I write this on the Feast of the Baptism of Jesusthe last day of the Christmas season.
This "deep stillness" card fell out of an old book I am re-reading. Thus it became part of my Christmas altar. I still "sort of" celebrate Christmas (in my own way) until February 2, which is the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas Day). I am no longer in touch with Reid, the friend who created this card so long ago. I love it when "old things" show up in my life.
Along with Reid's "deep stillness" design I chose one of my favorite Christmas cards of a modern day Madonna. It, too, is a card from the past sent to me by a long lasting though seldom seen friend, Nicholas. I often save a few cards for my treasure chest. I love finding old memories tucked away in special places. Every Christmas I pull out a few old memories; people from my past return and spend time on my holiday and holy day altar.
This Advent I spent hours dwelling on the quote, "DEEP STILLNESS BLOSSOMS." Perhaps it is because I have such an intense longing for stillness. Actually, with practice, the stillness can be found everywhere and anywhere, even in the midst of a busy mall or a flock of magpies, although that is not my favorite place to practice stillness. The deeper the stillness, the greater the possibility of the blossoming. The blossoms come later--often, after one has almost forgotten the deep stillness. You wake up some morning and you are greeted by a new blossom.
The blossoming seems to be the fruit of the stillness.
The "deep stillness" is a kind of womb we cannot live without.
As we grow further away from our mother's womb
we find new wombs to hold us.
~~new wombs to sustain and nurture us~~
Haunting memories lead us toward a depth we once enjoyed.
Deep Stillness infuses us and the blossoms become visible.
An inquisitive mind, an open heart,
a childlike trust, a yearning for the Divine:
all of these are like fertilizer for the waiting blossoms.
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If you are reading this and don't quite understand what I am trying to say, try saying it in your own words and you will fathom the depths of these simple words.
