I felt in need of a great pilgrimage
So I sat still for three days
And God came to me
~Kabir
Apparently I’m harder to find than Kabir because I waited for three months. Or maybe I just enjoyed the wait. I’d like to say I’ve come back to blogworld with profound insights to share, having fully awakened into Buddhahood. Maybe there were some enlightened moments, but mostly I just savored the summer.
It has been a time of experience rather than thought, contemplation rather than reflection, action rather than reaction, waiting rather forcing.
I’ve spent glorious time at my cabin, which is, in fact, where I am right now, scribbling on a notepad as I sit on the deck, listening to the creek’s song as the sun dances on the water.
Time spent in meditation has expanded along with time practicing martial arts, which, to me, is meditation in motion.
Nana time with my grandson has also increased as I’ve stepped in to support my daughter, whose work schedule doesn’t always fit within daycare hours. (That is my little prince in the photo above, joy walking in a downtown fountain.)
And of course, there has been time in the company of friends and family, enjoying tea in the garden, walks along the river, and dinners around the picnic table.
As my blog break stretched beyond the initial month I had planned, I gave myself permission to see what unfolded. Since “wait” is my word of the year, it seemed a perfect opportunity to embrace it. One month became two, then three. Then, lo and behold, my fingers started itching to get back on the keyboard.
So now I’m back, grateful for the most wonderful summer I can remember, and looking forward to reconnecting. Perhaps you would consider sharing something of the last three months in a comment. Is there an image or phrase that describes this time for you? A defining moment? A challenge? A special memory? An opportunity to practice your word of the year?
The following verse captures my experience of the last three months:
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
~Isaiah 40:31
Your turn!
related posts: Word of the Year 2013; Step Away from the Thought; Tapping of the Heart
Hi Galen, glad to hear you had a nice summer. Our winter is drawing to an end and I cannot wait to enjoy warmer weather :)
ReplyDeleteNelieta, Where do you live? I have several blog friends in the southern hemisphere. It's always so interesting to talk about our opposite seasons. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteI'm so glad these three months have been "the most wonderful summer" you can remember! I have missed your blogs so much, but I can sense in reading this one that your break was sorely needed and that you have emerged refreshed and once again ready to write.
ReplyDeleteOh, and that little grandboy of yours? What a doll!
Love and blessings, Galen!
Martha, I've missed you, too. I'll be right over to see what you've been up to. Thanks for the welcome back.
Delete"Good things come to those who wait."
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Galen! I'm so happy for all that you have gained in three months :D And I think that stretching the time has made a lot of difference :) ~'savoring' ~ I love that word.
"Spring" ~ that's how I describe the last months that I have :) and if we talk about seasons, there is a proper time for each one so just like you, it was worth the wait :)
Defining moment was the revelation of myself and accepting my past.
Challenge ~ to keep my prayer time on fixed schedules with friends and spiritual companions :)
THANK YOU!!! I definitely enjoyed your post and I know you'll be sharing more these days :) Lots of love
melissa, Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the last several months in your life. I share your challenge about keeping to a regular schedule for prayer and meditation. We'll both work on it! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteWelcome Back. What a beautiful grandson. They are so precious at that age. I am glad you enjoyed your blog break. My favorite part of my summer was the two week visit my granddaughters had at our home.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, Thanks! Glad you had some fun with your grandchildren, too, this summer. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteSo good to hear from you again! And I'm so glad that you have had a wonderful summer in so many ways. I love how your word "wait" guided you.
ReplyDeleteMy summer has been one of learning lessons about letting go, especially of judgments of others and expectations of others and circumstances. I'm still learning, of course, but I believe I've started on the right path to make some much-needed changes.
Your little grandson is precious! He's walking with such purpose! :-)
Tina, Thanks for sharing your summer lessons. Yes, my little guy is pretty wonderful. I love this photo of him because he looks like he is on top of the world. As his other grandmother says, he is the captain of his ship! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteGlad you are back, Galen. I'm currently taking a break from public blogging. (I have a private blog as well - but I never tire of that place) Sometimes we do need to back away from things and give ourselves space to grow. Glad you summer was fulfilling.
ReplyDeleteNicole, I'd love to hear more about your break when you are ready to share about it. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteWhat else can I say but welcome back. You were sorely missed. I know your summer of "wait" was vital to you and am very pleased you now feel the the time is right to reconnect.
ReplyDeleteBob, Thanks, and thanks for helping to make my summer so great with your and Betty's visit.
DeleteIt's so great to have a dear friend back on my computer! I've missed your uplifting thoughts and positive presence. You made our time in Portland priceless!
DeleteCongratulations on allowing your wait to go as long as it needed to.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda.
DeleteHI Galen, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you back. It's like a colleague at work :) although blogging or writing doesn't often feel like work, the blogosphere does feel like a work place. And when a colleague with so much wisdom disappears, you miss her. a lot :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. So i've gone from forgiveness, to acceptance, to healing (still in the process) Also, a better understanding of self and purpose. I think I've had heck of a summer of growth. My online and offline friends and mentors have come into my life to truly guide me and help with the healing process. Thank you universe, God and divine friends:)
Vishnu, Thanks for your kind words. It feels good to be back. You have had an intense period in your own life this year. Moving from forgiveness to acceptance to healing is covering a lot of ground! I've enjoyed catching up on your posts. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteHello, so nice to see you back. Wonderful to hear that your summer has been a really good one. Your little grandson is so sweet. Summer here has been a quiet one, well as quiet as it gets with four children ;-). We have stayed in Norway and planned from day to day, living at a slower pace, no shedules, less money spent, more peace. The best summer in years. My one word that summs up the now past season is " family". Otherwize my mind is full of thoughts around decluttering my life, mentally and physically. I still have one leg in the rat race society has become and l want out. People tare through life at an exhausting pace in search of more money, status and recognition. I just don't want to live my life that way. As we step into a new season the key words for me are "letting go". Blessings Pam
ReplyDeletePam, "family" and "letting go" are two powerful concepts. I'm so glad the summer has been good for you. A summer in Norway sounds wonderful. I have never been to Scandinavia, but I have some friends who are Swedish, and I love hearing about their home, especially in the summer! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteWelcome home Galen. It's wonderful that you 'allowed' yourself the time you needed. Listening to our inner guidance makes life flow in easier, kinder and gentler ways. If we'd only pay attention and stop messing in the middle.
ReplyDeleteLove those little ones. Just holding their tiny hands brings such joy. No wonder you had such a wonderful summer in the company of a little joy bringer.
Elle, I love the phrase you used "joy bringer." It reminds me of a title used in Ananda church--"light bearer." You've inspired me to want to be a joy bringer, too. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteWelcome home Galen. How wonderful that you listened to your inner guidance and took all the time you needed. If only we'd all do that more often life would flow in much easier, kinder, gentler ways.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise to me you had such a joyful summer. Simply holding hands with our tiny ones is enough to feel great. They're such little joy bringers.
Elle, and thanks for commenting again! I suspect that you wrote this second comment when the first one did not appear immediately. I have enable comment moderation, which means that I see the comments first. I do this to avoid spam comments, but it does result in a delay until I see your comment. Sorry for that.
DeleteWe all need a break sometimes, and it sounds as if yours has been both rewarding and rejuvenating. I look forward to your future posts!
ReplyDeleteTom, Thanks so much!
DeleteGood to see you back Galen and I am also back with MakeGirlfriends.com- but this time in a new revamped way - it's all about "being the change you want to see in this world"....so I too had a year break from blogging and much needed. As for this summer - yes I totally enjoyed since my blog did not launch until 8/5/13 - so all new and improved!
ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear you had such a spendid summer of contemplation and reveling in the beauty of your cabin and family and friends.
As for me - I too am in a waiting mode - I believe I have adopted that word in the last month....just WAIT!
Hugs and love to you!
Nancy
Nancy, I will look forward to checking out your new direction. I remember that you took a long break, and I was inspired by your attitude towards that and how you modeled being true to yourself. Hope that "wait" will be as meaningful a word to you as it has been to me. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteHi Galen! Good to see you back. It's interesting how you have stayed with your word, wait, and still see how it is impacting your life.
ReplyDeleteI think my mandate for this year was to just get through the first year since Alex's passing. The past three months, June, July and August, were difficult but we got through them. And as I've said before, something like this isn't something you get through - it's something that changes you.
I'm gearing up for my favourite season now, getting serious about work. I love the energy of the fall.
:-)
Lori
Lori, I understand what you mean about being changed by a major life event rather than getting over or through it. It becomes part of the fabric of your life, always there, woven in. I love your posts about Alex, and the photos you have shared. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteIt's wonderful to see you back here, especially as so many of us, may not have left completely, but summer and life does get in the way of blogging so often. It's been a blessing to see your posts on Facebook too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen. I'm glad you have been enjoying my daily posts on FB and I have appreciated your "likes" and comments there. Those posts will continue through this year. Hope you have had a great summer. Thanks so much for commenting.
DeleteGlad to have you and your wisdom back!
ReplyDeleteMerci, my friend. I look forward to catching up.
DeleteSo nice to see you back here again, Galen! I was lucky enough to get to talk to you in the meantime, but I missed you anyway. Looking forward to more of your signature wisdom, and to see what the rest of the year brings for you.
ReplyDeleteI might just sneak off to that cabin of yours while you're not looking, though. Wait for it. :-)
Jennifer, I am also glad I got to visit with you during my break. And you never have to sneak off to my cabin. You have an open invitation! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteI'm so glad you are back! I think it probably took more than 3 months for Kabir too so no worries there. We just have to keep with it. So lovely to "see" you.
ReplyDeleteSandra, Very funny! Then I guess I'm in good company. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteI am so happy you are back; I have missed reading your enlightening posts. I myself am thinking I need more meditation time. Your summer seemed so refreshing and I look forward to more of your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYour closing quote was the best and I recognize that I have been impatient with my struggles and have not been waiting upon the Lord with faith in his plan for me.
I loved this one!
Blessings and hugs to you~
LeAnn, Thanks for the kind words. I love that verse, and every now and then I need to remind myself of its wisdom. Thanks for commenting.
Delete