Sound Peace

Can Time Skip a Beat?

The most familiar kind of time is easy to fill with work – a routine kind of time that doesn’t ask questions.  But what about the other kind of time that lets the spirit shine through (whatever that is), so essential, and so elusive?

How can we find that moment between the seconds, a moment beyond the so-many-somethings demanding to be done? Those somethings can be so good at telling us they’re more important than a beckoning sunset or warm evening breeze. But today, twilight has triumphed. Something must wait for nothing, because nothing is more wondrous than the whispering touch of that twilight breeze, just as the stars appear.

-- David Gordon

Sometimes No Means Yes

Do you ever feel it’s hard to say no, because you want your “everyone” to get what they want and find happiness?  Sometimes saying yes to every request doesn’t bring the positivity we intend; trying too hard to wish "yes" into being when it's not in the flow can clog up the whole thing.  This question comes up with creativity and inspiration too.  Sometimes just-plain-hard-work is what the creative spirit calls forth.  When that happens, it feels good to go with it. But trying to push the spirit to create too fast will not bring the fruit, only time and the sun and rain can do that.  In the garden, this lesson is learned again and again.

Too much fertilizer brings fast growth and at first, seems to bring health. But it’s an illusion. Tender new growth that comes too fast is a tasty meal to the pests.  When the soil is nutritious and balanced, rich with the stories of life that has come before and moved on, the growth will be strong in its own time; there will still be pests but they will not overrun.

Pushing too hard will not get us there faster, only harder.  A simple “no” when it's needed can work wonders, open space and time for inspiration, let the breath quiet and the new song be heard.

Don’t be deceived by what seems to be common sense...  the idea that “no” is always negative.  When “no” protects your Self from overwhelm, then it becomes positive –  a “no” that says “yes” to your life. 

-- David Gordon