Dear TSJ Peeps,
Todays little “lesson” . . . is Now is the time to plant . . .
But first, for new readers, it might help to know I blog in letter format. This is because it is a way I join you in life lessons. My stories are yours in many ways. And yours are mine.
We TSJ people discover together the courage, compassion and wisdom we need on our journey to make tough times doable and increase our joy for all times.
I am growing more and more aware that on this planet we share the same air.
What we exhale or give out reflects the quality of what we have taken in. Some air is more polluted than other. As people who seek courage, compassion and wisdom for the journey through troubled times, we help each other filter out contaminants.
This earth journey compels us to love, learn, and let go. Every moment. And we each do it in different ways.
Every moment our body’s cells are sipping on our oxygen and either flourishing or floundering from what we feed them.
Our minds and hearts must seek
to love more openly and freely,
learn more deeply and broadly,
and let go more quickly.
Letting go prevents stagnation and makes way for new fresh life-giving oxygen for the soul. Some might say all of this sounds too soft and squishy for the realities of today’s world. But Solomon says it is very down and dirty practical wisdom. He says it does work and is important in the scruffy pastures of life.
It has always been true when we neglect to take time to breathe Oxygen from the heavens (unpolluted by earth’s trials and fears etc.) we neglect to plant and nourish new growth.
It is a bit like taking time to plant a tree today so it will grow into a thing of strength and beauty in our tomorrows and as it serves to nourish the forest it also offers up oxygen for us.
Maybe it is essential our task here to plant and nourish to share and cherish one another and our planet.
In this troubled and high paced life we see how do we truly live our purpose and breathe in heaven’s oxygen?
The answer I am finding most helpful this week is . .. by being present fully only to what is in front of us this very moment.
Beyond that we get overwhelmed.
It seems I have been reminded over and over, that is all you need to focus on. And it will be enough for now. Each moment is enough. Each decision is enough for right now.
Overwhelm leads to restricting our intake of the oxygen available in this moment. We so often forget to breathe. Fortunately we automatically breathe enough to stay alive but cells in our brains and the rest of our body feel the constriction and our hearts feel a loss of joy in our days.
Several days ago I was listening to an informative interview on public radio about what actually happens in the rain forest. It was science inspiring my soul. Science and soul often dance well together! I am lifting this quote out of that context. But it has inspired me in other ways too, as I often feel overwhelmed. And I remembered when Tom and I (mostly Tom) planted some baby trees in our back yard. We mowed around them for years and watched them grow.
When I sold the house those trees were tall and beautiful.
So the quote I heard ( apparently a Chinese saying) went something like this:
“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is today.”
What baby tree can we plant in this very moment within our lives that ultimately serve not only ourselves but others?
Who or what is right here right now that needs your love?
Solomon says that is all we need for now.
