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Reflections
August 24, 2008
First purple asters have appeared, like overnight, announcing the Season of Fall is upon the land in Penn's Woods. Their rich purple petals are set off by the deep, rich, brassy gold of thier centers, and the pastel colors of spring and summer now give way to a depth of color and profundity in the endless cycle of Mother Nature's power to dazzle us. Saying "yes" to this power of Nature, and allowing our senses to DRINK IN its beauty, while sensing the Power BEHIND IT, can be very spiritually uplifting.
On the other hand, I am continually amazed how I/We can allow negative people in our lives have abundant power over us, who challenge our ability to trust and care for ourselves. When we hear their negative voices, or are in their company, we may forget all we know about what is loving and good about ourselves, and allow that person to take us down, emotionally and spiritually. This can happen so rapidly, that before we realize it, we ourselves descend into an infantile mentality.
Being aware that each of us has a choice in the matter, and that choice needs to be activated at a moment's notice, might be called WISDOM. We can force ourselves, through the motions of reacting differently to those negative persons- even if that new self-reaction is often awkward and uncomfortable.
We cannot directly change the negativity of another person, but we can avoid getting hooked by them. This means becoming very aware of those persons who regularly hook us. We can decide and choose who and what will have so much power over us.
So, look for the purple asters, not the dead ones. As Jesus advised, "Let the dead bury the dead." fb
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Quote for The Week of August 24-31
People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom!
Tabor Nhat Hanh
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