Visual Meditation: Gathering Flock
January 29, 2010 · by Christine
The flock thickens
over the roiling, salt brightness. Listen,
maybe such devotion, in which one holds the world
in the clasp of attention, isn’t the perfect prayer,
but it must be close, for the sorrow, whose name is doubt,
is thus subdued, and not through the weaponry of reason,
but of pure submission. Tell me, what else
could beauty be for? And now the tide
is at its very crown,
the white birds sprinkle down,
gathering up the loose silver, rising
as if weightless. It isn’t instruction, or a parable.
-excerpted from Mary Oliver’s poem “Terns”
It has been a week full of tenderness for me. My sorrow and doubt are subdued by listening to the world around me, as Mary Oliver describes so beautifully. Creation tells me a story – this is what beauty is for - it whispers, to soothe your wearied spirit, to enliven you, to invite you into dancing once again, to imagine gathering with a whole flock of kindred spirits who journey alongside you in grief and delight, who don’t ask you to be anywhere other than where your pulsing heart carries you right now.
Sabbath begins for me this evening, a time when I can surrender into the restoration this time offers, a time to simply be and delight in my flock.
Shabbat Shalom to all of the kindred souls who gather here virtually to find refreshment. May the spirit of restoration knit itself deep into your bones until you find yourself dancing again. May your wings carry you to the place where your heart sings.
May the peace of Sabbath be yours and flow out into the world like the power of a hundred beating wings.
* * *
I took these photos last October while on pilgrimage in Ireland.
** Register for the Lenten E-Course by the end of Sunday, January 31st and I will donate 50% of the profits to Haiti Relief Efforts **
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
Posted in Lenten Online Retreat, Visual Meditation | 12 Comments »
January 29th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Everything here – the words, the poetry excerpt and the photographs – has just filled me like a long glass of water. Beautiful. Thanks, Christine
January 29th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Thanks so much Sue – blessings to you!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Your thoughts and images are always beautiful, Christine.
Keep writing while you have the time.
I hope I can do a little of that, later.
Joys and blessings for the weekend!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
The black and white photos are stunning!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
thankyou for the sabbath blessing which i will hold close to my heart this day
in your sabbath rest may you find nurture and sanctuary with those who don’t ask you to be anywhere other than where your pulsing heart carries you right now
January 30th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Lucy wrote today on taking 10 minutes for oneself. Ten minutes here, just resting eyes on those images, and reading Mary Oliver’s words and meditating on them work wonders.
January 30th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Christine, Before you begin your Sabbath, I just wanted to let you know that this morning I found out about Michael Meade (Mosaic) by clicking a link on your Facebook page. My husband and I listened to some of his audio samples on his Webpage and ordered one of the CDs. Reminded us of Joseph Campbell.
Peace be with you during your sacred rest!
January 30th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
A moment in the sacred changes us. Mary Oliver is never a disappointment. The blackbirds adorn the bare trees and stir my soul. That they “irish”, tee-hee, thrills me even more.
Thank you for a moments journey.
January 31st, 2010 at 11:29 am
ahhhh, yes. i am transported back to that magical place and can see you with camera in hand focused on the wondrous flock. it’s a delight to see the results. shabbat shalom, friend.
January 31st, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Whoa, those pictures are seriously awesome. Wow. That’s about all I can say. Wow.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:55 pm
AS I was waiting at a stop light on my way to work this morning after the 10 inch snow over the weekend I noticed something moving outside my window. Much to my surprise I saw a robin digging in the snow. A robin, so early? And then I saw another and another until the sidewalk and the snow covered yard was full of very large robins, their red breasts dark and evident next to the white untouched snow. Robins? So early? And then I remembered the time of year, that today is Feb. 1st, that the earth was beginning to awaken and the Robins gave me a hope that Spring wasnot far behind!
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Thanks everyone for the lovely affirmations, I have to say I love these photos too. I receive your blessings in return.