| Email newsletter from TerryHershey.com, Issue 39 | |
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Beauty and Savoring
FEATURE ARTICLE
by Terry Hershey
Beauty ...is the shadow of God on the universe.
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.
Sabbath is designed to restore us...we set aside time to enjoy being alive, to savor the gifts of creation, to give thanks...it is a day of delight, a sanctuary in time.
Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.
We need to make room for surprise; take time to watch and observe; and quit "doing" long enough to receive...Sabbath - rest, worship, release - cleans out our inner houses, making room for God to surprise us with wonder.
She is plugged into her school and is a do-gooder in the greater community, in touch with everything around her, but she doesn't need anything from it: the plainness and holiness of the world seem enough for her, and this knowledge makes her beautiful.
Going through his five-year-old son's backpack, a father found a picture of a little boy standing under a rainbow crying. His first thought was, "Oh God, my son is having some serious problems." When he asked his son about the picture, the little boy told his father that he had been playing at school, and he saw a rainbow. "Dad," the little boy said, "the rainbow was so beautiful it made me cry." The child is arrested by (captivated by, rapt in, awestruck by, absorbed in) beauty. Why? Because he has no restrictor plate in his soul.
"All of earth is crammed with heaven, and every bush aflame with God, but only those who see take off their shoes." Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The child experiences his rainbow moment "without shoes." I agree with Amy Rosenthal, "If rainbows did not exist and someone said wouldn't it be cool to paint enormous stripes of color across the sky, you'd say yes, ‘That would be very cool — impossible but very cool.' Children are totally tuned into the miracle of rainbows — that's why they are forever drawing them." In the world of a child, awe precedes faith. In our adult world, we place a premium on belief (or belief systems) instead of awe. We put the cart before the horse. Somewhere down the road our filter (as adults we have filters-which act like security checkpoints-for evaluating, judging and appraising events or emotions on a cost-benefit basis) removes us (distances us) from the experience, . . . from our emotions, . . . from our yearning, . . . from our pain, . . . from our prayers. It reminds me of the woman who told me that her prayer time was always bogged down by the fear that she "wasn't doing it correctly." However. "To pray is to take notice of the wonder," Rabbi Abraham Heschel writes, "to regain a sense of the mystery that animates all being, the divine margin in all attainment; prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living."
Jesus is unequivocal. "Unless you become like children, you will not experience the kingdom of Heaven." For children, wonderment grows in the soil of surprise.
It is all about our capacity to receive. My friend tells me the story about an ecumenical and integrated church service, held in northern Louisiana. She attended the service with her priest. The service integrated black and white clergy, of various denominations, including black Methodist and black Baptist preachers. It featured a choir from one of the local Black Baptist churches. For my friend, raised in Louisiana, having lived her life in a segregated world, this was a new and challenging experience. The service began, and she was wholly enthralled. She felt it, viscerally; the way the music lifted her up, nourishing and full of joy. It surrounded her, and filled the sanctuary. It was her first experience in a church where she "gave in" to being enraptured. Absorbing the music, inspired by the preaching, feeling a connection to the people around her-in pews filled with all manner of folk, mingled color and status, shared smiles and laughter-she told herself, "This is what heaven will be like." She let her tears flow freely. In the car after, beginning the drive home, her priest said (in a tone undisguised), "Wasn't that positively dreadful?" He continued by listing all the problems and blunders with the liturgy, oblivious to the woman's joy. His words stung. She sat silent, assuming she had done something wrong to give in to such unadulterated joy. Without wonder, or an ability to receive, our identity is defined by consumerism. In other words, value is now proffered on what is purchased or earned or produced. We equate our happiness with owning and consuming. So it is not surprising that we are trained (acclimated) to see beauty in high-end merchandise. We have moved from wonderment to consumption. It becomes the very antithesis of beauty-predicated on rushing, hurry and urgency. There is an attempt to "Christianize" it, by adding Jesus or God to the price tag. Eugene Peterson points out that in the end we have some kind of "spiritual self-help consumerism (lead, teach, garden and cook like Jesus; 3, 4 5, 10, or 21 laws, steps, or plans for the meaningful life), all of which leave us busier, more accomplished, but never filled." Sadly, we wean our children from wonder. I love the practice in Jewish tradition; children are given a taste of honey on their tongues during the celebration of the Torah. This is to remind them that the word of God is "sweet as honey" (Ezekiel 3:3).
"We teach children how to measure
The consumer myth tells me that there is something else I must add to my life. But savoring is not about addition. It is about subtraction. I begin by removing the restrictor plate. When I do, I see that there is a connection between savoring and paying attention (or mindful awareness). Here's what I know:
If I am rushing, I do not see.
If I do not see, I am not present.
If I am not present, I cannot savor beauty.
On the seventh day, God rested. God savored. Savoring is rooted in Sabbath. For six days we work, we build, create, control. The seventh day we rest. We stop. We receive. We savor. Without savoring, we assume reality is only about what we create or produce. If we pay attention to this, there are three effects:
One, we are free to live this life.
In other words, we are not driven to live another life, a different life. We find wonder here. As children, we find the kingdom of God, here. There is a scene in the movie Shawshank Redemption, when Andy locks himself in the warden's office, puts a record on the turntable and sets the prison intercom microphone near the speaker. The music pervades and suffuses the entire prison. Red, the narrator, says, "I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free."
Two, we savor beauty and resurrection in places we don't expect.
Another friend wrote, "I worked with my hands in the dirt, and it was saving me. The dirt was. How my hands felt digging. Gripping on the roots. The smells out there. The dark mornings. It made me feel stronger than I was. Because I had my hands on the earth. And the earth needed my hands or so it seemed. And for those hours I didn't think much, or if I did the thoughts didn't feel as real." In the mud. In the stranger on the pew. Inside the prison walls. I loved Meredith Hall's comment, "My mother craves the beauty of these storms. She teaches me to crave beauty-lonely, tumultuous, cleansing beauty."
Three, when I am present I am grateful. And gratitude is always a type of prayer.
Again, I turn to Rabbi Heschel. "We do not step out of the world when we pray; we merely see the world in a different setting. The self is not the hub, but the spoke of the revolving wheel. In prayer we shift the center of living from self-consciousness to self-surrender. God is the center toward which all forces tend. Prayer takes the mind out of the narrowness of self-interest, and enables us to see the world in the mirror of the holy. For when we betake ourselves to the extreme opposite of the ego, we can behold a situation from the aspect of God."
I am riding the ferry from Seattle, on my way back to the island. Our winter ceiling has lifted today, and the entire region is bathed in sunshine. Now, at dusk, the cloud cover is scattered, like tattered pieces of cloth. Beyond the Olympic Mountains to the west, the sky is spring blue, baby-boy blue. The Puget Sound water is ice-blue and the mountains are blanketed with snow. In the clear winter air, the mountains stand stalwart; enduring, comforting and settling. They are bigger than any of my pettiness. And their beauty slows my breathing and eases my mind. I had planned to finish writing about beauty, but the mountains enlighten me. . . . . .it is enough just to sit, and savor.
Beauty has its purposes, which, all our lives and at every season, it is our opportunity, and our joy, to divine. . .much is revealed about a person by his or her passion, or indifference to this opening of the door of day.
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Single Adult Retreat April 4 - 5 Central Texas Conference UMCGlen Lake Conference Center, Glen Rose, TX Contact: Ellen Bauman ellen.bauman@fumcburleson.org 817-295-1166 ext 230.
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Gardens and Grace III
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Sts Simon & Jude Parish, Huntington Bch, CA Dear Terry, In a short amount of time, you did what Jesus did so well - told a few stories, reminded us of the Father, and left our hearts changed forever. You left us with hearts filled with laughter and lumps in our throats from your tender stories. You inspired us to stop and treasure the moment and not allow "if onlys" to deter our gratitude. We are deeply grateful to you for the time and effort you took to come to Sts. Simon & Jude Church to share your beautiful insights into the music of life. May the joy you give to others return to you one-hundredfold. Gratefully on behalf of all, Patsi Wagner Pastoral Associate, Sts Simon & Jude Parish, Huntington Beach, CA
The Inland Empire Gardeners, Spokane, WA Terry Hershey has a gift for people and storytelling. Our garden club has hosted hundreds of speakers over the years and I would put Terry Hershey on the top of the list. His presentation to our group was truly a joyous occasion. ViAnn Meyer, President, TIEG
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Lewiston, ID This has been the best Employee Reflection Day ever. I had a great time. How I live was reinforced. I am happy to say, as I age, I discovered the treasures of happiness, silliness, contentedness, day dreaming (a favorite) and grace. You reminded me of Tim Allen - and I laughed all day - except when you made me teary. Your sense of humor tickled my funny bone. I imagine you must see the beautiful garden beyond the broken garden gate - I do. Bless you.
Recommended Books
A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems 1979 - 1997
Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
Fools Rush In
1 Dead in Attic: after Katrina
Websites for the Journey
Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. Whether you're exploring your own faith or other spiritual traditions, we provide you inspiring devotional tools, access to the best spiritual teachers and clergy in the world, thought-provoking commentary, and a supportive community.
The Blessing Center fosters affirming ministries with children, youth and adults by providng resources, instruction, information and networking opportunities.
Care for the Earth, Care for the City, Care for the Soul If you can slow down when all around you are speeding up, then you're one of us. Be proud that you are one of us and not one of them. For they are fast, and we are slow. There are those would urge us to speed. We resist! We shall not flag or fail. We shall slow down in the office, and on the roads. We shall slow down with growing confidence when all those around us are in a shrill state of hyperactivity (signifying nothing). We shall defend our state of calm, whatever the cost may be. We shall slow down in the fields and in the streets, we shall slow down in the hills, we shall never surrender! Why? Because if a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing slowly. Some are born to slowness -- others have it thrust on them. And still others know that lying in bed witha morning cup of tea is the supreme state for mankind.
(The society of childlike grownups: tools, toys and field trips to keep you young at heart)
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Experts disagree on what makes people happy. Now that is funny! Because we live in a world that wants five-easy-steps to enlightenment. As if life, and our faith journey, is a checklist, something to orchestrate, some correct answer on a text. We are so self-conscious: Am I living fully? What am I doing right or wrong? All the while, missing the point. Join Terry, who believes that getting your act together is highly overrated! The more important issue: How do we re-train our own eye (or mind) to appreciate simple pleasures? Is there a spiritual practice that we can incorporate into our lives, that opens our eyes to the abundant simple pleasures that surround us? Answer this: Can you tell me a simple pleasure that happened / that you enjoyed, in the past hour? And while we're on the subject, it wouldn't hurt to change the way we talk. We ask, of each other, daily, "What do you do?" Or, "What did you do?" Why not ask, "What surprised you today? What made you smile?" "Where did you see God incognito?" Laugh and learn with Terry about making the choice to receive life's gifts. That life is to be lived, not managed. We will learn what it means to be open. Available. Curious. Willing to be surprised by joy.
Often we live the truth of a postcard: Having a good time, wish I was here. That's what happens with speed, this crush of information with our "can't miss" technology guaranteed to give us more time. In the end we live out of breath and out of time. In the words of TS Elliot, we are distracted from distractions by distractions. And we see less, taste less, listen less, smell less, touch less, and savor our own fullness less. Terry agrees with Thoreau, "nothing can be more useful to a man or woman than a determination not to be hurried." To be lost in wonder is to be present in our lives. So let us rediscover Radical Amazement. Let us be those who spend their days lost in wonder, who live grateful, humble and self-possessed. Let us no longer give in to projection, resentment or despair. Let us be free to see our worth and significance, not in power or possessions or reputation or religion, but in the extraordinary Grace of our Creator.
Sabbath Moment
One summer night, out on a flat headland, all but surrounded by the waters of the bay, the horizons were remote and distant rims on the edge of space. Millions of stars blazed in darkness, and on the far shore a few lights burned in cottages. Otherwise there was no reminder of human life. My companion and I were alone with the stars: the misty river of the Milky Way flowing across the sky, the patterns of the constellations standing out bright and clear, a blazing planet low on the horizon. It occurred to me that if this were a sight that could be seen only once in a century, this little headland would be thronged with spectators. But it can be see many scores of nights in any year, and so the lights burned in the cottages and the inhabitants probably gave not a thought to the beauty overhead; and because they could see it almost any night, perhaps they never will.
Be still. And know that I am God.
Poems
Daffodils
I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
William Wordsworth
Thank you, my fate
Great humility fills me,
Anna Swir
When the Roses Speak, I Pay Attention
"As long as we able to
Mary Oliver
You can
have done so,
to the stake,
this morning,
blazes
under the lashes
What is the name
whatever you want, it is
Mary Oliver
Words to Live By
For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it. Ivan Panin
Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting -- a wayside sacrament.
Keep your faith in all beautiful things; in the sun when it is hidden, in the Spring when it is gone.
A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.
I hope you have lost your good looks, for while they last any fool can adore you, and the adoration of fools is bad for the soul. No, give me a ruined complexion and a lost figure and sixteen chins on a farmyard of Crow's feet and an obvious wig. Then you shall see me coming out strong.
"Try not to be a success, but rather try to become a man of value."
Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.
Letters
Bright, lemony Ohio spring light slanted through an open window, into the kitchen where five year old Katy was making cookies with her mother one afternoon. Birds sang in the distance. Katy said, "Shhh, Mom, listen." "What, Katy?" "Shhh, listen," the child insisted. "What am I listening to?" asked Mom. "If you are quiet and listen, you can hear God talking to us." Katy used to sit on my lap throughout Children's Chapel times in her day preschool. The teachers worried that she was monopolizing my warmth and the other children would be jealous. They never were. Katy died during Holy Week one night, aspirating vomit, just two years later. We were grateful for the nurture we gave and her guidance to us. JN, http://www.blessingcenter.org/
THANK GOD for creating Terry through the love of his mother and father! Your messages make my day very meaningful! God bless you, Soledad
Terry, Today of all days, I really needed your words of inspiration.......................Mahalo for sending me hope, NB, ECE Coordinator
Terry: I was at the "Gardens & Grace" seminar last spring at Kanuga, NC. I was only able to stay a short time, but your talks I was able to hear have stayed a part of my life. Reinforced now by your wonderful newsletters. Synchronicity is alive and well these days, especially the last 3 newsletters. I have not had "gainful" employment since I quit my pharmaceutical sales job over a year ago. My husband and I had just finished a mountain house near Kanuga in Saluda, NC and so I have spent a good bit of alone time there. I have said that this past year has been kind of like having the opportunity of being told that I had a terminal illness (but not), but trying to live life as if I did. It has been very powerful in many ways. 53 years (yes I came out of the womb this way) of an A type driven personality. 53 years of searching, growing spiritually, psychologically (years of therapy), self-help books, extremely involved in church, community, raising children, and competing in business in a man's world. One of the more organized people in the civilized world. Look up multi-tasking and my name is listed below. All stopped! Why? Because I just knew it was and still is what I am supposed to be doing.
The phone doesn't ring often, I don't get online but every so often and then mainly to answer emails. I have read, walked, listened, meditated, checked in with my family by dipping into Columbia every so often and playing a few of the roles that I have been shedding this past year. This is a long way of getting around to a few reasons that I am writing. When people hear of what I have been doing, they say "Oh, that sounds wonderful!", or often times they will just ask the question, "What have you been doing?" To the first comment that came early on in my "time alone", I replied, it really isn't. Sometimes I feel alone, insecure. I very often feel as if I should be "doing" something. Giving up the security of distraction and endless "to do" lists, just "being. When I ask God what I am supposed to be "doing"; I was used to "controlling " my seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years. Goal setting has been a mantra for years. God consistently replies "For now, be present....as for the future..if there is a new role "you will know". Until then just wait.....Wait.....Wait.... Every so often I will think of something that I could maybe make happen...(be a writer, design and market a new product....and so on) and I will "work" with these small projects and realize, maybe in the future, but not right now. So....I wanted to share with someone that seems to understand. This is a wonderful time, but not in the way that most people think.
When asked by people "what have you been doing?", "how do you spend your time?", for awhile I said "I have been "being", which got a blank stare in return. My husband suggested that I reply "I have been gardening my soul", which sounds too hokey. So for now, I will continue to wait. My hope that as, and if I once again "get busy", that I will be able to take this valuable lesson of being without expectations, doing without consideration of results and outcome. My most favorite quote recently has been "Living in the questions, not rooted in the answers." Thank you for listening, and thank you for saying to me last year at the conference when I came into dinner late because I had been sitting with the woman who fell down the stairs, "Good Work". You were sitting across the dinner table, and probably don't even remember saying this, but it mirrored to me a very important aspect of myself and for this I am grateful.
Good morning Terry -I loved the emergency "time out" Sabbath moment and will include it with my info letter to the Breakaway participants. How wonderful that God let you practice your "breakaway" style unexpectedly on that natural ice rink in Vashon. God bless, LDA
Hi Terry.....what a great way to start each week. I'm so glad you are doing this. I enjoy passing it on to a friend of mine who's an old hard rocker still touring in a bus trying to stay sober. I realized when I read the Celtic prayer again I had not yet sent you the citation for the recording of it. It's off the "Gloria" CD with the Rutter Cambridge Singers doing his Gloria. Because of the shortness of the piece there are other odd bits thrown in and the Celtic Prayer is one of them. The music exactly interprets the poem. It's quite eternal in it's eminence. Blessings and Cheer, DA
Hi, In the midst of my new job, the new demands, the new busyness, I find that this material is a balm to me, and I was rendered mute. That is a good sign. RC
Is there anyway that the piece "God of Peace, might be used in a display for "advertising" for members of our parish to sign up for Eucharistic Adoration that we are trying to grow at St. Michael's in Snohomish, WA. It is so appropriate and moving. I receive your newsletter and just read it. Would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks in advance, RAM
Terry, Thank you for a wonderful class last Saturday at the Blue Heron. It was just the jump start I needed. And what a neat group of folks; everyone had so much to contribute. And I appreciate your newsletter. "Be still and know that I am God" -- that seems to be my biggest challenge. The world is too much with us - whoever said that? I look forward to continuing to receive your musings, thoughts, etc. And I hope to take more of your classes. You and your writings have definitely struck a resonant chord with me. Peace and blessings, Nancy "Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence..." From the Desiderata
Mr. Hershey, Good morning from (today) sunny southern California. Last year at Congress I asked you to inscribe one of your books which I purchased for a dear friend who's only child/daughter had been killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver. Madeline is also my hair stylist and I've been "working" on her for a few years to "come to Congress" and this year is the year! I'd like to bring her by your both so she can meet you because she was quite touched, positively, by your book. By way of memory jogging, I came to your both and said "Look at my chest" and flashed you with my ephod t-shirt. Another in our group is Leslie, who crocheted a scarf for your mom a couple of years ago. Oh my goodness, we're just about to take over. Thank you for being you and for sharing you. KZ
Hi Terry, I met you a few years ago at Our Lady queen of Angels in Newport Beach. I am friends with Victoria Dedinger. I grew up catholic. I am now practicing with a sufi (for 3 years and am a yoga instructor). I wanted to say how valid I feel your message is! So inspiring and soaked in truth. All my love, JM
Terry- I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful creative writing workshop that you gave us yesterday. I was so motivated, inspired and encouraged as a result. I believe that I was the 'rookie" in the class - not an apology, merely an observation as it was the first writing workshop I have ever attended. I have missed many great opportunities like this in my past as I suffer from pretty severe 'performance anxiety' - so traumatizing that if i even have to introduce myself, I leave my body, become red, sweaty and my body as well as my voice trembles...very painful! I have missed out on a LOT because of this and yesterday I just decided to "suck it up" and see what happened as I want to write. It was a breakthrough for me! I have never read anything of mine out loud either....(except for my Fire Prevention Essay, for which I won the contest in 6th grade). I have been writing since the third grade when my first story was "Bunnies in Space". Seriously though, you were awesome, approachable, safe, funny and so helpful. Your critiquing was always positive. It also helped that we had a pretty cool group of people. Someday I may even become brave enough to take your "Fear of Public Speaking Seminar"....well...maybe next lifetime. I just want you to know that you have made a difference in my life and i am grateful! Mahalo nui loa(very much thanks). I look forward to learning more with you. Sincerely, JM
Hey thanks! That website is inspiring! I read about how Jesus was never in a hurry although he was everywhere doing everything, that's me big time!! I feel relieved and feel like doing nothing! That was awesome! MP
I really enjoy your newsletters! You spoke at the Spokane Garden Club TIEG and I was there. What a great time! Thanks for accepting the invitation and making a difference in my life. Do you sell your photographs? JP
(Note: For information on the photographs, contact Todd Roseman at luky.com)
I love your newsletters. It's the one thing I really look forward to. Every time I see it in my in box I say, yeaaaaaa!!!!
Terry, There is a rather obvious typo on your website - "respect and be suspected." It's in one of the descriptions of a CD or DVD I LOVE the message of your products. I have been living with this philosophy for a long time and have many times been chastised for loving the beauty of this earth and being amazed at my surroundings too much. And I AM a Christian. What gives????!!!! I look forward to reading/listening to some of your products. CP
Dear Terry, It has been satisfying to be in the audience twice when you spoke at Bryan Memorial Hospital here in Lincoln, Nebraska. This is probably because your thoughts 1) line up almost precisely with my own and 2) add ideas for me to ponder and take into myself. Sabbath Moment 1 triggered a connection you might like to see. You wrote about silence, sitting still, to waste time with God. How about this?
What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare- No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows; No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass- No time to see in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like stars at night, No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. --William Henry Davies
Don't you like the image of us standing and staring as long as "sheep or cows"? These quieting words have been put to a tune and appears as #94 in my Unitarian Church hymnal. Anyway, know that I find pleasure and challenge reading your offerings. Thank you for your work, for sharing it so freely. AL, Lincoln, NE
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