Welcome,
Friends.
As we move into the latter phases of adulthood,
Perhaps transitioning out of the busy world-making that has marked our lives since our early teens and into a way of living that is more spacious,
Less concerned about accumulating and making and proving,
We may feel a natural slowing within.
And when we sense that,
We may sense arising a greater awareness of the beauty that is in all things,
That is in the very isness of all being,
A radiance from within.
As we experience that,
We may feel that life is richer now,
Even the sense of the importance of our own lives lessens.
There may well be a greater sense of being that is impersonal and yet deeply felt,
A connection with all things and at the same time a letting go.
With this,
A turn of thought may allow us to see beauty where before we passed it by,
Unaware.
This may well be a defining feature of conscious aging,
To see beauty in all things as a consequence of slowing down and accepting.
This is a short poem about that experience,
Appreciating the beauty that suffuses all the world.
As you listen,
I hope it will allow the words to suffuse you with a sense of acceptance and peace and an awareness of the beauty inherent in the environment in which you now are.
After,
I'll offer a short reflection for us to meditate upon.
The poem is titled,
Let Us Walk in Beauty.
On this day,
Let us walk in the beauty that suffuses all things and in all the small creases of the world.
The patch of dust with the yellow dandelion facing the sun,
The face of the sleeping cat curled atop a sofa,
Now opening its eyes softly to peer out the window at our passing.
And we,
Passing so quietly,
Carrying nothing,
Let us see the beauty that lingers here in all things.
When we walk,
Let us keep our eyes raised toward the sky,
Which is always housed in beauty,
No matter the weather.
And let us greet each brilliant being,
However clad in dust and sorrow,
As the embodiment of the shining beauty that is in all of us.
And let us remember,
Wherever we are,
And however we may go,
Beauty has gotten there first.
Let us walk,
Then,
In the beauty that suffuses all things and in all the small creases of the world,
And give thanks.
Let's take a moment now and consider the impulse of this poem,
Which asks us to accept that beauty is in the essence of being,
And that when we practice being,
Rather than doing,
Beauty is there always,
And has always been there,
Long before we arrived.
Let's take a few moments now to reflect upon whatever images,
Voices,
Or feelings arise.
I hope you have found this experience helpful as you move into the next phase of your life.
I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
I'll try to reply to all.
Be well,
My friends.
