“This world is like a mountain. Your echo depends on you. If you scream good things, the world will give it back. If you scream bad things, the world will give it back. Even if someone says badly about you, speak well about him. Change your heart to change the world.” (Shams Tebrizi)
“This world is like a mountain. Your echo depends on you. If you scream good things, the world will give it back. If you scream bad things, the world will give it back. Even if someone says badly about you, speak well about him. Change your heart to change the world.” (Shams Tebrizi) Both these things are 'difficult' to do, but obviously possible. Giving it a go is the best way to start - lets begin today to put into action a new, positive practice!
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JUST . BE. KIND.
These three, simple little words managed to make my day! I had been reading a wonderful article entitled '3 words to an easier existence' which was so beautifully written and so full of wisdom it got lodged in my heart and I carried it around with me all day. I went for a snack with my daughter in the city later on, and as I approached the counter to pay for it, a young man serving caught my eye. I was curious and a little unnerved at first because there were lots of people queueing but for some unfathomable reason he twinkled at me. It was very sweet and warming, we exchanged money, nods and thank you's and my daughter and I sat down to eat. I returned some time later for a cappuccino and a brownie, he served me again. "I'm only going to charge you for the brownie" he said smiling, quite out of the blue. . . . ."What! really?" I said somewhat shocked "Why's that?" . . . "No reason . . . . " and as he began to say it I finished his words " . . . . Just to be kind!" - "that's right! feels good to be nice. . . " we both knew at that moment how easy it was 'just to be kind' and it made my day. His sweetness and generosity made me smile so much everyone around us smiled too and I felt so blessed, that the blessing spread out to everyone I met. This morning I woke up to Lesson 19 from 'A Course in Miracles' which I am working on with a group of friends. It reads as follows: "I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my thoughts". Out of the blue it doesn't make a lot of sense but 'The Course' builds up little by little in order to make a change to our conditioned thinking, and moving on from one lesson to the next, it's progression is reasonable. It says "Today we are again emphasising the fact that minds are joined." - I'm not about to 'explain' anything but I'd love to tell you a short story of how today panned out, quite unexpectedly, and how the above was made visible! It was an amazing sunny day, made especially wonderful because the rain clouds were gone and the wind raged somewhere else - such a relief! We decided to get some fresh air - go for a walk. Although we could have opened our doors and just walked out, we decided to go further afield - To walk to the other side of the mountain, the one which greets us everyday when we look out of our window. The view of which offers us a fresh and unique vision, sculpted by the clouds and sunsets, which visit it without fail every day. Today we decided to take a look at its other side and the hills rolling out beyond. As we approached the long mucky track forking off to the left of the road, a surprising number of cars were parked along the verge. I remembered how the track was long and suggested we drive further up to save our legs - walking along steady inclining stony, puddly and very muddy tracks isn't my idea of fun! We parked further up, near the full overflowing mountain stream abundantly rolling across the path and tumbling down over the edge through, olive heather, lichen and russet bracken, dropping steeply into the folding valley - I wondered at the height of the 'water table' and how high it must be! - Large pools of water lay everywhere capturing the bright reflection of the clear blue skies, flat and still and glistening. The hills around here are ancient and craggy, steep sided and rounded at the same time. The soil thin, supporting closely nibbled grass, gorse and common Spike Rush. The intermittent cream dots of sheep graze head first up the hills, standing to attention occasionally to sudden passers by. Birds of prey glide effortlessly above and below us into the steep valleys below. Imitating these natural fliers are what appear to be hang gliders swooping around a conical mountain to the side of us, but they are visibly much smaller, we deduct that they are radio controlled by enthusiasts out of view. They swoop and lift with such grace it is difficult to tell the difference between the unreal and the real. We watch in amazement for quite some time. (I managed to take two photos before my camera battery ran out! but here are a few from days gone by . . . . . . . . . ) We had intended to veer off the path to our left and walk up into the hills which we can see from home, but I was intrigued to see what was further up the track and over the brow of the near horizon. The Land Rover we had parked behind, was now sloshing through the deep puddles and mud behind us. We clambered onto the steep verge to let it pass. It stopped at a gate ahead, opened and closed it behind them. A flock of sheep huddled towards it, expecting winter rations to be chucked their way, but not this time. We hesitated at the gate, but decided to clamber over and continue down and around the corner with wide open views stretching out all around us, creating the impression of coming into land on a low flying air craft - Panoramic and breath taking, wide and engulfing. We swung around in slow motion to absorb it all - The soft greens, pale blues, muted sweeps of the pastel winter landscape - still and mesmerizing. I voice how fortunate we are and we walk on in deep resonant silence.
In the distance I recognise a derelict house, so fallen and crumbling it is hard to say it was a house at all, only the weathered chimney stack gives it away. I remembered coming across this lonely relic, some years ago and memories of how I had felt then, came tumbling back. It wasn't long after moving to this area that we had found this place, and we sat on some of these ancient stones and looked out into the valley wondering what it must have been like to live and farm here, so high up. I had had a distinct feeling of having been here before, a recognition, a memory, a feeling of 'home'. It was such a strong feeling, one I rarely have, and this had made a real impression on me. |
Hello. . . . .
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