Changing the Backyard (by Jim Wallis)
My two boys have an alley for a backyard. Luke (9) and Jack (5) are thoroughly urban kids, but I watched them, these past two weeks, fall in love with a natural world far different from their own in a magical place called Block Island, off the coast of Rhode Island.
I came here a lot as a younger man. It was the home of lawyer-theologian William Stringfellow, one of my theological and political mentors, and it still has a little cottage on the back of the property that is used by Jesuit priest Daniel Berrigan as a special place for writing and retreat. I hadn’t been here for 10 years, and I thought it was time to go back with my two boys. After all, it was the place I proposed to their mother, Joy Carroll, 11 years ago during a dramatic sunset at the lighthouse on the island’s most northern point.
During the hour-long ferry ride from Point Judith, Rhode Island, I felt so many old feelings and memories returning, as the sun was setting over the ocean. The hour-long boat ride was always a decompresser for me, helping me prepare for the much slower pace of island life. I remember the Stringfellow residence as an almost monastic environment, in lovely harmony with Block Island’s stunning natural beauty and small-town rural lifestyle. After arriving, Joy was surprised to see how easily I found the small back roads and turn-offs, even after dark, which lead to the Berrigan cottage. Some places you never forget. The first thing my boys noticed was the extraordinary view from the deck of this spartan writer's cottage “at land's end,” as Berrigan always said, looking out over the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean. Coming from an urban environment where you never think to look up, all of a sudden there was the light show from a million stars. And it was so quiet.
On the ferry I had picked up a copy of the Block Island Times and had seen the weekly Nature Walk Schedule put out by the island’s Nature Conservancy. It seemed especially focused on things children would love, so we decided to try it out our first Monday morning. Those morning sessions became a daily discipline and delight for Luke, Jack, and me, and seemed to set the tone and pace for every day. From nature hikes through flora and fauna, to marsh-mucking, to scavenger hunts, to bird-watching, to a final 5-mile fitness walk through four preserves, we urban boys were introduced to a whole new and wonderful world. My boys insisted on getting up early each day to go.
I watched my youngest, Jack, discover little hermit crabs and gently hold them in his hand. One of our young nature guides told him that soft humming or singing often got the hermits to come out of their shells, and Jack found that "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" worked very well. Luke and I followed a 100-year-old, 2-foot-long horseshoe crab around the marsh. Each shell, piece of seaweed, or interesting rock seemed to have its own story.
On the morning bird-watching expedition at the end of the week, Luke had a question for the director of the Nature Conservancy. "Are there any shad bushes here? You know, the ones that the yellow-bellied sapsuckers peck to get their sap to run, which attracts the insects that become the bird’s lunch when they come back a couple hours later?" Surprised by the 9-year-old question, our guide said, “Yes, there are, and you’re right about the yellow-bellied sapsuckers, but how did you know that?” Luke said, “Oh I learned that on the Monday nature walk.” The other adults on the bird walk were quite impressed and told me how “environmentally sensitive” my children were. I tried hard to contain my chuckles and decided not to tell them about the inner-city war zone where my boys have grown up.
Of course we played baseball most days, as we do wherever we are. But practicing pitching, catching, and hitting, playing “pickle,” and running the bases next to the Mohican Bluffs with the roar of the Atlantic over the cliff is a lot different from the ballfields of Washington, D.C. And one of the best things we did was to rent bikes for all four of us. Biking to town, to the beach, or to dinner was a new experience for this urban family, and Luke kept remarking about all the energy we were saving. The sunsets were again breathtaking at the North Light, and one night I comically re-enacted my original marriage proposal, dropping on my knees to ask Joy if she would marry me and have two boys named Luke and Jack. “Oh, all right then,” she replied romantically, for which we were all grateful. And later at night, we would sit in the dark of our deck and watch the moon rise above the ocean and then the stars light up the sky. Sleeping was easy.
Perhaps the natural highlight came at the end of our time, when the boys and I went to a “nature and arts” session at an outdoor pavilion. A very knowledgeable nature guide (who I later discovered is also the town mayor!) displayed colorful caterpillars feeding on milkweeds and passed out drawing pads to all the kids. She then showed us two different chrysalises and explained how there were caterpillars inside turning into beautiful butterflies. One was a brand-new chrysalis and one, she excitedly told us, was about to burst open any day. Nobody expected that to be about 15 minutes later, when a dozen wide-eyed children and their astonished parents watched in utter amazement as a new-born and brilliant monarch butterfly broke out into the world. None of us, except the mayor, had ever seen that before.
Childlike wonder is what happens to all of us in the face of such natural beauty and wonder. Time for long conversations, good sleep, great meals, swims and walks each day, lots of laughing, space for reading and knitting, and at every turn in the road, biking around a bend, or rising over a hill, somebody would say, "That's so beautiful."
Here, the ocean, not an alley, was our backyard. In every direction, there it was, at high and low tides, in shimmering blues or crashing white waves, setting the rhythm for an island and, for almost two weeks, for a family of city kids who found a way to fit right in.
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Comments
You like baseball? Good man. Maybe you're not as Liberal as I thought you were.
Posted by: DITE | August 21, 2008 1:37 PM
Baseball is neither Liberal or Conservative. What a moronic statement.
Back to Jim's musings on being with his kids and the awe they experienced in nature, I too have witnessed this from time to time, when I get out of the city and pack up for the backwoods or out to the Pacific Ocean.
Posted by: jvf | August 21, 2008 3:13 PM
Jim, I think I've read the great majority of your published writing over the past three and a half decades, and I think "Changing the Backyard" is my new favorite. Thank you!
Posted by: Jim Crosby | August 21, 2008 3:23 PM
How sad that all religions are so adamant that their version of the bible, koran, etc... is the right one.
God does exist, yet MOST ALL humans cannot see God. They are too obsessed with the book of Evil, a bible, koran, etc...
These are books that could be considered Idolatry by your own standards since you all worship them feverently. God doesn't need mere human created books.
God is simply love...nothing more, nothing less. Once you grasp the concept, you will see the truth of the world and why we exist.
Evil has pelted me with all that it can in my last 51 years of life and every step of the way God has been there, picked me up and kept me going and surviving. Even at the lowest point of my life.
I have been spat at, beaten, and cast out by Religious only heterosexuals who claim they know what God wants and have taken upon themselves to enforce their version of morality and judgment.
God creates different life on Earth for God's benefit, not mere Religiously fantatic peoples who actually are deceived by the very Evil they fear.
I fear no Evil because it can't hurt my soul/lifeforce. No matter what has happened to me or will happend to me, I know God is walking that straight and narrow path, making sure that if I stray off, that I am guided back to continue my walk home.
The bibles of the world only teach hate and fear and cast out others that do not follow or believe in it's teachings.
How sad for uncivilized beings that have no concept of or can even fathom the intelligence of our Creater.
I have witnessed miracles of God in my darkest hours and no one religious being can take them away. God is there for those to see if they have a pure heart and pure love.
God has appeared and told me everything will be alright. I even had a special dispensation farewell to my soulmate and friend at the moment of his passing.
God saved me from following my friend to his destiny with God. It wasn't my appointed time but to allow my soul to better accept his death and heal. But my time up is near and I fear none of your religious hypocrisies who would damn me to your so called Hell!
My only hope and prayer is that you all open your eyes and let God truly into your hearts, minds, and souls, then you will know the truth of God.
Always ask the Answer.
Posted by: Bill | August 21, 2008 3:44 PM
Lovely, lovely piece. Thanks for a very nice reading experience.
Posted by: Patsey | August 21, 2008 4:05 PM
Greedy,selfish,hypocrites,etc. Those that claim to be Evangelical Christians who vote against health care for the poor, yet they give corporate welfare to the rich and the super rich. These same Christians complain about their co-pay for sosialized medicine - Medicare and vote against it for others, never thank God for their savings. Go ahead raise my taxes if you promise to spend it on health care for the poor.
Posted by: Gary | August 21, 2008 4:21 PM
Thank you for sharing with us your family experiences on Block Island. It was so beautiful it was almost as good as going on vacation (maybe better than most "vacations"). It was so precious I shared it with many of my family and friends.
Posted by: Elizabeth Sheppard | August 21, 2008 4:30 PM
Wonderful story. I grew up on a farm in Missouri and now feel restless with how my daughter and son, ages 11 and 6, are growing up in urban New Jersey with little or no contact with the natural world. I really have to take them hiking with me more often.
Posted by: Adam G. | August 21, 2008 5:12 PM
Thank you Jim for this beautiful trip into nature and the wonder of childhood. I thought everyone reading it would be taken back to the joy of childhood memories, of those special times and places we all carry in our hearts. Sadly, after reading the comments, I find some people seemed only angry at the thought that people who believe in the truth of the Bible should enjoy the creation.
Having spent a number of years in the mindspace of Bill I can only say that it saddens me to think that he so sincerely believes in a lie. An angel of light can be very convincing but Jesus is indeed the only Way, Truth and Life. We keep saying it Bill because we long for those who have not met the Lord Jesus to come to know Him so that they too might share in His kingdom.
If you have met religious people who want to put you down I am sorry. That does not change the fact that Jesus is the only way to the Father and that He loves you more than you can ever imagine. The Koran is nothing like the Bible, there is only one person who ever walked this earth who died for your sin and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. He gave us the Bible not people, and He is the only One able to give us the gift of eternal life.
Because of sin we have to opt in to the eternal kingdom. Without Jesus' grace, mercy and love we are all destined for destruction. When the perfect kingdom is realised we would not be able to stand our own imperfection. Only Jesus has made it possible to be washed clean and made ready for the presence of our holy, pure and awesome God. May He open the eyes of all those who are seeking the truth.
Posted by: Pearl | August 21, 2008 5:12 PM
Thank you Jim for this beautiful trip into nature and the wonder of childhood. I thought everyone reading it would be taken back to the joy of childhood memories, of those special times and places we all carry in our hearts. Sadly, after reading the comments, I find some people seemed only angry at the thought that people who believe in the truth of the Bible should enjoy the creation.
Having spent a number of years in the mindspace of Bill I can only say that it saddens me to think that he so sincerely believes in a lie. An angel of light can be very convincing but Jesus is indeed the only Way, Truth and Life. We keep saying it Bill because we long for those who have not met the Lord Jesus to come to know Him so that they too might share in His kingdom.
If you have met religious people who want to put you down I am sorry. That does not change the fact that Jesus is the only way to the Father and that He loves you more than you can ever imagine. The Koran is nothing like the Bible, there is only one person who ever walked this earth who died for your sin and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. He gave us the Bible not people, and He is the only One able to give us the gift of eternal life.
Because of sin we have to opt in to the eternal kingdom. Without Jesus' grace, mercy and love we are all destined for destruction. When the perfect kingdom is realised we would not be able to stand our own imperfection. Only Jesus has made it possible to be washed clean and made ready for the presence of our holy, pure and awesome God. May He open the eyes of all those who are seeking the truth.
Posted by: Pearl | August 21, 2008 5:15 PM
Thank you, Jim, for that wonderful story. In this time of rush-rush, it is good to get these stories. When my siblings and I were younger, our parents would rent cabins in various locations in MN, until they built their own one in MN. It was a great experience, and I loved the memories that you have given me back. Again thank you.
Jean
Posted by: Jean | August 21, 2008 5:47 PM
How excited I was for all of you as I read changing the backyard. How wonderful to be surrounded by God's power and beauty, with no distractions! Nothing is more refreshing. I'm thankful you have had time to rest and enjoy one another! May you continue to treasure those memories as you return to your own backyard! I think the boys will notice things around them in their own environment that they have never noticed before! Nature has come alive! Blessings to you all.
MWR
Posted by: MWR | August 21, 2008 6:08 PM
Your essay reminds me that the natural world is a Garden of Eden. Gardens are areas of peace and also of care. Care is what makes us human. When we experience nature as you described, we feel God's care for us.
Posted by: MLGB | August 21, 2008 7:11 PM
When I was a young man, seeking to know the "Real God", it was Thomas Aquinas who taught me that we know God by the world around us. All Nature and science crys out, "There is a God that created all things, big and small."
Seeing God in the vastness of the Universe and in the simplest of bugs is the first step in knowing God in our selves.
When we forget the God that creates bugs, we forget the God that died for us.
Seek God in all that surrounds us, even in the back ally of our minds. I too played in the streets of a city, but I lived just a few miles away from a long wooded area that teemed with wildlife. I spent hours in the quietness of the woods, enjoying life.
The Environment is our responsibility, God made us stewards of the world. This is God's playground.
Posted by: Paul, seeking wisdom | August 21, 2008 7:48 PM
I enjoyed reading this article. Who said play is frivolous?!?
Posted by: Cheryl Spencer from Lewes, Delaware | August 21, 2008 8:39 PM
Your mention of William Stringfellow reminded me of the only time I ever heard him - at a conference sponsored by Word in Houston in the early 70's. We were just back from eight years in Indonesia as missionaries during which time there was an attempted Communist coup that failed. My "patriotic" emotions were deeply offended by Stringfellow's reference to Washington as "Babylon on the Potomac." All I can say now is he was a prophet who was far more astute than I.
Posted by: Frank Wells | August 21, 2008 9:02 PM
Your mention of William Stringfellow reminded me of the only time I ever heard him - at a conference sponsored by Word in Houston in the early 70's. We were just back from eight years in Indonesia as missionaries during which time there was an attempted Communist coup that failed. My "patriotic" emotions were deeply offended by Stringfellow's reference to Washington as "Babylon on the Potomac." All I can say now is he was a prophet who was far more astute than I.
Posted by: Frank Wells | August 21, 2008 9:03 PM
Your mention of William Stringfellow reminded me of the only time I ever heard him - at a conference sponsored by Word in Houston in the early 70's. We were just back from eight years in Indonesia as missionaries during which time there was an attempted Communist coup that failed. My "patriotic" emotions were deeply offended by Stringfellow's reference to Washington as "Babylon on the Potomac." All I can say now is he was a prophet who was far more astute than I.
Posted by: Frank Wells | August 21, 2008 9:04 PM
Your mention of William Stringfellow reminded me of the only time I ever heard him - at a conference sponsored by Word in Houston in the early 70's. We were just back from eight years in Indonesia as missionaries during which time there was an attempted Communist coup that failed. My "patriotic" emotions were deeply offended by Stringfellow's reference to Washington as "Babylon on the Potomac." All I can say now is he was a prophet who was far more astute than I.
Posted by: Frank Wells | August 21, 2008 9:04 PM
I smelled the salt air, felt the wind in my hair, heard the seagulls cry. Thank you for sharing your remarkable gift. I'm in southwestern VA and I do miss the ocean but just before a rainstorm hits, the wind thru the pines sounds just like the waves hitting the shore and I'm "at the beach." Keep writing. Blessings on you and yours!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 21, 2008 9:14 PM
I smelled the salt air, felt the wind in my hair, heard the seagulls cry. Thank you for sharing your remarkable gift. I'm in southwestern VA and I do miss the ocean but just before a rainstorm hits, the wind thru the pines sounds just like the waves hitting the shore and I'm "at the beach." Keep writing. Blessings on you and yours!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 21, 2008 9:14 PM
I smelled the salt air, felt the wind in my hair, heard the seagulls cry. Thank you for sharing your remarkable gift. I'm in southwestern VA and I do miss the ocean but just before a rainstorm hits, the wind thru the pines sounds just like the waves hitting the shore and I'm "at the beach." Keep writing. Blessings on you and yours!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 21, 2008 9:14 PM
No reference to or thoughts about God, our Creator, the source of all beauty, the author of marriage and family, the One for whom we were made and who is worthy of all our worship and acknowledgment, whose glory is our chief and only worthwhile end?? I don't know Jim Wallis, but if God is his father, why does he write like an orphan? This piece could have come from any worldly writer in any worldly magazine. Is this group supposed to be Christian? Is there any core of worship going on anywhere here with this organization and its representatives? I can admire a nice piece of writing, but where is Brother Lawrence when you need him??
Posted by: Diane | August 21, 2008 10:48 PM
We have been going to BIRI as a family for 35 years now and our 32 year old son continues to come from wherever he may be, east or west coast, to spend some of that time with us. One of the great gifts we have given him is his attachment to BI and it is exactly as Jim describes it. I too feel relieved of the routines of normal life as soon as the ferry leaves the dock at Point Judith. The sun, the moon, the stars, the wind, the ocean, indeed of of God's beauty is revealed in all its glory. I jst returned from our annual visit a week ago and Jim's article brought it all back. Thanks
Posted by: Roger Nelson | August 22, 2008 12:33 AM
We have been going to BIRI as a family for 35 years now and our 32 year old son continues to come from wherever he may be, east or west coast, to spend some of that time with us. One of the great gifts we have given him is his attachment to BI and it is exactly as Jim describes it. I too feel relieved of the routines of normal life as soon as the ferry leaves the dock at Point Judith. The sun, the moon, the stars, the wind, the ocean, indeed of of God's beauty is revealed in all its glory. I jst returned from our annual visit a week ago and Jim's article brought it all back. Thanks
Posted by: Roger Nelson | August 22, 2008 12:33 AM
Sitting at my computer this wet dreary morning I suddenly feel refreshed. Thank you Jim!
Posted by: splinterlog | August 22, 2008 10:53 AM
Diane wrote:
"No reference to or thoughts about God, our Creator, the source of all beauty, the author of marriage and family, the One for whom we were made and who is worthy of all our worship and acknowledgment, whose glory is our chief and only worthwhile end?? I don't know Jim Wallis, but if God is his father, why does he write like an orphan? This piece could have come from any worldly writer in any worldly magazine. Is this group supposed to be Christian? Is there any core of worship going on anywhere here with this organization and its representatives? I can admire a nice piece of writing, but where is Brother Lawrence when you need him??"
Well, Diane, if the site was lacking in any way in Christian love, I'm sure that your contribution adds the Christian touch too it.
Posted by: Sister Marie | August 22, 2008 11:17 AM
Sitting at my computer this wet dreary morning I suddenly feel refreshed.
splinterlog, if we had a wet morning today, we'd all be refreshed! Send some of that rain our way--it's been very dry around here.
Peace,
Posted by: Don | August 22, 2008 11:25 AM
Diane: ""No reference to or thoughts about God, our Creator, the source of all beauty, the author of marriage and family, the One for whom we were made and who is worthy of all our worship and acknowledgment, whose glory is our chief and only worthwhile end?? I don't know Jim Wallis, but if God is his father, why does he write like an orphan? This piece could have come from any worldly writer in any worldly magazine. Is this group supposed to be Christian? Is there any core of worship going on anywhere here with this organization and its representatives? I can admire a nice piece of writing, but where is Brother Lawrence when you need him??"
I was wondering how someone would criticize this very nice piece of writing. Thank you, Diane, for supplying the answer.
Posted by: carl copas | August 22, 2008 12:05 PM
Thank you so much for reminding me of why I always loved spending time camping during the summers. The quiet peace of God's world with the wonder of the heavens displayed at night and the earth during the day. Your story brought me great peace. Thank you.
Posted by: Dotty Charlson | August 22, 2008 12:12 PM
Greetings, Jim!
Your opener, about the alley playground, caught my attention. My kids grew up in Hyde Park in Chicago, and had a wood-brick alley out back as their playground. We also went on great nature trips, car camping in Minnesota and the Rockies, back-packing in the Sierras, and on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Thanks for bringing back these memories.
And thanks for the good work you do!
Conrad
Posted by: Conrad Steinhoff | August 22, 2008 12:31 PM
I'm with Carl and Sister Marie re. Diane's comments: how could writing about time spent among God's beauty in creation be considered failure to acknowledge the source?
The entire book of Esther makes no mention of God's name. But when reading it, we certainly can recognize God's hand guiding the events narrated therein.
Peace,
Posted by: Don | August 22, 2008 12:34 PM
Don, I'm sending wet weather wishes your way.
Posted by: splinterlog | August 22, 2008 1:07 PM
You like baseball? Good man. Maybe you're not as Liberal as I thought you were.
Posted by: DITE
His favorite player is Lefty Grove . ;0)
Posted by: Michael | August 22, 2008 1:18 PM
I was wondering how someone would criticize this very nice piece of writing. Thank you, Diane, for supplying the answer.
Posted by: carl copas
Ahhh , when you start out with an us against them mentality , then switch to a time of just joyous sharing , don't expect the aginst them folks to jump to attention and follow the path . The prejudice felt Carl is actually because of the mind set of us against them , honestly I believe I can say the following comment did not seem to bother you , or cause you to speak out ?
I believe thinking about why it did not is why I find your comments not quite on target .
Gary's comment above stated
"Greedy,selfish,hypocrites,etc. Those that claim to be Evangelical Christians who vote against health care for the poor, yet they give corporate welfare to the rich and the super rich."
See what I mean Carl , quite the conversation stopper .But I do agree with the premise for this organization , but it just appears to be a political based and dividing organization .
Some Christians appear to have the answers , some don't and have their beliefs made to appear narrow . Looks what happens to any socio group when depicted as that ?
Any suggestions for a site that talks about such pro found issues as this one , but perhaps a bit more even handed and accepting of both views ? Or the views that come in between ?
God Bless,
Posted by: Michael | August 22, 2008 1:32 PM
I waited with bated breath for someone to defend Diane. Thank you, Michael, for coming through.
Let's see if I have this straight: Gary says something nasty that is entirely off-topic. So Diane is justified in a Pharisaic attack on Jim's pleasant, innocuous piece. Yes, that's living the Golden Rule; non-Christians must be most impressed.
Posted by: carl copas | August 22, 2008 2:56 PM
Jim,
Your new backyard post is a gem. Thank you for taking us "there" with you. It sounds like a bit of heaven on earth, the way we wish life was for every single person on the planet. May you and your fam have many more such adventures together. These moments are so brief. Capturing them in writing keeps them with us.
-Kim
Seattle, WA
Posted by: Kim | August 22, 2008 4:02 PM
Jim,
Please accept my thanks for your post. Sometimes, it is beneficial to simply isolate ourselves from all of the things that would detract us from enjoying God's wonderful creation. No TV, no cell phone - just enjoying the sounds of nature on the beach or in the woods. Though my weekend has not yet began, you have set the mood for what I hope will be a very relaxing time.
Posted by: Sister Marie | August 22, 2008 4:14 PM
So Diane is justified in a Pharisaic attack on Jim's pleasant, innocuous piece. Yes, that's living the Golden Rule; non-Christians must be most impressed.
Posted by: carl copas
Carl it apears to me you proved my point .I defended no one , pointed out your need or desire , maybe both , to show the rath of fairness and kindness against someone insulting your host . But not actually noticing or being bothered by the other insulting post that promoted no golden rule that i am aware of and insulted everyone who did not agree with him . My point again , if you accept one and say nothing , but are itolerant of the other , it appears you are picking sides . Which political sides do , but you injecting God and the Golden Rule into , well i would wonder why your not showing it ?
You expected someone to defend Diane ?
I am pretty sure from a Godly Point of view , God , would be against both rants as being quite out of line .?
It was because the person who was only insulting the host caused you anger , actually both posts were out of line , and of course the golden rule you live by appears to make sure which deserved your rath .
I disagree with both of those posts , and now yours . How insulting those who feel insulted can get .
I thought it was clear , and in fact quite courteous if you re read it with out assuming the worse .
Its why I said God Bless at the end ,
I am not as righteous and noble as the folks here , I tend to grumble that and not mean it when I am mad .
But I am working on that among other things .
Perhaps working on your example could be something I could pray for you also .
.
Posted by: Michael | August 23, 2008 2:31 AM
Michael, I can't make heads or tails of what point you're trying to make. But I always appreciate prayer.
Posted by: carl copas | August 23, 2008 12:48 PM
Michael, I can't make heads or tails of what point you're trying to make. But I always appreciate prayer.
Posted by: carl copas |
More or less Carl ,
If I only refuted someone's nastiness against say a John McCain , but said nothing about the person next to him who was speaking about Barak being a Muslim threat , that would have nothing to do with much except politic and politicial lotalty.
I rebuke not natiness , only nastiness directed against what I favor .
Now if I refuted both , talked about the Golden Rule , I believe it would be a better forum to discuss and share ideas in a manner pleasing to the Lord .
Nevermind I guess. I must be deep .
Posted by: Michael | August 23, 2008 1:00 PM
I was impressed by the way in which everyone ignored Gary's vitriolic (and totally irrelevant to this thread) post. A pity that Michael had to remind us of it.
Could I suggest to Diane, now that she's got her gripe about the abesnce of any explicit mention of God off her chest, that she swaps Brother Francis for Brother Lawrence. He, so Bonaventure tells, "rejoiced in all the works of the Lord's hands and from these joy-producing manifestations he rose to their life-giving principle and cause. In beautiful things he saw Beauty itself and through his vestiges imprinted on creationhe followed his beloved everywhere, making from all things a ladder by which he could climb up and embrace him who is utterly desirable."
It seems to me that, for most of the posters on this thread, Jim Wallis's post has done just that. So thank God for it - and let each of us reflect on how we can rejoice and reverence the Lord's handiwork in practice.
Posted by: Tony Dickinson | August 23, 2008 2:34 PM
I'm all for all of us reading Jim's post again and letting it stew inside us till we figure out what it is about our reactions that teaches us more about holiness than we knew before we read it.
I've gone, in devotions, recently, from John of the Cross to Theresa of Avila to Francis of Assisi to Julian of Norwich and they all have incredible stories about the holy peace of humility. They assume there isn't anything we can't learn from or be blessed by unless we set ourselves too high to get a God's-eye view.
What bigger invitation to humility can there be than reading someone else's story, assuming she/he has pointed us in the direction of wisdom, and setting ourselves out to find it?
Posted by: openeyes | August 24, 2008 8:24 PM
Tony
Too bad one post was ignored , and lets remind everyone of Diane;s post .
Its not logical.
Posted by: Michael | August 26, 2008 12:36 AM
It was a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing
Posted by: Pat | September 24, 2008 4:03 PM
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