Comments on: Purifying the Vessels http://eve3.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/purifying-the-vessels/ Here Comes the Bride Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:14:50 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Alida http://eve3.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/purifying-the-vessels/#comment-2175 Alida Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:20:58 +0000 http://eve3.wordpress.com/?p=407#comment-2175 Eve, I think that is why talking and listening is so important. Not like talking heads or people who respond emotionally and over the top to anyone who disagrees with them, but really listening and speaking from your heart. If we all did this more often I think we would find, we all have more in common than not. I think most parents share a common dream for their children. That they grow up healthy and become productive members of society. I think we have many of the same selfish desires. Many people find common ground through volunteering. We need to get here first I think, to the common ground and then branch out from there. It takes an awful lot of "cojones" to let your guard down to strangers and even those we know well. If we don't do it, we risk become so separate from each other, so all alone in our righteousness. What good can come from that? Sorry, it seems it was my soapbox today:) Eve,

I think that is why talking and listening is so important. Not like talking heads or people who respond emotionally and over the top to anyone who disagrees with them, but really listening and speaking from your heart. If we all did this more often I think we would find, we all have more in common than not. I think most parents share a common dream for their children. That they grow up healthy and become productive members of society. I think we have many of the same selfish desires. Many people find common ground through volunteering. We need to get here first I think, to the common ground and then branch out from there.

It takes an awful lot of “cojones” to let your guard down to strangers and even those we know well. If we don’t do it, we risk become so separate from each other, so all alone in our righteousness. What good can come from that?

Sorry, it seems it was my soapbox today:)

]]> By: henitsirk http://eve3.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/purifying-the-vessels/#comment-2170 henitsirk Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:56:55 +0000 http://eve3.wordpress.com/?p=407#comment-2170 It seems like a continuous, neverending task to find the spirit in the everyday. Hard to do when I wash the dishes only to have them immediately dirtied again. (Oh, I am become my mother!) Thich Nhat Hanh talks about chopping wood and carrying water, Jesus talked about the mustard seed. Today I watched a butterfly delicately taste the surface of the wet concrete at my feet, and I stared at the beautiful brown fingers of my son as he talked on the phone with Grandma. But...where is my gratitude? Where is my acknowledgment of what is higher and more powerful than I? Am I allowing the life-renewing power of life itself to work upon me? Or am I allowing myself through inertia to be dead to all that? I'm feeling a bit out of sorts today; headachy, hot, worried about work and packing, and tired of equally hot and cranky kids. It's hard to see the blessings of the world in that state, hard to get out of my own way. It seems like a continuous, neverending task to find the spirit in the everyday. Hard to do when I wash the dishes only to have them immediately dirtied again. (Oh, I am become my mother!)

Thich Nhat Hanh talks about chopping wood and carrying water, Jesus talked about the mustard seed. Today I watched a butterfly delicately taste the surface of the wet concrete at my feet, and I stared at the beautiful brown fingers of my son as he talked on the phone with Grandma.

But…where is my gratitude? Where is my acknowledgment of what is higher and more powerful than I? Am I allowing the life-renewing power of life itself to work upon me? Or am I allowing myself through inertia to be dead to all that?

I’m feeling a bit out of sorts today; headachy, hot, worried about work and packing, and tired of equally hot and cranky kids. It’s hard to see the blessings of the world in that state, hard to get out of my own way.

]]> By: Eve http://eve3.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/purifying-the-vessels/#comment-2167 Eve Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:19:39 +0000 http://eve3.wordpress.com/?p=407#comment-2167 Alida, what you wrote about red and blue really touched me. I was in a waiting room earlier today, and a discussion about politics broke out. The room was divided between red and blue, but everyone expressed doubts and ambivalence about whichever candidate they were leaning toward. People were much more concerned about the price of gas, which has gone down about 30 cents a gallon locally in the past week; how they were going to educate their children, and how the economy was going to do come November than they were about who wins. I think most of us understand that the balance of powers will remain the same regardless of who is president, and in four more years we will probably get a new one anyway. But in 25 years or 50 years, we will still be our kids' parents. So what you wrote actually happened to me today. I was surprised to come home and read your comment so soon after my own reality demonstrated exactly what you wrote! Wow! What you wrote about the minutiae is so true. This morning one of the passing thoughts I sighed toward God was, "Lord, I wish I were so much better than I am." I don't find him in a lot of places where he is! I'm sure this is why people called to the monastic life have no spouses and no children. Right? I'm glad you like Campbell's book. I had it in my hand just this morning. He is a fascinating person, so if you ever get a chance to watch a PBS special on him, or even rent one, consider it. He was raised Catholic and was a devout Catholic until he started reading mythology; then he absolutely lost his faith. He later arrived at a much different and deeper conviction about God and Catholicism. I had a similar experience when I was working on my psychology degrees so I feel especially fond of him for his own journey. It made me feel more reasonable. Alida, what you wrote about red and blue really touched me. I was in a waiting room earlier today, and a discussion about politics broke out. The room was divided between red and blue, but everyone expressed doubts and ambivalence about whichever candidate they were leaning toward. People were much more concerned about the price of gas, which has gone down about 30 cents a gallon locally in the past week; how they were going to educate their children, and how the economy was going to do come November than they were about who wins. I think most of us understand that the balance of powers will remain the same regardless of who is president, and in four more years we will probably get a new one anyway. But in 25 years or 50 years, we will still be our kids’ parents.

So what you wrote actually happened to me today. I was surprised to come home and read your comment so soon after my own reality demonstrated exactly what you wrote! Wow!

What you wrote about the minutiae is so true. This morning one of the passing thoughts I sighed toward God was, “Lord, I wish I were so much better than I am.” I don’t find him in a lot of places where he is! I’m sure this is why people called to the monastic life have no spouses and no children. Right?

I’m glad you like Campbell’s book. I had it in my hand just this morning. He is a fascinating person, so if you ever get a chance to watch a PBS special on him, or even rent one, consider it. He was raised Catholic and was a devout Catholic until he started reading mythology; then he absolutely lost his faith. He later arrived at a much different and deeper conviction about God and Catholicism. I had a similar experience when I was working on my psychology degrees so I feel especially fond of him for his own journey. It made me feel more reasonable.

]]> By: Alida http://eve3.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/purifying-the-vessels/#comment-2164 Alida Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:41:51 +0000 http://eve3.wordpress.com/?p=407#comment-2164 "I will never get to his essence that way." It seems as a nation, this has become so common. Let's reduce people to red or blue. When in reality, so are so much more, mothers daughters, fathers, sons, professionals, working class, artists, musicians, etc. Finding God in a minutiae is the challenge. Somedays, when the kids are giggly and silly it's so easy to see the face of God in their laughter...somedays, when they are moody (or I am) then it seems easier to focus on the monotony of my day. It's those days when I want to rush through the day. Lately, I been finding God more and more as I consciously slow down. There are lessons to be learned even when you feels you could do a thing with your eyes closed. By the way, I've been reading "Heroes with a Thousand Faces." I love it and it's more interesting as I read your references. Thanks “I will never get to his essence that way.”
It seems as a nation, this has become so common. Let’s reduce people to red or blue. When in reality, so are so much more, mothers daughters, fathers, sons, professionals, working class, artists, musicians, etc.

Finding God in a minutiae is the challenge. Somedays, when the kids are giggly and silly it’s so easy to see the face of God in their laughter…somedays, when they are moody (or I am) then it seems easier to focus on the monotony of my day. It’s those days when I want to rush through the day. Lately, I been finding God more and more as I consciously slow down. There are lessons to be learned even when you feels you could do a thing with your eyes closed.

By the way, I’ve been reading “Heroes with a Thousand Faces.” I love it and it’s more interesting as I read your references. Thanks

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