“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” —Marcel Proust
The grass isn’t greener on the other side of the valley. It’s just different, full of mystery. Here is where I stand and there is much uncharted territory right under my feet. I could go elsewhere if I like, but I'm certain to find the same unfinished business.
Still, sometimes I have to jump the fence that surrounds me. When I need to break free from an old perspective, roaming awhile like I did yesterday can do a lot of good.
The older I get the more I see that the most fruitful journey isn’t an exterior kind of wandering. It’s exploring my interior landscape. A silent walk, a weekend retreat, a timeout from relationship and responsibility allows me to discover new ground inside myself.
On this journey I know I need time to see things anew, to contemplate the challenges before me. I may need to grieve deeply to renew my search or sing, laugh or forgive. This is not a blind quest, but a kind of roaming that clears the eye, empowering me to see the truth right here, right now.
Question: Is it time to wander inside?
Showing posts with label journey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journey. Show all posts
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
The Real Work
“It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work and that when we no longer know which way to go we have begun our real journey.” —Wendell Berry
At mid-life or other watershed periods, many of us feel lost, confused, uncertain of the terrain ahead. Sometimes I turn to look back at the well-worn patterns of the more familiar past, and I know I can’t bring some of the old ways forward into the future. These times seems to call for a kind of rebirth.
I don’t have to totally leave my career or make a major geographical move in order to meet this challenge, but I can take stock of how I work and relate to others. I have to understand myself differently in the world. I can take the pressure off to prove my worth through work, since finally I know now that I'm worthwhile regardless of what work I do.
Becoming a new person inside, getting a clearer understanding of life’s priorities, is the road my changing body and soul must walk. I can no longer coast on the blissful ignorance of youth; now I must roll up my sleeves and use real, permanent,great inner resources —wisdom, faith, love—to live the rest of my life as honorably as I can.
Question: What Life Change brought with it a Rebirth?
At mid-life or other watershed periods, many of us feel lost, confused, uncertain of the terrain ahead. Sometimes I turn to look back at the well-worn patterns of the more familiar past, and I know I can’t bring some of the old ways forward into the future. These times seems to call for a kind of rebirth.
I don’t have to totally leave my career or make a major geographical move in order to meet this challenge, but I can take stock of how I work and relate to others. I have to understand myself differently in the world. I can take the pressure off to prove my worth through work, since finally I know now that I'm worthwhile regardless of what work I do.
Becoming a new person inside, getting a clearer understanding of life’s priorities, is the road my changing body and soul must walk. I can no longer coast on the blissful ignorance of youth; now I must roll up my sleeves and use real, permanent,great inner resources —wisdom, faith, love—to live the rest of my life as honorably as I can.
Question: What Life Change brought with it a Rebirth?
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