It was a moment I can only describe as grace. Yesterday, after I had finished my accounting, glued some House Blessings, and surveyed my long list for the next task to accomplish, I took boxes out onto the lawn to paint gold for 100 Fortunes. Having done that, I looked up. Bees were busily feasting in the lavender, a gentle breeze was moving through the trees, a woodpecker was tapping in the oaks, and I heard my inner voice declare, “enough.”
I stood up to take in all that I have been missing, my mind on other things.
The other day, Ivan Granger included this thought in a Poetry Chaikhana mailing:
What we call the ego
is the individual’s particular way
of not being fully present.
Isn’t that well said?
In my book, The Abundance of Grace, I wrote,
Grace is often found in surrendering our plans,
letting go the need for perfection,
giving up impossible ideals,
and humbling ourselves before the mystery…
~Ingrid Goff-Maidoff.
As I declared, “enough”, I was able to let go my list. I humbled myself before the mystery, wandered the garden, taking photos, and marvelling at the beauty all around me. And I am so glad I did! I will post more excerpts on grace next.
Good for you, Ingrid, that you were quiet enough to hear your inner voice and then for heeding it’s message! Your photos and words are lovely. Thank you!
Ingrid,
This is just lovely and such a good reminder for us to stop and look up and around. Beauty awaits. I love the thought of “enough.” Of having enough, being enough, doing just enough. May we all be self-satisfied…
Ingrid, what a lovely post! The thought of “enough” is perfect. Your photos are exquisite. Beauty and grace do await us all if we but stop to breathe and take it in. Thank you! xo