What I needed today, as this morning I was reflecting on all the things one might miss out on, or not appreciate as fully, by not being present. It's challenging, given the many distractions of our world. And I'm privileged to say my life is such that I WANT to be present with it. Many others can't say that. Anyway, thanks for this affirming read.
Beautiful piece, full of love, and as always (your specialty) glorious honesty. Thank you for being Joan, Joan 😉
I learned of Jim Finley through Richard Rohr, whose books and talks resonate deeply with me. I started listening to Finley's podcast on Brother Lawrence when it launched a few months back, but silly as it sounds, I found Jim's deep, mellifluous voice distracting - which I know, has the opposite effect on most people. Go figure!! I'll give it another try.
Whoops, errata: It was Season 13 on Therese of Lisieux that I balked at his (excessively 😂) resonant voice. I'll definitely give him another try on Season 12 covering Brother Lawrence.
What I hear in his voice is presence. Also gentleness, calm, and great depth. But maybe sometimes we humans can only take so much of all that...maybe it touches something too deep, too vulnerable...I don't know. And, of course, we all resonate with different things.
I just listened to session 2 on Brother Lawrence, and I had to smile, because in it, Jim says that sometimes a certain teaching doesn't touch us where we're at, including this podcast, and he says trust yourself, if it doesn't touch you, let it go. Maybe at another time, it will touch you, or maybe not. But go with what touches you and what speaks to you. 😊🙏
Thank you for this. (I always look forward to your sharing.) I had just completed an email to my spiritual director concerning an issue, a storm I was in the midst of. Then I read your words,
“To relax the grasping, to open and be still in the midst of the storm, not needing it to abate or resolve, simply beholding the whole of it with love, allowing it to dissolve in its own time? Not getting caught in the trap of looking to repeat the morning’s wonderment, but being fully present with what’s here now?”
Synchronicity, if you believe in such a thing - which I do, is so affirming. Within the last few days I’ve been thinking about “the mystics”, and that mysticism may be in part what I mean when I say, “that different way of knowing”. And violà - your article provides a link to a talk by Jim Finley’s in his podcast series “Turning to the Mystics”. I don’t have the space for a quiet listen at this moment, but that’s ok, I will listen soon!
BTW - for about 68 of my 70 years I was one of those people allergic to the word God and most things related to Christianity. In my evolution and ‘opening’ this is no longer the case. The ineffable is expressed in many many ways.
how wonderful - I would never have thought I would see reference to practicing the Presence of God in your writing. I especially appreciate the way you wove it in seamlessly with the Buddhist practices (and even a little Tolle!)
Hola ¡ oH ¡ fantàstic concentrat elegant Ara mateix,tal com és
Recordo una dita: tot això passa perquè no sabem estar assentats quiets en una habitació
Deu sí però com a símbol
Estava pensant amb una trobada que he tingut aquest matí, tot anat com tenia que anar ,, bé o malament o no es sap,, Es la conciencia qui fa qui actua, jo soc tal com soc Això. La trobada la relació sempre es en l'altre, semblant a nosaltres però distints ,, la conciencia ,aquesta Vida, que tot es, es relaciona amb ella mateixa , no a través sinó amb presencia sense intermediari directament
El bo és que no se com actuo però ho faig,, serà l'inconscient ,, tot el mecanisme ,, la comunitat cos qui determina ,, i el pobre jo , després no sap que passa.
La acceptació de com van les coses no sempre està al nostre abast però és el millor que es pot fer
Thank you for your truth Joan, it resonates deeply and feels like a gratitude path which is disarming and a reset for whatever is going on around me that I might be caught up in.
I also appreciate your recommendations and look forward to reading The Healing Path and listening to Jim’s podcast. May the light meet you each and every day and may you bask in its vastness.
Joan, I just listened to the podcast about St.Therese. My middle name is Therese, named after the Little Flower! And one of my favorite films of all time is "Household Saints" (1993), have you seen it? You would love it! It can be viewed on a number of platforms. It's so beautiful. Thank you, your writing always inspires me and leads me down the paths of the mystic!
I haven't seen that movie, but it sounds like one I might enjoy. I'll look for it. I haven't heard any of the other "Turning to the Mystics" series yet, and expect that I will. 🙏
In some moments we can simply be. And that feels good..even profound. In others, we cannot. For me, zen is all about allowing all of this lived experience - whether we like it or not at the time, and whatever stories we may attach to to try to explain what's arising.
What I needed today, as this morning I was reflecting on all the things one might miss out on, or not appreciate as fully, by not being present. It's challenging, given the many distractions of our world. And I'm privileged to say my life is such that I WANT to be present with it. Many others can't say that. Anyway, thanks for this affirming read.
Beautiful piece, full of love, and as always (your specialty) glorious honesty. Thank you for being Joan, Joan 😉
I learned of Jim Finley through Richard Rohr, whose books and talks resonate deeply with me. I started listening to Finley's podcast on Brother Lawrence when it launched a few months back, but silly as it sounds, I found Jim's deep, mellifluous voice distracting - which I know, has the opposite effect on most people. Go figure!! I'll give it another try.
❤️
Whoops, errata: It was Season 13 on Therese of Lisieux that I balked at his (excessively 😂) resonant voice. I'll definitely give him another try on Season 12 covering Brother Lawrence.
What I hear in his voice is presence. Also gentleness, calm, and great depth. But maybe sometimes we humans can only take so much of all that...maybe it touches something too deep, too vulnerable...I don't know. And, of course, we all resonate with different things.
I just listened to session 2 on Brother Lawrence, and I had to smile, because in it, Jim says that sometimes a certain teaching doesn't touch us where we're at, including this podcast, and he says trust yourself, if it doesn't touch you, let it go. Maybe at another time, it will touch you, or maybe not. But go with what touches you and what speaks to you. 😊🙏
Thank you for this. (I always look forward to your sharing.) I had just completed an email to my spiritual director concerning an issue, a storm I was in the midst of. Then I read your words,
“To relax the grasping, to open and be still in the midst of the storm, not needing it to abate or resolve, simply beholding the whole of it with love, allowing it to dissolve in its own time? Not getting caught in the trap of looking to repeat the morning’s wonderment, but being fully present with what’s here now?”
I am completely held by The Universe, The Divine.
Thank you Joan 🙏
Synchronicity, if you believe in such a thing - which I do, is so affirming. Within the last few days I’ve been thinking about “the mystics”, and that mysticism may be in part what I mean when I say, “that different way of knowing”. And violà - your article provides a link to a talk by Jim Finley’s in his podcast series “Turning to the Mystics”. I don’t have the space for a quiet listen at this moment, but that’s ok, I will listen soon!
BTW - for about 68 of my 70 years I was one of those people allergic to the word God and most things related to Christianity. In my evolution and ‘opening’ this is no longer the case. The ineffable is expressed in many many ways.
how wonderful - I would never have thought I would see reference to practicing the Presence of God in your writing. I especially appreciate the way you wove it in seamlessly with the Buddhist practices (and even a little Tolle!)
again, wonder-full.
🙏
Hola ¡ oH ¡ fantàstic concentrat elegant Ara mateix,tal com és
Recordo una dita: tot això passa perquè no sabem estar assentats quiets en una habitació
Deu sí però com a símbol
Estava pensant amb una trobada que he tingut aquest matí, tot anat com tenia que anar ,, bé o malament o no es sap,, Es la conciencia qui fa qui actua, jo soc tal com soc Això. La trobada la relació sempre es en l'altre, semblant a nosaltres però distints ,, la conciencia ,aquesta Vida, que tot es, es relaciona amb ella mateixa , no a través sinó amb presencia sense intermediari directament
El bo és que no se com actuo però ho faig,, serà l'inconscient ,, tot el mecanisme ,, la comunitat cos qui determina ,, i el pobre jo , després no sap que passa.
La acceptació de com van les coses no sempre està al nostre abast però és el millor que es pot fer
I què diries sinó Visca la Vida Visca l'Amor
your words motivated me to re-listen to David Whyte's "A Sudden Stillness." Thank you for your efforts ...
Thank you. 🙏
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for your truth Joan, it resonates deeply and feels like a gratitude path which is disarming and a reset for whatever is going on around me that I might be caught up in.
I also appreciate your recommendations and look forward to reading The Healing Path and listening to Jim’s podcast. May the light meet you each and every day and may you bask in its vastness.
Joan, I just listened to the podcast about St.Therese. My middle name is Therese, named after the Little Flower! And one of my favorite films of all time is "Household Saints" (1993), have you seen it? You would love it! It can be viewed on a number of platforms. It's so beautiful. Thank you, your writing always inspires me and leads me down the paths of the mystic!
I haven't seen that movie, but it sounds like one I might enjoy. I'll look for it. I haven't heard any of the other "Turning to the Mystics" series yet, and expect that I will. 🙏
Wonderful and inspiring.
Thank you for sharing this, Joan.
In some moments we can simply be. And that feels good..even profound. In others, we cannot. For me, zen is all about allowing all of this lived experience - whether we like it or not at the time, and whatever stories we may attach to to try to explain what's arising.
Have a great day!🫶🈚️🇵🇸