View through a window

"When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety; if I sit in my own place of patience, what I need flows to me, and without pain". (Rumi).

I sat by my lunette, dormer and aperture'd glass window, admiring the misted beauty in the early temperate English morning, peering out at the grey overcast sky. Cool, cleansing wind ruffled the curtains as birds chirped in varying lilts, colors and melodious cheeps. Ah! What a glorious day to be alive.

Upon the furthermost and highest castled turreted roof sat a tiny little blackbird, barely visible, and no bigger than my thumb.

"Is that a bird"? I questioned to myself, drawing even nearer to the windowsill, where the leaves of my tiny potted plant leaned towards the waning light, as if in prayerful supplication to the absence of the usual rising of the sun. For today, not a healing celestial being shone a hopeful heated beam...Still, is there not beauty in everything.

As if in answer to my question, the wee thing upon the roof shook its tail feathers feistily, flicking its teeny-tiny head this way and that.

As I stood and watched this brave baby bird launch out on its own from the safety and comfort of the nest, I suddenly felt such a burst of pride and admiration for the little thing...then thought I, that we too should learn from the birds and shove our human hatchlings out the nest for the early development of independent wings (supervised, of course).

You see, the moxie of the wee bird reminded me that it is not in the great big lifelong achievements and accomplishments of us all that life really matters at the end of the day. Rather, it is in the simplest and utterly un-noteworthy moments that we define ourselves and find the greatest pleasure in the acknowledgements and fledgling efforts of others.

I realized how the nurturing and upliftment of the beginning of all things, will ultimately lead to a nurturing of the soul as the thing grows and matures.

The opposing view, then, the lack of succor and nurture must lead to a broken spirit within an individual or thing or bird. The little things need great loving and ministration in order to become, 'The independent big Thing'.

We do not live in a world where the sun always kisses the earth with golden rays and the moon whisper secrets to the night as we journey to find the meaning of life and the essence of love. There are pitfalls and potholes which we need to overcome.

As we walk through the dense forest of our existence, we will stumble and sometimes fall. We won't always carve our names into the barks of ancient trees or modern popular culture. But as we walk, way and ways will appear, encouraging our continued journey with hopes for a pleasing and life affirming peace.

May serene rivers of calming waters whisper to us, of our profound connection to the world around us, realizing our own significance or deeper insignificance. We should take the time to stand still and listen, our peace of mind will be greatly enhanced, and our joy heightened.

The sages have always shared a simple yet powerful truth: "Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder". We learn the value of gentle strength and the power of kind words.

"The wound is the place where the Light enters you". Embrace your pain, find a new light within yourself, illuminating your path forward.

"Love is the bridge between you and everything". Love is not just an emotion but a force that connects all beings. With this understanding comes a profound peace and joy. How delightful would be a world of continuous and pure love!

Walk with a heart full of wisdom and a soul brimming with love.

"The quieter you become, the more you can hear", and in the silence, find the answers you are seeking".

..............................................................

Quotes are to the timeless wisdom of Rumi, guiding others on their own journeys of discovery and love.

~~~~~RUMI

There once lived a wise wanderer named Rumi. He roamed the world, guided by the whispers of his heart and the wisdom of the stars. One day, as he sat by a tranquil river, he heard a voice within him say, "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop".

Inspired, Rumi began his journey, seeking the hidden truths of life. He met a wise old tree who told him, "Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop". With each step, he shed his fears and doubts, embracing the beauty of the present moment.

As he walked through busy markets, he saw people chasing after their desires. He smiled and thought, "When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety; if I sit in my own place of patience, what I need flows to me, and without pain". He realized that true peace came from within, not from the chaos around him.

One night, under a canopy of stars, Rumi felt a deep longing in his heart. He whispered to the night, "There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled. There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled". The stars twinkled back, reminding him that love was the bridge between him and everything.

In his darkest moments, Rumi remembered the words of a friend, "The wound is the place where the Light enters you". He embraced his pain, knowing it was a teacher guiding him towards the light.

Through his journey, Rumi discovered that "The quieter we become, the more we can hear". In silence, he found the answers he sought, and in love, he found his true self. His heart sang with joy, "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do".

Rumi's story is one of wisdom, knitted on looms with threads of love, patience, and inner peace. His journey a reminder that "As you start to walk on the way, the way appears", and that the universe was always within him.