Taking It Home
Visiting wild places, beaches, or parks, or taking time to observe a rainstorm, can provide opportunities to engage in more experiences of spirituality and the natural world. For further insight, write in your journal a description of the weather, a seashell, or a blossom, looking for wonder and mystery.Talk with friends, family members, housemates, and co-workers about recycling, reducing energy use, reducing consumption, supporting "green" legislation, and other things you can do together that will have a positive impact on the environment.
Try a form of spiritual practice that involves bringing attentive awareness to whatever is right before us, and showing gratitude for it. Try bringing a mindful attention to sitting or walking outside, or looking out a window. Notice details, and address what you see with gratitude and respect. For example, say "Dear rock showing off in the sunlight, thank you." "Dear shining green, green leaves, thank you." "Dear tall grasses moving gently in the wind, thank you." "Dear people rushing by on the streets, thank you." "Dear pigeons, dear trash, dear park bench, thank you." Intentional practice of awareness and gratitude can increase feelings of inner peace and connection with one's surroundings. Such a practice can help us let go of the past and our concerns for what has been, while we embrace the present moment and its possibilities.
Last updated on Saturday, April 19, 2008.
