Jeff Singing in the rain When beauty touches us, it awakens our aesthetic response, ranging from contentment and satisfaction to delight, rejoicing, and awe: these modes of experience register our recognition of universal beauty. The most common positive emotions are joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride (paired with humility), amusement, inspiration, awe, and love.[1] As long … Read more
Walking in beauty heightens the resonance between beauty in our surroundings and beauty in ourselves; and this resonance enhances vitality. Vitality is associated with energy, enthusiasm, zest, and vigor. As psychologists describe it, vitality involves the entire personality, embracing several kinds of value: biological, psychological, social, philosophical, and spiritual. Vitality expresses physical health … Read more
Rising to a full appreciation of the beauties of nature, we engage ourselves on all levels. We could systematically describe these levels, beginning with perception, moving through the intellectual discovery of harmony, and culminating with the spiritual realization of divine beauty. But full experience does not usually come at the conclusion of a systematic process. … Read more
A Navajo prayer introduces the concept of walking in beauty. With beauty before me, I walk With beauty behind me, I walk With beauty above me, I walk With beauty below me, I walk From the east beauty has been restored From the south beauty has been restored From the west beauty has … Read more
Congratulations! You have done the heavy intellectual lifting and are ready for Part II: Walking in beauty. We begin with living amid the beauties of nature. During the month of August this blog will present a series that guides you into a better appreciation through posts on the following topics. The psychology of vitality. Barbara … Read more
We find truth by following the way in simplicity, as symbolized in a story by Taoist philosopher Chuang-Tzu. Cook Ting was cutting up an ox for Lord Wen-hui. At every touch of his hand, every heave of his shoulder, every move of his feet, every thrust of his knee, zip! zoop! He slithered the knife … Read more
Prayer allows the hungry heart to express itself and to be transformed. Prayer processes desire; we honestly express our feelings and then let God change them. In the light of that transformation, prayer gives way to thanksgiving, and thanksgiving carries us like an updraft that birds catch as they circle higher. Thanksgiving leads into worship. … Read more
As it dawns on us that prayer addresses the God of all creation, we realize that being a good son or daughter and friend means being responsible for our side of the relationship. When there is time and need for a thorough prayer process, we do not content ourselves with a quick glance “above” to … Read more
God is above us and yet close to each one of us. His love surrounds us and indwells us. We may aspire to center our lives on God without realizing that his spirit is the center of our very being. Awareness of the indwelling presence of the eternal God adds meaning to the thought that … Read more