Re: [pf] A new list serve

by Jill Taylor Bussiere

29 December 2000 22:25 UTC

Betsy,
    Your third way is a good way to go.  I do find myself caught in a
pendulum between the other two presently.  When I am centered, the third way
is present, but when I am knocking back and forth, it is hard to get there.
Yet it is the only place that has intrinsic meaning, and we humans sure seem
to look for meaning of some sort or another.  The meaning, though, is not a
concrete one, or a truth, or law, but rather a presence, at least to me.
    The only thing that I would differ on is trusting that "this course will
lead to the best possible outcome for oneself and for the universe, even
while not knowing what that outcome will be".  I can not trust that the
outcome will be the best for all, but only that we can try to seek that
presence in the moment of whatever outcome unfolds.  That there are things
of beauty and love in the midst of whatever course the universe takes.
                                Jill

I'd hold for a
> third way, perhaps it could be called the way of mindfulness, that dwells
in
> full awareness of the danger and practices integrity--living according to
one's
> personal values--in every moment, not focusing on any particular outcome
("the
> world as we know it will end," or "everything will be fine") but focusing
> rather on being fully engaged in life right now. And trusting, perhaps,
that
> this course will lead to the best possible outcome for oneself and for the
> universe, even while not knowing what that outcome will be.
>
> My random thoughts for a beautiful, white and sparkly post-snowstorm day,
> shoveling out of 8 inches that fell yesterday. *Greatly* enjoying the cold
and
> the snow, since after 4 mild winters in a row I wondered whether we'd ever
have
> a "real" winter again! (my pessimism about global warming) Wondering if I
> should brush off the yew bushes which are heavily snow-laden, but so
beautiful
> that way. Enjoying greatly watching a cardinal couple and extended
families of
> sparrows and purple house finches sitting in the buckthorn fluffing out
their
> feathers to stay warm at 10 degrees so they look like little balls. (I
know the
> buckthorn is a pest, but it's in my neighbor's yard, and I've spoken to
him in
> vain about removing it. And the birds do love it!)
>
> Betsy
>