the next year, consider going to the Benedictine Center (Scuyler, Nebraska, near Omaha) for the retreat Fr. Gillick offers in July 2016.
I plan to share some insights from today's time with him in my next post.
And this little gem just arrived in my phone earlier:
http://www.stbenedictcenter.com/ And I'm serious when I say this. If you are planning a retreat in the next year, consider going to the Benedictine Center (Scuyler, Nebraska, near Omaha) for the retreat Fr. Gillick offers in July 2016.
I plan to share some insights from today's time with him in my next post.
And this little gem just arrived in my phone earlier:
Happy Halloween!
(Now awaiting Grady's.)
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