Brookgreen — Opening Reading:

The first-grade class was given the assignment to name the seven wonders of the world.  Each student complied a list… the Pyramids…, the Amazon River…, the Grand Canyon…

One girl sat in silence… “I don’t think I understand the assignment”

Her teacher said, “Well, why don’t you tell us what you wrote… and we’ll help you.”

“Okay,” said the little girl, “I think the seven wonders of the world are… to see, to hear, to touch, to smell, to feel, to love, to belong.”

In our rush to avoid the mundane, we miss the miracles of the ordinary.

How do we find the miracles in ordinary life?  The spiritual life begins with this simple sentence, “I never noticed that before”.  We have to remember how to wonder, or as the little girl said, how to see, to hear, to touch, to smell, to feel, to love, to belong.  When we do that, we learn to delight in the wonders of the world that are right here, right now.

Excerpted from: “The Power of Pause” by Terry Hersey; Chosen and read by Sue J.

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I felt the presence of Gullah spirits this morning. 

Photos and reflection by Nancy B.

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Photo by Sue J.

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As I stopped along my walk today I was struck by the evidence: what appears still is still moving.  The still surface of pond bears the reflection of a waving branch above it, and it receives someone’s air bubbles rising from below.  As I stand still, I watch the face of that water wrinkle in the wind.  The creek seems to lie still, until I notice the parade of water hyacinths floating toward and by me, fast.  Near a cow lily on the bank, a wide blade of grass moves imperceptibly.  I crouch closer, and see it bounce ever so slightly under the poise of a dragonfly the same color green, nodding its tail.  Tall trees line the wide creek’s opposite bank.  They stand erect, no visible sign of movement, until their canopies take flight.  A meeting of twenty well-hidden wood storks adjourns suddenly.  They flap skyward, circle a while, land again, as branch upon branch bends in welcome.  What else, I wonder, is different from how it appears at quick glance? What else can surprise me with delight when I am still, my breath still moving me?

Photo and reflection by Amy W.

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As my husband was preparing for surgery in several days, early in my walk my thoughts were drawn to light and lightness. I focused on bringing great light to Keith and his surgery and his healing… as well as trying to hold it all with lightness and gentleness so that the anxiety and fear would not overwhelm. The light and magnificence of this day at Brookgreen helped me to deeply breathe in hope, lightness and healing. 

Photos and reflection by Nancy L.

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Huntington — Opening Reading:

Consider the lilies of the field…

And you—what of your rushed and useful life?
Imagine setting it all down—
Papers, plans, appointments, everything,
Leaving only a note:
“Gone to the fields to be lovely.
Be back when I’m through blooming.”

By Lynn Ungar, Camas Lilies; Opening poem chosen and read by Amy W.

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Photos and reflection by Sue J.

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Photo by Amy W.