Gentleness is:
Treading lightly on the earth.
A line in nature's liturgy.
A way to be,
a way to show up,
a gateway into "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding."
A fruit of the Spirit.
Interwoven into the fabric of a spiritually mature person's life who is kind and loving.
Mysteriously emerges from times of
silence
solitude
and stillness.
A path.
Dictionary definitions:
"Considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender."
"Not harsh or severe; mild and soft."
- - -
Gentleness plays a major role in contemplation.As many times as I turn away,
or get distracted from abiding,
I can return.....gently.
- - -
Society is hooked on violence and I am complicit in so many ways.
Note to self re: gentleness - - do no harm!
Being driven and obsessed is not gentle.
Gentleness is like an older,
wiser, travel companion who
by their very presence
reminds me to slow down
and enjoy the journey.
- - -
If I want to get in touch (with gentleness) I can:
Observe and learn from my mentors the trees as they simply stand tall in the winter mist.
Be gentle.
Walk softly
Walk aware
Walk as if I am on holy ground.
Feel cold air on my face as it touches my cheeks like a feather.
Let the sweet smell of mountain air lightly touch the inside of my nose and surprise me with its heavenly aroma.
Stop once and a while to abide in naked being.
Watch cottonwood float through the air in springtime.
"Consider the Lillie's of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin."
3 comments:
I love the link between gentleness and walking softly... our body's image in movement and projection do mirror our hearts/minds dispositions... something that can't lie... except to be covered up by an excellent actor! Gentleness (meekness) a beatitude needs to be nurtured through our faith and believing to receiving... as the lies shed away and correct thinking are wrought through relationship with God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Gentleness can always grow for non-deity beings because we will never arrive... there is no line on the horizon!
Thanks for adding to the conversation Rene.
Gentleness was my word for last year - in retrospect, I think now I did not do justice to my word - but instead of beating myself to death, will be gentle and add it to my word for this year - explore. Explore and gentleness will be good companions. If it is alright with you, I will print a copy of this word to place on bulletin board above my computer. As Jesuits like to say, I think i need to "chew" on it for awhile.
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