Tag: humility

“Sunshine,” He Smiled.

I love the way the sun breaks through the window in the earliest hours of morning. At first, barely indiscernible- as if unwilling to ‘rob’ our slumber.

She finds her way through tempered grace, yielding only to the faith of the now waning moon. “I’m here for you, my friend,” she whispers. And, with arms linked, escorts her home.

Though she holds the promise of life to all those before her, still she waits patiently at the window. And for no other purpose safe to ensure our safe passage into another day’s arrival.

“What shall we call her?” the angels asked of God.

“Sunshine,” He smiled. “And she alone shall help to shepherd my light.”

Happy Easter, my beautiful friends…with love and prayers for peace.

Namaste ❤

This Gift of Talking Story.

I watched an elderly man outside a coffee shop this morning. His clothes were tattered and worn with age, though his eyes still hinted at joy.

“Beautiful morning,” he smiled and winked, then waited for a pause in passersby. As the last of the foot traffic called out their orders – “One triple, Venti, half-sweet, Non-Fat, Caramel Macchiato” – I saw him make his way to the bins.

“Ugh, will you look at that,” a young woman sneered. “Picking through trash and bringing down our property values.”

I couldn’t believe what I had just overheard. How could anyone prioritize property value over that a precious human life?

I pushed my way through to the counter, ordering a hot sandwich and coffee ‘to go’. As I passed the young woman I paused to say, “Everyone has something to share.”

We talked for nearly an hour, he and I – his eyes glimmering in sharing the tale of his once magnificent life. His voice softened as he sipped the last of his coffee, “I held her hand and watched her die. She was the love of my life. After that…”

His voice trailed off.

We always think we know, my loves. Through slivered glance we cast our opinion, all the while missing the ‘story.’

And, yet? We’ve the audacity to wonder what’s wrong with this world.

My darlings, through awareness we find peace – yes, this is true. Though, it is humility that enables our purpose.

As we witness the trials and challenges of another, we must never view ourselves as higher. For no one is ever without the need for kindness and compassion, and this life is ripe with opportunity to share our love.

And, but for the simplicity of these moments right here – we might never know the true value of their journey.

I reached into my purse to hand him some money. He threw his hands on protest and smiled, “Your presence is gift enough.”

How ironic that this man who seemingly had nothing in this world, provided me the gift of feeling of value.

A little something to consider on this day ~ to pass by, or to pause and reflect. The choice is always yours, my loves.

Namaste ❤️

In Touching This Earth: A Lesson in Humility.

I’ve been thinking a lot about humility lately – watching the interactions of others, and wondering how I honor it today?

Often we’re surrounded by examples of arrogance – impatience forcing us into a pattern of ‘must have right now.’ We grumble, we honk, we cast a furrowed brow – and, in doing so we compromise the space for compassion to grow.

We forget the person standing before us – that they are human, too.

My darlings, did you know the word humility derives from the Latin “humus” meaning – from the earth? It demonstrates a sense of groundedness, which serves as the very foundation upon which we ‘stand.’

“You carry Mother Earth within you,” writes Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. “She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer. In that kind of relationship you have enough love, strength and awakening in order to change your life.”

My darlings, this is the basis of our humanity – and, it is the very source of our humility.

To have humility is to continuously ‘touch’ the earth – to be at one with our interconnectedness. To offer the spirit of deference for another human life. It is the ultimate manifestation of our true spirit, loving-kindness deeply rooted in the foundation of compassion.

It seeks, what arrogance hopes to steal.

“When we touch the Earth,” he shares, “we become small, with the humility and simplicity of a young child. When we touch the Earth we become great, like an ancient tree sending her roots deep into the earth, drinking from the source of all waters. When we touch the Earth, we breathe in all the strength and stability of the Earth, and breathe out our suffering- our feelings of anger, hatred, fear, inadequacy and grief.

The practice of Touching the Earth is to return to the Earth, to our roots, to our ancestors, and to recognize that we are not alone but connected to a whole stream of spiritual and blood ancestors. We are their continuation and with them, will continue into the future generations. We touch the earth to let go of the idea that we are separate and to remind us that we are the Earth and part of Life.”

And humility, my dearest darlings – is the path which takes us there.