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| Dear Readers, I hope this message finds you well, and all going as you would have it! Few times have I thought about the word grandeur. The other day, I rummaged around to make a mental list of anything that would be full of grandeur. Whale watching, riding dolphins, or looking out of an airplane window to see clouds were samplings of just how seductive and breathtaking our world is. This ezine’s musings will help balance some views of extreme happenings with the beauty we might have let slip by us. It takes a quick reminder to look with one’s heart instead of one’s eyes to stay awake to grandeur in this moment. Sublime ThoughtHere you are, reading this word, then these few words, and now you have read an entire sentence. Did you notice your breathing, your posture, or think about the dauntless and delicate mental movements carrying you to the end of this paragraph? Comprehending the processes and functions of my body is as boggling to the mind as contemplating the Grand Canyon or the Milky Way Galaxy. My presence is as much a part of nature’s expanse as the grove of trees in my backyard, or the rippling springs in the creek just outside my door. What about the bushy tailed gray squirrel that, at this moment, just scampered onto my patio? The furry, cute little cruiser raised up to see the path to its next snack, and, yes, that cruiser is grandeur, too. Our hearts are wired up to respond to grandeur, that range of sublime experiences from beautiful to horrible. Understanding sublime is to understand the beatific, quiet, “Surprise!” synchronicities are as seductive as grasping the opposite end of the spectrum, the horrific Auschwitz, the war in Iraq, or the recent Asian tsunami. The results of the extreme weather disaster washed a deep sadness over me, plunged the grandeur of nature into my face - flooded an ocean of grief around me.
Nature’s VoiceIn amazement, I watch the grandeur in the nature of the universe, although nature’s dispassionate voice might destroy or disrupt or displace Earthlings. It is time to celebrate human grandeur, our abilities, willingness, and technologies, which serve our global neighbors in ghastly distress. Sometimes, I lay a hand to my brow after reading the latest meteorological study and prophecy; swaying my head to and fro, I wonder if we will awaken out of some beautifully ambitious, fictitious movie. Lest we take it for granted, the yellow ball, pulsing light upon Earth every moment, has noticeably altered. We are remembering that as our galaxy changes, so will the sun – we will see the effects. It is nature’s job to evolve. Susan Griffin has said it well… We know ourselves to be made from this earth. We know this earth is made from our bodies. For we see ourselves. And we are nature. We are nature seeing nature. We are nature with a concept of nature. Nature speaking of nature to nature. Voiced GrievingFor weeks, I had wondered what was missing from my thinking, or had merely avoided in my treasury of feelings. Socio-political events happening in tandem with altering dramatic weather had kept my inquiring mind distracted. Then, the awakening “Surprise!” Marianne Williamson’s piece on grief appeared online, and its reading was deeply stunning. Her concept revealed a transition we have been muting :: we are grieving the passage from this world, to which we have become accustomed, into the next we are conspicuously conceiving. I researched the grieving process to remind myself of its phases which are, simply, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, and hope for the future. There was my opening :: hope for the future. Nations grieve too, just as individuals do after a dear one moves or passes away. Americans, as well as our earthly family, will grieve in varying stages. It might do well to compassionately awaken to the grandeur of our changing planet. Earthlings’ grieving has already begun – our love will keep us remembering.
Our constant curiosity is key |
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