QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
All the wide world is beautiful, and it matters but little where
we go. . . . The spot where we chance to be always seems to be
the best.
--John Muir (1838-1914) Naturalist, explorer, writer
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
A few days ago I was sitting on the edge of a very small creek. I was observing the sights and sounds around me. As I looked down at the ground in front of me, I was amazed to see the variety of natural things resting on this small square foot of earth. Everything had the browns and tans of fallen leaves, seed pods, grasses, and small wood chips, but they all gave off a radiance of life and not death. Each item was born, lived and now laid itself down as part of earth's quilt of life. This small area in relation to the limitless universe was infinitely smaller than a single grain of sand is to all the beaches on earth. Yet that fact did not lessen the experience, in fact it brought on a realization of the unending gifts that nature gives to us whenever we stop to listen and observe and that, as John Muir said, "The spot where we chance to be always seems to be the best."
It is true that men, women, and children create wondrous things. Just look at art, architecture, music, dance and all the inventive and creative things that people do. However, do not the best and most lasting creations take a clue from nature? They are done out of a knowledge that, on some level, the actions done are interconnected with and have an impact on others. Things in nature support and nurture other things in nature. This is how worlds evolve and survive. When our actions are done with this spirit, we grow and succeed in the best way possible. When we realize that whatever we do reaches beyond our own little world--perhaps in subtle ways that we do not see--then we become one of nature's gifts given freely to all.
Take the time to listen and observe. Just listen. Just observe. Take your time. Answers will come. A path will be shown. Just listen. . . . Just observe. . . . Remember, "The spot where we chance to be always seems to be the best."
Blessings and Love,
Allen Schmeltz
Copyright © 2000 Allen F. Schmeltz. All rights reserved.
To return to the Index click here.