Gratitude: Where Healing the Earth Begins
By Joanna Macy
Shambhala Sun, November 2007
By Joanna Macy
Shambhala Sun, November 2007
I stopped by my local bookstore this evening on the way home from work. Keely's off to her mother's until Friday, and I'm free to run around the house in my underwear without being yelled at. (Hey neighbors! You thought the full moon had set? HAH!) Of course, I make no promises that I'll publish this post without some type of typographical errors, (or saying something to subject me to the wrath of Keely) but I'll give it a shot!
Joanna Macy's article was the first thing I opened the magazine to as I took it out of the bag. I thought what a wonderful quote to use for this posting. So sitting down with my laptop, Star Trek Voyager playing on the TV in the background, and The Ramones singing "Beat on the Brat with a Baseball Bat", I went totally blank.
I'll speak to Macy's quote latter this week, but something more important came to my mind, based upon this experience. I remember hearing David Wolfe talk once about how he tried to use every minute, in every way possible. At that time when he ate his breakfast, he'd sit reading a book.
How many of us will sit and watch TV while eating, or think about how we'll get the kids to soccer, softball, baseball, that meeting with their parole officer, bible class, or an myriad of other topics? (I wonder how many of you just passed over the parole officer without a second thought?)
This isn't the first time, or the last time, I'll refer to Buddhism. I'm not out to convert anyone, as it is not a religion but a way of thought. It helps me center my thoughts when the world gives the illusion of spinning out of control. Buddhism talks about living in the present, and dealing with that which is before you.
When we listen to our child, spouse, coworker, or fellow human, we should listen, and not think about our next appointment, or meal.
When we walk down the street, we should put one foot in front of the other, feeling the slap of our foot on the concrete or earth.
When we pick up an apple, and bite into its flesh, we should experience our teeth cutting through the skin. We should embrace the gift of how readily the flesh gives of its juices to provide nourishment to our bodies. We should taste the earth that grew the tree, and the rain which watered the tree to produce the fruit we eat.
No matter what we ingest we should honor, and thank the food for what it gives us. Not only should we honor the fruits of the earth, but we should honor our body by picking the right fuel to provide the nourishment our body needs to carry it through life.
Never think that the foods that I eat, or any "raw foods guru" says you must eat for proper nourishment is correct. We are each individuals, and must discover that which is best to maintain our body in proper relationship to our environment. I don't believe that an Eskimo could exist on the same diet that someone living along the Amazon would need to survive.
Don't try to pack every activity known to humanity into your day. When you eat, try doing nothing but eating. Listen to that which you ingest, and honor those who brought it to your table. Experience your food, don't inhale your food.
Through right action, the enzyme rich foods will digest easier, and provide that needed to enhance your lifestyle.
Oh, and don't play the Ramones while eating or typing. There's a time and a place for everything. Punk rock does absolutely nothing for the digestion, or your train of thought. Might not help the headache either.
Joanna Macy's article was the first thing I opened the magazine to as I took it out of the bag. I thought what a wonderful quote to use for this posting. So sitting down with my laptop, Star Trek Voyager playing on the TV in the background, and The Ramones singing "Beat on the Brat with a Baseball Bat", I went totally blank.
I'll speak to Macy's quote latter this week, but something more important came to my mind, based upon this experience. I remember hearing David Wolfe talk once about how he tried to use every minute, in every way possible. At that time when he ate his breakfast, he'd sit reading a book.
How many of us will sit and watch TV while eating, or think about how we'll get the kids to soccer, softball, baseball, that meeting with their parole officer, bible class, or an myriad of other topics? (I wonder how many of you just passed over the parole officer without a second thought?)
This isn't the first time, or the last time, I'll refer to Buddhism. I'm not out to convert anyone, as it is not a religion but a way of thought. It helps me center my thoughts when the world gives the illusion of spinning out of control. Buddhism talks about living in the present, and dealing with that which is before you.
When we listen to our child, spouse, coworker, or fellow human, we should listen, and not think about our next appointment, or meal.
When we walk down the street, we should put one foot in front of the other, feeling the slap of our foot on the concrete or earth.
When we pick up an apple, and bite into its flesh, we should experience our teeth cutting through the skin. We should embrace the gift of how readily the flesh gives of its juices to provide nourishment to our bodies. We should taste the earth that grew the tree, and the rain which watered the tree to produce the fruit we eat.
No matter what we ingest we should honor, and thank the food for what it gives us. Not only should we honor the fruits of the earth, but we should honor our body by picking the right fuel to provide the nourishment our body needs to carry it through life.
Never think that the foods that I eat, or any "raw foods guru" says you must eat for proper nourishment is correct. We are each individuals, and must discover that which is best to maintain our body in proper relationship to our environment. I don't believe that an Eskimo could exist on the same diet that someone living along the Amazon would need to survive.
Don't try to pack every activity known to humanity into your day. When you eat, try doing nothing but eating. Listen to that which you ingest, and honor those who brought it to your table. Experience your food, don't inhale your food.
Through right action, the enzyme rich foods will digest easier, and provide that needed to enhance your lifestyle.
Oh, and don't play the Ramones while eating or typing. There's a time and a place for everything. Punk rock does absolutely nothing for the digestion, or your train of thought. Might not help the headache either.
1 comment:
Some good food for thought!
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