Comments on: Wisdom of the Sand http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/ Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:29:54 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Christine http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-6918 Christine Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:25:14 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/#comment-6918 thanks lucy for being my companion through the sand and for reminding me of my own abilities. :-) thanks lucy for being my companion through the sand and for reminding me of my own abilities. :-)

]]> By: lucy http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-6900 lucy Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:32:13 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/#comment-6900 this post was particularly meaningful and vivid for me since i could imagine the steps being taken. for a moment i was back there on the beach with you and it brought a hint of laughter into my day. some days the best we can do is put one foot in front of the other; deliberately and often painstakingly. i am reminded of "the four agreements" by ruiz. one of the agreements is "always do your best" and he reminds us that "our best" will look different day to day just as the tides roll in and out and the sand shifts from firm surface to boot-swallowing muck. i also realized that as you spoke of panic and the comfort of having a friend nearby, that even though i did reach my hand out to you, you were never able to take it and thus pulled yourself out which speaks of your own strength and ability to care well for yourself (even if it is more fun sometimes with a friend.) thank you for the memories--past and future :-) this post was particularly meaningful and vivid for me since i could imagine the steps being taken. for a moment i was back there on the beach with you and it brought a hint of laughter into my day. some days the best we can do is put one foot in front of the other; deliberately and often painstakingly. i am reminded of "the four agreements" by ruiz. one of the agreements is "always do your best" and he reminds us that "our best" will look different day to day just as the tides roll in and out and the sand shifts from firm surface to boot-swallowing muck.
i also realized that as you spoke of panic and the comfort of having a friend nearby, that even though i did reach my hand out to you, you were never able to take it and thus pulled yourself out which speaks of your own strength and ability to care well for yourself (even if it is more fun sometimes with a friend.)
thank you for the memories–past and future :-)

]]> By: Christine http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-6889 Christine Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:31:04 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/#comment-6889 Thanks Kathy, I thought Tune's prints came out especially clearly. I adore David Whyte, and don't think I've heard that poem before. I may have to check out the Macy/Brown book as well. Thanks Kathy, I thought Tune's prints came out especially clearly. I adore David Whyte, and don't think I've heard that poem before. I may have to check out the Macy/Brown book as well.

]]> By: Kathy Flugel Stone http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-6851 Kathy Flugel Stone Sat, 03 Nov 2007 01:26:03 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/#comment-6851 Those wonderful pawprints, Christine! I wanted to oogle my feet in the wet sand after seeing those. So many thoughts, images came to me--it reminded me of Zen sand creations and our impermanence. The sea will wash the footprints away, but you forever have the moment captured in the photo--the beauty of art. I also thought of David Whyte's, "The Opening of Eyes" ....It is the man throwing away his shoes/As if to enter heaven and finding himself astonished/Opened at last/Fallen in love/With Solid Ground. I related to what you posted that sometimes despite trying to live a gentle life, we inevitably hurt someone. I'm reading, "Coming Back to Life" by Joanna Macy and Molly Young Brown. What a wonderfully thought-provoking book on what we can do to deal with the pain that we feel for the world. Those wonderful pawprints, Christine! I wanted to oogle my feet in the wet sand after seeing those. So many thoughts, images came to me–it reminded me of Zen sand creations and our impermanence. The sea will wash the footprints away, but you forever have the moment captured in the photo–the beauty of art. I also thought of David Whyte's, "The Opening of Eyes" ….It is the man throwing away his shoes/As if to enter heaven and finding himself astonished/Opened at last/Fallen in love/With Solid Ground. I related to what you posted that sometimes despite trying to live a gentle life, we inevitably hurt someone. I'm reading, "Coming Back to Life" by Joanna Macy and Molly Young Brown. What a wonderfully thought-provoking book on what we can do to deal with the pain that we feel for the world.

]]> By: Christine http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-6850 Christine Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:37:09 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/#comment-6850 Yes, how interesting life's uneven ground can make things! And desperately funny as well. Beautiful quote eileen, I couldn't agree more. Yes, how interesting life's uneven ground can make things! And desperately funny as well. Beautiful quote eileen, I couldn't agree more.

]]> By: eileen (the dream) http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-6848 eileen (the dream) Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:03:54 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/#comment-6848 Christine- I found this awesome quote last night while reading: "The spirituality of imperfection begins with the recognition that trying to be perfect is the most tragic human mistake." This hit me point blank. I am often in hot pursuit of keeping a (seemingly) sure footing, reaching goals, not being fearful but remaining faithful, and taking myself and others too seriously. How wonderful to humbly accept things with grace and laughter, especially when faced with panic, pain, tremendous effort, and struggle. I, too, as imperfect/human as I am, feel deeply appreciative. Christine-
I found this awesome quote last night while reading: "The spirituality of imperfection begins with the recognition that trying to be perfect is the most tragic human mistake." This hit me point blank. I am often in hot pursuit of keeping a (seemingly) sure footing, reaching goals, not being fearful but remaining faithful, and taking myself and others too seriously. How wonderful to humbly accept things with grace and laughter, especially when faced with panic, pain, tremendous effort, and struggle. I, too, as imperfect/human as I am, feel deeply appreciative.

]]> By: Tess http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-6826 Tess Fri, 02 Nov 2007 09:55:59 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/11/02/wisdom-of-the-sand/#comment-6826 To help strengthen my foot (I have serious pain in my left foot periodically) I wear Masai Barefoot Technology trainers. I don't know if you've seen them, but the soles are curved so you cannot put your feet flat on the ground. For every step you take, the muscles in your feet and legs have to make hundreds of small adjustments, which leads to more flexibility and strength in the feet and ankles. They're great except for when you stand still, which is almost impossible to do because you find yourself rocking backwards and forwards (I once wore them in chapel and had to brace myself against the seat in front!). Seems to me that the unsteadiness of life, or sand, or horribly expensive trainers, impels us to move forwards. Often with laughter. To help strengthen my foot (I have serious pain in my left foot periodically) I wear Masai Barefoot Technology trainers. I don't know if you've seen them, but the soles are curved so you cannot put your feet flat on the ground. For every step you take, the muscles in your feet and legs have to make hundreds of small adjustments, which leads to more flexibility and strength in the feet and ankles. They're great except for when you stand still, which is almost impossible to do because you find yourself rocking backwards and forwards (I once wore them in chapel and had to brace myself against the seat in front!).

Seems to me that the unsteadiness of life, or sand, or horribly expensive trainers, impels us to move forwards. Often with laughter.

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