Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Quotes

Posted by Sierra

"The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not." -George Bernard Shaw

"When I do not walk in the clouds I walk as though I were lost." -Antonio Porchia

"You road I enter upon and look around! I believe you are not all that is here; I believe that much unseen is also here." -Walt Whitman

"From this hour, freedom! From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute, Listening to others, and considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me." Walt Whitman (maybe the quote from the b&w dog poster?)

"Whoever denies me, it shall not trouble me;
Whoever accepts me, he or she shall be blessed, and shall bless me. " -Walt Whitman

"Be not discouraged- keep on - there are divine things
well envelop'd; I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell. " -Walt Whitman

Rain falling at dusk
swept on, on
spilling millions of moons on grass blades -Shoiu (haiku Shane painted on his bookshelf)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

To the River Otter

Posted by Sierra
I found this poem last winter and it has stuck with me...
To the River Otter was written around 1793 when Coleridge was just 21 years old. The Otter was the river running through Ottery St Mary in devon, the village where he was born and spent his early childhood.
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To the River Otter- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Dear native Brook! wild Streamlet of the West!
How many various-fated years have past,
What happy and what mournful hours, since last
I skimm'd the smooth thin stone along thy breast,
Numbering its light leaps! Yet so deep imprest
Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes
I never shut amid the sunny ray,
But straight with all their tints thy waters rise,
Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey,
And bedded sand that, vein'd with various dyes,
Gleam'd through thy bright transparence! On my way,
Visions of Childhood! oft have ye beguil'd
Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs:
Ah! that once more I were a careless Child!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

More Quotes--

Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
and treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Epitaph - thought -
"When you need me, put your arms around anyone and give to them what you need to give to me."

Healing: "God has not promised to take away our trials, but to help us to change our attitudes toward them. That is what basic holiness is. In this life, happiness is rooted in our basic attitude toward reality." Thomas Keating

Wonderful Quotes for Living!

Last weekend I attended a Women's Retreat with 37 women from my church. We had a great time and a very good speaker who had lots of great quotes - here are a few.

We all live far more meaningful lives than we know. Uncovering this meaning does not require us to live differently but to see life differently. Rachel Naomi Remen

Like a path through the forest Sabbath creates a marker for ourselves so, if we are lost, we can find out way back to our center. Remember the Sabbath means remember that everything you have received is a blessing. Remember to delight in your life, in the fruits of your labor. Remember to stop and offer thanks for the wonder of it. Wayne Muller

Every morning you rededicate yourself to your path in order not to go astray. Before going to sleep at night, take a few minutes to review the day. Did I live in the direction of my ideals today? If you see that you took two or three steps in that direction, that is good enough. If you did not, say to yourself, I'll do better tomorrow. The next morning when you wake up, resolve to take solid steps in the direction of your ideals. Don't compare yourself with others. Just look to see whether you are going in the direction you cherish. Thich Nhat Hanh

Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself? Tao Te Ching

An anthropologist, following a primitive tribe in Peru, watched as they moved every day for awhile. Then they stopped for awhile and he asked them why. They said they need the time of rest so that their souls can catch up.