All these quotes deeply resonate with me, art, music , poetry connects with my soul which is divine itself. I am still a beginner when it comes to to see everything as divine.
All of those quotes resonated with me, especially this part of Einstein's quote: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
I recently spent a few days at a friend's lakeside camp. We drove around the lake, enjoying the calls of the loons, watching bald eagles fly overhead, witnessing the Perseid meteor shower and the gorgeous sunsets. It was peaceful, sublime--beauty surrounding us at every turn. We even saw the Milky Way and so many stars, being far from the light pollution. I looked up and thought about the mysteries of the universe and the awe-inspiring moments we witnessed over those two days. Sure, I loved driving the boat, swimming in the lake, visiting with friends, but it was all made so much more special being out in nature and seeing nature's works of art.
The summer night sky and the Andes mountainrange are the two vast things that delight me. Maybe my lack of daily presence on the mundane, makes me not be able to see the divine in anything else. I like this quote by Pessoa "We never love anyone. What we love is the idea we have of someone. It's our own concept—our own selves—that we love." It somehow makes me feel the devine in me.
Seeing the light within me and others is how I seek the Divine. The light within is the divine working through and in me. Nature always helps me find the divine. If I don't get enough time by water, in trees, in quiet....the light within turns to a faint whisper. I need to have enough spaciousness to hear the whispers no matter their volume. These posts speak to that whisper.
Moving art. I deeply identify with and am moved by the quotes. God can be such a charged word and concept, and I still struggle with what it means (raised Catholic, drawn to Buddhism and beyond...), although the quotes probably put into words as close of a pointer as any. On the days and in the moments I am awake and aware enough to see at all, let alone "divinely," I am forever grateful, although I am open to just seeing as being divine....and, I hope to forever remain a beginner, to remain fresh and open, and to touch awe as much as I am able!
I live in two realities, navigating between the visible and the invisible. There is a season when I exist in the latter like a stranger in a foreign land. Seeing God everywhere or seeing everything as divine requires a lot of practice through silence, solitude, and stillness. Over time, as the soul becomes more illuminated, it stands more poised to receive, not achieve, the mystical encounters. Mystery is less sought but more caught. Being swept away, momentarily, the shimmering light bathes the world, inner and outer. While beauty, goodness, wisdom, and ultimately love awe the soul as manifestations of the Unnameable and Unsayable, I experience the Mystery directly sometimes - an extraordinary grace, indeed.
It’s funny how Einstein uses the words “our dull faculties” in his statement! One of the greatest minds of all time thinks of himself as “dull.” I don’t feel so bad now...
John Muir, who was abused if he didn’t memorize his Bible verses right, preferred to experience God in “Nature’s Cathedrals” which seems the same as Einstein, Akbar and Massey. In theology, the natural world is known as the General Revelation. Countless times I’ve been out in the nature, the beach, the forest, whatever and perceived God in this way. The same is true when seeing people...
With all the scientific knowledge today, it seems that “God” as referred to by Akbar, has been eliminated from the world. At least by many in the science community. However, I think scientific knowledge builds a deeper understanding of the nature of God. In “Everyman’s Talmud” God is referred to as the “All Present” which makes a lot more sense. This seems the God that Einstein, Akbar and Massey see...
In the post-modern world we live, I think the way to experience God is this way. As one of the “Nones,” leaving institutional religion was a gift, the world opened up for me...
I have a question for Sunday: How do you celebrate when you’re a highly sensitive introvert? I’ve just turned 30, and many of my friends are throwing big parties or planning even bigger weddings. For me, those kinds of gatherings feel overwhelming. I struggle to understand why so much pressure is put on creating a “perfect” day, when love feels like the most intimate feeling in the world.
These quotes, especially the last one, remind me of something my dear uncle used to say: "People need to have hope. Without it, there is nothing to look forward to; nothing to live or strive for." In these worrisome times we are living in, I find hope for the future through looking at nature, artistry, etc.
Great set of quotes! For me, the mystery of the Devine sits somewhere between the comforts of myth and the limitations of science. Nature presents so many wow moments of awe— I hiked the Grand Canyon many years ago but the explanations of how it all happened still couldn’t get at for me the why it all happened. I experience it in looking upward at the sky. No matter how many times I have read about the “big bang” theory of the universe I can’t get my head around what that means for a universe before it. I see the Devine in history too. When I experience ancient art, structures, or artifacts it reminds me of the lineage of lives long before me and (with some bittersweetness) the knowledge of a world continuing without me.
Re: Einstein--I have a scientist friend who has no interest, understanding or time for religion or spirituality. The other day, I texted him about a rather uncanny similarity between my brother and myself, and said, "Weird, huh?" To which he replied,"Weird? That DNA matters? Um, well, actually, no. [but, as a scientist] I find such things awe-inspiring." So, yes, alas, I guess I'm still a beginner!
There is so much that is bigger than us, it is hard not to feel overwhelmed again and again, as long as we keep our eyes open to what is available. When Mary Oliver counsels us to, "Pay attention/Be astonished/Tell about it, " we need to consider what it is that is there to be astonished by.
All these quotes deeply resonate with me, art, music , poetry connects with my soul which is divine itself. I am still a beginner when it comes to to see everything as divine.
All of creation taken together shows us the image of the one true Creator!
All of those quotes resonated with me, especially this part of Einstein's quote: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
I recently spent a few days at a friend's lakeside camp. We drove around the lake, enjoying the calls of the loons, watching bald eagles fly overhead, witnessing the Perseid meteor shower and the gorgeous sunsets. It was peaceful, sublime--beauty surrounding us at every turn. We even saw the Milky Way and so many stars, being far from the light pollution. I looked up and thought about the mysteries of the universe and the awe-inspiring moments we witnessed over those two days. Sure, I loved driving the boat, swimming in the lake, visiting with friends, but it was all made so much more special being out in nature and seeing nature's works of art.
The summer night sky and the Andes mountainrange are the two vast things that delight me. Maybe my lack of daily presence on the mundane, makes me not be able to see the divine in anything else. I like this quote by Pessoa "We never love anyone. What we love is the idea we have of someone. It's our own concept—our own selves—that we love." It somehow makes me feel the devine in me.
Seeing the light within me and others is how I seek the Divine. The light within is the divine working through and in me. Nature always helps me find the divine. If I don't get enough time by water, in trees, in quiet....the light within turns to a faint whisper. I need to have enough spaciousness to hear the whispers no matter their volume. These posts speak to that whisper.
Moving art. I deeply identify with and am moved by the quotes. God can be such a charged word and concept, and I still struggle with what it means (raised Catholic, drawn to Buddhism and beyond...), although the quotes probably put into words as close of a pointer as any. On the days and in the moments I am awake and aware enough to see at all, let alone "divinely," I am forever grateful, although I am open to just seeing as being divine....and, I hope to forever remain a beginner, to remain fresh and open, and to touch awe as much as I am able!
I live in two realities, navigating between the visible and the invisible. There is a season when I exist in the latter like a stranger in a foreign land. Seeing God everywhere or seeing everything as divine requires a lot of practice through silence, solitude, and stillness. Over time, as the soul becomes more illuminated, it stands more poised to receive, not achieve, the mystical encounters. Mystery is less sought but more caught. Being swept away, momentarily, the shimmering light bathes the world, inner and outer. While beauty, goodness, wisdom, and ultimately love awe the soul as manifestations of the Unnameable and Unsayable, I experience the Mystery directly sometimes - an extraordinary grace, indeed.
It’s funny how Einstein uses the words “our dull faculties” in his statement! One of the greatest minds of all time thinks of himself as “dull.” I don’t feel so bad now...
John Muir, who was abused if he didn’t memorize his Bible verses right, preferred to experience God in “Nature’s Cathedrals” which seems the same as Einstein, Akbar and Massey. In theology, the natural world is known as the General Revelation. Countless times I’ve been out in the nature, the beach, the forest, whatever and perceived God in this way. The same is true when seeing people...
With all the scientific knowledge today, it seems that “God” as referred to by Akbar, has been eliminated from the world. At least by many in the science community. However, I think scientific knowledge builds a deeper understanding of the nature of God. In “Everyman’s Talmud” God is referred to as the “All Present” which makes a lot more sense. This seems the God that Einstein, Akbar and Massey see...
In the post-modern world we live, I think the way to experience God is this way. As one of the “Nones,” leaving institutional religion was a gift, the world opened up for me...
Wonderful post. For me it’s the natural natural world, especially at dawn & sunset.
I have a question for Sunday: How do you celebrate when you’re a highly sensitive introvert? I’ve just turned 30, and many of my friends are throwing big parties or planning even bigger weddings. For me, those kinds of gatherings feel overwhelming. I struggle to understand why so much pressure is put on creating a “perfect” day, when love feels like the most intimate feeling in the world.
These quotes, especially the last one, remind me of something my dear uncle used to say: "People need to have hope. Without it, there is nothing to look forward to; nothing to live or strive for." In these worrisome times we are living in, I find hope for the future through looking at nature, artistry, etc.
I love this concept. It is the vision I have for my photography.
Great set of quotes! For me, the mystery of the Devine sits somewhere between the comforts of myth and the limitations of science. Nature presents so many wow moments of awe— I hiked the Grand Canyon many years ago but the explanations of how it all happened still couldn’t get at for me the why it all happened. I experience it in looking upward at the sky. No matter how many times I have read about the “big bang” theory of the universe I can’t get my head around what that means for a universe before it. I see the Devine in history too. When I experience ancient art, structures, or artifacts it reminds me of the lineage of lives long before me and (with some bittersweetness) the knowledge of a world continuing without me.
I believe that everything that I see in nature is imbued with spirit. This belief animates my life and gives it a continual source of delight.
Re: Einstein--I have a scientist friend who has no interest, understanding or time for religion or spirituality. The other day, I texted him about a rather uncanny similarity between my brother and myself, and said, "Weird, huh?" To which he replied,"Weird? That DNA matters? Um, well, actually, no. [but, as a scientist] I find such things awe-inspiring." So, yes, alas, I guess I'm still a beginner!
There is so much that is bigger than us, it is hard not to feel overwhelmed again and again, as long as we keep our eyes open to what is available. When Mary Oliver counsels us to, "Pay attention/Be astonished/Tell about it, " we need to consider what it is that is there to be astonished by.