Sunday Musings - February 16, 2020
On Sunday mornings I like to review the week. Each day I begin the day with a clear, specific spiritual intention. My spiritual intention focuses on some aspect of my behavior which I hope will come a little closer to being the person l want to be; a little closer to leaving a footprint which is built on the lessons of my ancestors and the promise of the generations to follow.
Most weeks, as was this one, are very routine; at least routine for me. I am not a refugee attempting to find a safe place for me and my family; a person living and serving with a force in a combat area; a person grieving the loss of a long-term partner, parent or child or, the gods forbid a candidate for president. I am living a very ordinary life with more blessings than I could have earned; more than my share.
Seth Godin in his blog today reminds the reader that most music and art is a repeat or a copy of what one has done before. He reminds us, for example, that “Every once in a while, Pablo Picasso painted a daring work of art. But most of his 10000 paintings rhymed with the ones he he’d done before. In his words ‘I often paint fakes.”
Rabbi Joshua Lief of Temple Shalom in Wheeling, West Virginia in an editorial in the Wheeling News Register reminds the readers of the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat celebrating the bounty of nature. He also reminds us of the value of taking some time in public to thank the “Source of Life, Spirit of the Universe, or Nature’s God” or some other inclusive term for that which cannot be named for the bounty we enjoy and the blessing of being citizens of this imperfect community.
Mike Meyers reminds the reader in that same newspaper of the blessings of “mavericks” such as the late H. John Rogers.
It is easy to choreograph the dance of the Pollyanna ignoring all the injustice and pain of the world. It is also easy to choregraph the dance of the hopeless doomsayer. Politicians, some clergy and this human are adept at both of those dances. Yet, I am aware of the amazing bounty of my routine week while acknowledging both my own personal shortcomings and misdeeds as well as the often very poor job we humans do in sharing the bounty which is available.
Today I will join with Rabbi Lief in giving thanks for the bounty; the bounty of another day of opportunity to give thanks for and to move closer to creating a more just world; the opportunity for me to accept my own fumbling and imperfect attempt to be the human I strive to be.
Written February 16, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org\
On Sunday mornings I like to review the week. Each day I begin the day with a clear, specific spiritual intention. My spiritual intention focuses on some aspect of my behavior which I hope will come a little closer to being the person l want to be; a little closer to leaving a footprint which is built on the lessons of my ancestors and the promise of the generations to follow.
Most weeks, as was this one, are very routine; at least routine for me. I am not a refugee attempting to find a safe place for me and my family; a person living and serving with a force in a combat area; a person grieving the loss of a long-term partner, parent or child or, the gods forbid a candidate for president. I am living a very ordinary life with more blessings than I could have earned; more than my share.
Seth Godin in his blog today reminds the reader that most music and art is a repeat or a copy of what one has done before. He reminds us, for example, that “Every once in a while, Pablo Picasso painted a daring work of art. But most of his 10000 paintings rhymed with the ones he he’d done before. In his words ‘I often paint fakes.”
Rabbi Joshua Lief of Temple Shalom in Wheeling, West Virginia in an editorial in the Wheeling News Register reminds the readers of the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat celebrating the bounty of nature. He also reminds us of the value of taking some time in public to thank the “Source of Life, Spirit of the Universe, or Nature’s God” or some other inclusive term for that which cannot be named for the bounty we enjoy and the blessing of being citizens of this imperfect community.
Mike Meyers reminds the reader in that same newspaper of the blessings of “mavericks” such as the late H. John Rogers.
It is easy to choreograph the dance of the Pollyanna ignoring all the injustice and pain of the world. It is also easy to choregraph the dance of the hopeless doomsayer. Politicians, some clergy and this human are adept at both of those dances. Yet, I am aware of the amazing bounty of my routine week while acknowledging both my own personal shortcomings and misdeeds as well as the often very poor job we humans do in sharing the bounty which is available.
Today I will join with Rabbi Lief in giving thanks for the bounty; the bounty of another day of opportunity to give thanks for and to move closer to creating a more just world; the opportunity for me to accept my own fumbling and imperfect attempt to be the human I strive to be.
Written February 16, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org\
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