Dear TSJ Friends and Family,
I know… I am off a day. You usually hear from me on Wednesdays – our day for a bit of wisdom from the three muses here at The Shared Journey (TSJ) headquarters. But today I cannot resist writing to you even though it is Thursday. It all started this morning when I was in my chair for meditation and glanced across the room where Solomon’s bright eyes shown in the light ..
Sadly, this picture does not capture the brightness of Solomon’s eyes or the “team” of muses very clearly. But you can get an idea of what I was seeing. (Perhaps you can expand it on your devices to see Solomon sitting large and smug in his favorite chair in the office.)
Truthfully, I have felt something missing of late and that is writing the Wednesday blog letters to you. I had put Solomon in the corner for awhile. I have been spending time doing some “inner work” of my own. Soul searching is what some might call it.
But yesterday I put Solomon back in his favorite chair. I really like having him nearby. And once again something magical happened when he took his seat. I remembered. I felt more lighthearted again. Happy and playful.
Yes, he definitely is my muse and makes me chuckle and feel more comfortable with my inner child.
As a child I spent a lot of time musing over big issues and unanswerable questions about God and life. But, like most children, I had a big imagination and I loved play. Still, as long as I can remember I have wanted to understand what makes people do what they do, me do what I do and say stuff I shouldn’t along with wondering who made God etc.
Fortunately, no matter how serious life got, I remember being basically a happy and playful girl. I was constantly in motion and enjoyed feeling the wind in my hair when possible and the prickly hay in the haymow where my big brother and I would occasionally play. I loved trees and animals and people. I still do!
And I am on a journey of learning to love me. I don’t mean a self-centered, preoccupied love. In fact, quite the opposite. That seems tough for many of us. We lose the spirit of adventure, curiosity and resilience we seem to have as children. We become obsessed or at the very least preoccupied with our imperfections and that takes many forms from procrastination to self condemnation to judgment of others who seem to have “it all.”
So what does this have to do with you? I don’t know.
But I bet if you take a moment and muse a bit in memory … of yourself as a child … you will recall a part of you that is fun to remember.
And just maybe that is a part of us that we would do well to think on for a couple of minutes! I love the moments when I feel childlike joy and freedom and my heart leaps at seeing a friend, or watching the goslings at our pond or the birds squabble at the feeder. I feel alive! I love that feeling.
Okay. Back to the picture. …over in the corner… is SJ. Remember him? Solomon Junior. He is both curious and contrary, playful and pouty and challenges Solomon’s quiet steadying timeless wisdom .
They are of course sheep. And while most of us today are not herders and know very little about sheep, in Bible times (and still in parts of the world), they are very important. Like you and me. And we all need to be shepherded with one who knows us and loves us with an unstoppable love. The kind that can free us to be secure and playful.
On the back of the futon is Sigmund who was purchased in Saratoga, NY during a conference that our late Mr. Tom and I attended on humor in the workplace. It was a wonderful conference and we laughed a lot that weekend. Sigmund is a hand puppet that was irresistible – and the only one I could afford at the time. He lived in my psychology office at school until I retired. He helps remind me of the art and science of human development. He leaves the spiritual stuff up to Solomon and me but as a trained psychologist he listens well and is very helpful.
So the bases are covered here for musings of all sorts.
All of this is just to peek back in to catch you up on what is happening here at TSJ. I am writing for the fun of it. But in this time of reflection I have become increasingly aware that I have often forgotten about an important part of who I am and what makes me delight in life. And I know I am not alone. That is, the child within me and…if truth be told — I like her best…
Meanwhile, as I was silent this morning, my eyes also fell on the quilt that is on the back of the futon. It is handmade. It has the 23rd Psalm (the Shepherd’s psalm) on it and lots of sheep. It was made for me when Mr. Tom was very ill. And it is one of my few material possessions that I value beyond words. It was difficult and intricate to make. It is another symbol of God’s unstoppable Love.
All of these things have made me think of you. We all have things that put us in touch with our inner Camelot where the rules of the game are delightful.
And if we believe God’s Love is unstoppable, then so is ours. Do you believe it is narcissistic and selfish to love yourself? I hope not.
Thanks to Solomon, SJ, and Sigmund —- all who represent happy moments in my life —- profound ones too —- and beautiful people like you… I am happy to say hello and will be sharing with you this journey toward discovering lost or more accurately, misplaced aspects of ourselves and integrating that with all challenges life presents.
See you here some Wednesday real soon. Enjoy the wind (spirit) of childlike trust and love – beneath your wings.
With much love,
Margie and her muses.
