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| Brother Paul Quenon outside the hermitage; |
I love the title of the book and have particular fondness for Gethsemane and her monks.
"This retreat, no rain came all week long until the last day, late afternoon, and then the downpour was gratifying and robust. Eventually clouds broke and sun came through while rain continued, showering sunlight and rain together. I cartwheeled, became a child again, back in my home yard, knowing only this yard as the whole world, suddenly changed into something wondrous. Rain glistened, backlit by the sun, showing every falling drop for all its worth. Rain appeared to be falling from the sun itself. This rain was meant for this space, felt like something made for only here and now. The narrow yonder of the field where trees attend Our Lady’s statue took on a magical, silver sheen where air misted—a lost wilderness, reverting to some ancient, mythical epoch."
Read the whole chapter HERE.
This reminds me of a poem in the book, "The Way of Chuang Tzu" by Thomas Merton.
ReplyDeleteThe Useless
Hui Tzu said to Chuang Tzu:
"All your teaching is centered on what has no use."
Chuang replied:
"If you have no appreciation for what has no use
You cannot begin to talk about what can be used.
The earth, for example, is broad and vast
But of all this expanse a man uses only a few inches
upon which he happens to be standing.
Now suppose you suddenly take away
All that he is not actually using
So that, all around his feet a gulf
Yawns, and he stands in the Void,
With nowhere solid except right under each foot:
How long will he be able to use what he is using?"
Hui Tzu said: " It would cease to serve any purpose."
Chuang Tzu concluded:
" This shows
The absolute necessity
Of what has 'no use."
Another poem titled Useless Tree is the first at the starting of the book. It ends thus: " Useless? You should worry."
Makes us go thoughtful.
Makes us go thoughtful, indeed.
DeleteI gravitate toward the whole notion of a useless life. The only way we can pay attention to what is right before us.
"If it is done with outer seriousness,it must be with inner humour.If it is with outer humor, it must be with inner seriousness.Neither one alone without the other under it will do.." This,by Robert Frost; I used to get reminded now and then!
ReplyDeleteThere is always this interplay between inner and outer, seriousness and humor, isn't there?
DeleteGreat insight from Robert Frost. I have to remember this. THANK YOU!
yes yes -
ReplyDeleteThe little ones,
those with out economic value !
you can see them on street corners
asking for money
and
on rainy days
sitting under the eves of buildings
sometimes drinking wine !
happy blessings _________________________
yes, yes -
Deletethose fools
illegals
aliens
put them all in cages
so that we can
feel safe.
yes yes -
ReplyDeleteit is the useless ones
that hold our world
together !
blessings ______________