The Shape of Our Self
September 3, 2007 · by Christine
Working Together
We shape our self
to fit this world
and by the world
are shaped again.
The visible
and the invisible
working together
in common cause,
to produce
the miraculous.
I am thinking of the way
the intangible air
passed at speed
round a shaped wing
easily
holds our weight.
So may we, in this life
trust
to those elements
we have yet to see
or imagine,
and look for the true
shape of our own self
by forming it well
to the great
intangibles about us.
-David Whyte from House of Belonging
These lines are speaking to me today: “So may we, in this life / trust / to those elements / we have yet to see / or imagine, and look for the true / shape of our own self / by forming it well / to the great / intangibles about us.”
I feel this longing to surrender my life to the “great intangibles” in which I am immersed. I am thinking a lot today about the things I allow to shape who I am, and how I continue to create a life of deep meaning. But I don’t quite have the words yet to offer here, so the poem and photo will have to be enough for now.
What deep thoughts have you been thinking over this long weekend at the end of summer?
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
(The stones in the photo sit on my little condo deck and were gathered from Kalaloch and Ruby beaches in Olympic National Park a couple of summers ago.)
September 3rd, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Beautiful poem, beautiful photo. Visiting your blog is always like praying. No deep thoughts here, but plenty of deep emotions. Grief. Loss. Love. Wonder. Faith. Anger. Sadness. Gratitude.
Thanks for all you share and inspire.
September 4th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Being with my mom after her stroke, these past 11 days I’ve been thinking of the amazing love and healing energies that flow between two people in the simple touching of hands.
“How God comes
to the soul
I descent on my love
As dew on a flower.”
Mechtild of Magdeburg
(tr. by Oliver Davies)
From the book: “Women in Praise of the Sacred” - Edited by Jane Hirschfield - page 92.
September 4th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Aside from the gift of the miracle of MORE TIME for my father, I have been focused on relationships - how I relate to ALL others with which I come into contact. Fall is my favorite time of year and I feeling contemplative, creative, and grateful.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Thanks so much Carla, what a beautiful thing to say. And the words you share are very evocative. Blessings to you in the midst of feeling so deeply.
Bette, I am delighted to hear your mom is recovering and I love the poem from Mechtild.
eileen, fall is my favorite too!
what wonderful thoughts to be contemplating.
September 5th, 2007 at 8:20 am
the words you “highlighted” are the ones that, too, spoke to me and the photo is stunning with its texture and depth…who know there could be so much color in black & white?
for me, fall is more of the new year than even january 1. today my daughter (my youngest) started high school. it feels like a new season for all of us and i pray that i will take the time to sink into what is awaiting to awaken in me, “forming it well to the great intangibles about us.”
blessings to you this lovely almost fall day!
September 5th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Thank you lucy. I agree about the newness of fall. Congrats on your daughter’s big step, may she find freedom in that space.