I've come across three quotes I really like. I thought you might, too. Plus, it gives me a good excuse to use another Winslow Homer image.
I've always found it intriguing how nature and human beings seem to mirror each other, both being elements of the same idea: Life with a capital L. It is perhaps the grandest lesson offered to illustrate the universe and our place in it, the one idea that seems to be manifested in a myriad of ways, but always remains One.
I have read many of the things Deepak Chopra has written and I agree with much he has written, but sometimes I wish he would take it to an even higher level. When I saw this quote I liked the idea it represents, the notion that all Life is a mirror of the Divine:
Two chemicals called actin and myosin evolved eons ago to allow the muscles in insect wings to contract and relax. The same two proteins are responsible for the beating of the human heart.
~ Deepak Chopra
It's wonderful to me, to see these connections. I might have mentioned this a time or two. Or three....
Before I go on, perhaps it's time for me to define my notion of God, the Divine. I grew up with the usual old man in the sky passing judgment and meting out punishment for our infractions of the stated rules. Fortunately, I always had a problem with that, so it was natural for me to go on a little search and rescue mission. I wanted to find what was missing, rescue myself from a faulty and misbegotten view, and develop a new understanding of what constitutes the Divine.
For today, I'm not going to go into the entire story of how this came about, but came about it did. Through what could only be referred to as divine intervention and guidance, I opened up my life to this quest and the ideas came tumbling in through a wholly unexpected source. It changed my life.
So, to make a long story at least semi-short, this is my working definition of God viewed through seven synonyms: God is Life, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Truth, Principle. God does not exhibit these qualities, God IS them. God Is Life, God Is Love, God Is Mind, etc. You get the idea. So, if you're having trouble with the Grand Poobah in the Sky, and you'd like to move beyond the Flintstones, with Fred and Barney's Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes Lodge No. 26 (I was once a big Flintstones fan), maybe try out these definitions, not as ephemeral ideas, but as real evidence that Good exists and how we can practice seeing and demonstrating it in our individual lives.
Which brings me to my second quote:
Don't try to analyze the Great Mystery. Instead, Be the Great Mystery. Don't go with the flow; be the Flow. Don't struggle and strain to put yourself in harmony with the Creative Surge of the Divine Wow. Be the Creative Surge of the Divine Wow.
~ Rob Brezny
I believe the simplest ideas are the best path to understanding the Divine. Complicating it, burying it under a cascade of words and intellectual ideas only serves to move us further away from the Source. And so the third quote, another by Rob Brezny:
What is the holiest river in the world? Some might say the Ganges in India. Others would propose the Jordan River or the River Nile. But I say, the holiest river is the one that's closest to where you are right now.
Winslow Homer, "The Butterfly Girl"
The river in winter, on the edge of Lonewolf, my home.
Thank you for this. I am on a journey of discovery, have been this last year or so, and I like the path you are travelling, this is the same direction my path is taking me.
ReplyDeleteI love the quotes, the art piece and especially your photo. The name Lonewolf really speaks to me - how marvellous to be able to call it home.
I too have a Deepak Chopra quote today.
Wonderful quotes today, Teresa. I've been on my own spiritual journey for years and my path is fairly close to yours. When my body and my mind and my spirit are aligned in service somehow, I'm there.
ReplyDeleteI am in love with that first quote. What a splendid example of how all things in nature are different yet still the same.
ReplyDeleteYour quotes are well chosen. Funny, I was just contemplating and writing about my quest, my journey. I knew when my quest was nearly over because I reached the point of blissful happiness. Then there is only love and a lot of humor.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like the Brezny quote. It's good to be introspective, and think things over, but I tend to over-analyze and micro-manage. I need to learn to flow and bend a lot more, and enjoy some of the mysteries without always trying to dissect them.
ReplyDeleteI too have been on this journey. Years and years...I agree with Manzanita, "...because I reached the point of blissful happiness." This is so timely after hearing what Glenn Beck had to say about the sad events in Japan. He indicated that God did this to them... a punishment type of thing. That thinking is so sad... Thank you again for the uplifting, loving thoughts of God,The Great Unknown, The Creator...whatever words try to describe.
ReplyDeleteWow, Teresa, this is a really interesting post. Do you do this sort of thing often? I'm going to have to learn from this so I can make such profundity. My posts often seem really mundane. Thanks for the quotes and the pictures. I am new to Winslow Homer.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn, Isn't it nice, that we both chose Chopra? I love it. Lonewolf came to me in a vision/dream. I knew it was the name of my place.
ReplyDeleteLinda M., I think it's wonderful that you have this life of real service. Your building for Habitat for Humanity is a fine example.
V. Furnes, I love that it speaks so clearly of the mirroring of Life.
Manzanita"...only love and a lot of humor." That sums it up beautifully. Thank you, Manzi.
Li, I've done a lot of over-analyzing myself. One of the things I'm grateful for is I've gotten much better at letting that go. Trust is vital. And much easier than we sometimes tell ourselves.
TM, aka Lynn, The mysteries of Life have been the air I breathe. I feel a sense of getting much more relaxed around the whole Big Idea. Letting go is sweet surrender. I'm starting to get better at that. :)
ReplyDeleteDJan, I guess I do this now and then. Exploring the mysteries of Life has been a big part of my life. I like looking at the journey and reminding myself how I got to Here, whatever Here is. :)
ReplyDeleteYour posts are not mundane. I find them interesting and often inspiring. Your physically active life darn near tires me out just reading about it. Believe me, I need that inspiration, to get moving! :)
If Winslow Homer were alive today, I fear I'd be a groupie.
Lovely post and quotes too. Your last line made me shiver.
ReplyDeleteThank You, Betty!
ReplyDeleteYou are shaping a metaphysical view of the world which resonates for me. I also like the Brezny quote. 'Don't go with the flow; be the flow...'
ReplyDeletePaul, I'm glad this spoke to you.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and thought provoking quotations. And you are so right about the holiest river : it is the importance of home, place, belonging that stands at the heart of whatever spirituality may be.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alan, for reading and commenting. Those three things you mentioned really are at the heart of Life.
ReplyDeleteSo that's the river closest to you at Lonewolf. I like your quote and opinion that the closest river to you is the holiest. I believe that. I do have another favorite, however, and it is the Colorado River in central Texas. I have a creek that runs through called Salt Creek. It's teaching me.
ReplyDeleteHi Jack, The river closest to You is the holiest. I love that it's about the river and what it teaches us right where we're at. I love rivers. Creeks, too. Thanks for dropping by.
ReplyDelete