“Today I’m flying low and I’m
not saying a word
I’m letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep.

The world goes on as it must,
the bees in the garden rumbling a little,
the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.
And so forth.

But I’m taking the day off.
Quiet as a feather.
I hardly move though really I’m traveling
a terrific distance.

Stillness. One of the doors
into the temple.”

Mary Oliver

“It is so easy to believe that you’ll always be ready to handle everything life presents to you, but a day–many days–arrive and you can’t bear it, you can’t even dream that you have it within you or around you to cope or to survive.
Hold on to that emotional, dreaming person–the one who feels–and keep family and friends and the things you love and the things you live for deep in your head and your heart. Eat and laugh a lot; love deeply; give fully.

It doesn’t just go by fast; it comes at you with alarming speed and stealth and damage. You will not be prepared. You will be knocked off your feet, your foundation. Make sure it’s a strong foundation, and make sure you know how to get back to it and on it and re-build it. No one is ready for what ultimately arrives, but some are lucky and are able to not only survive but to get others through it all. Work on that. Feel more. Laugh a lot. Draw a circle of loved ones around you.”

Marlon Brando

“Whatever you do, do it gently and unhurriedly, because virtue is not a pear to be eaten in one bite.”

Seraphim of Sarov

International Day of Tolerance – from the UN Declaration of Principles on Tolerance

“Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is fostered by knowledge, openness, communication, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Tolerance is harmony in difference. It is not only a moral duty, it is also a political and legal requirement. Tolerance, the virtue that makes peace possible, contributes to the replacement of the culture of war by a culture of peace.

Tolerance is not concession, condescension or indulgence. Tolerance is, above all, an active attitude prompted by recognition of the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. In no circumstance can it be used to justify infringements of these fundamental values…

Consistent with respect for human rights, the practice of tolerance does not mean toleration of social injustice or the abandonment or weakening of one’s convictions. It means that one is free to adhere to one’s own convictions and accepts that others adhere to theirs. It means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally diverse in their appearance, situation, speech, behaviour and values, have the right to live in peace and to be as they are.”

“I think it’s so foolish for people to want to be happy. Happy is so momentary–you’re happy for an instant and then you start thinking again. Interest is the most important thing in life; happiness is temporary, but interest is continuous.”

Georgia O’Keeffe, born on this day in 1887

“It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.”

Claude Monet, born on this day in 1840

“From radiant dawns
You hope for shining clear days.
Love appeared, but then shattered me
Like many others I do not name
For they know who they are.
I know myself as someone
Who constantly mourns Love.

The peasant says, “Wait for evening
Before you praise the day’s beauty.”
Understanding so late
Makes me cry out: “Alas my life!
Where is the rapture
And peace of Love
She gave so lavishly at first?”

Hadewijch of Antwerp

Psalm 8 reimagined by Christine Robinson

“Many-Named One
   beyond imagining–
When I contemplate the night sky,
  the cosmos which all unfolded from a speck,
galaxies, stars, this beautiful earth—
Who are we humans, that you attend to us?
   mere mortals in our tiny corner, and you love us?
  We are life come to knowing and feeling.
The whole world is in our hands.
  plants and animals, oceans and ice caps, rain forests
  atmosphere and ecosystem.
Touch our hearts, O God,
make us worthy of this trust
Help us care for life on this beautiful earth.”

“Send Thy peace O Lord,
which is perfect and everlasting, that our souls may radiate peace.
Send Thy peace O Lord,
that we may think, act and speak harmoniously.
Send Thy peace O Lord,
that we may be contented and thankful for Thy bountiful gifts.
Send Thy peace O Lord,
that amidst our worldly strife, we may enjoy Thy bliss.
Send Thy peace O Lord,
that we may endure all, tolerate all, in the thought of Thy grace and mercy.
Send Thy peace O Lord,
that our lives may become a Divine vision and in Thy light, all darkness may vanish.
Send Thy peace O Lord,
our Father and Mother, that we Thy children on Earth may all unite in one family. Amen.”

Hazrat Inayat Khan

“God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.”

Martin Luther, born on this day in 1483