Saturday, November 27, 2004

Struggles

  Reading a Pupas entry <-- click tonight in Steven's Sometimes Photo Blog, I was reminded of a story I heard one time and quickly scribbled down on paper, here it is ... 

     A man found a cocoon of a butterfly, one day a tiny opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force it's body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making progress, it appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no further.

     So the man decides to help the butterfly, he took a small pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily but it had a swollen body and small shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

     Neither happened, in fact the butterfly spent the rest of it's life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings, it was never able to fly.

     What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand, was that restricting cocoon and struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were natures way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into it's wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved it's freedom from the cocoon.

     I guess the point here is ... sometimes the struggles we are faced with, help make us strong enough to fly.

                         Author unknown, at least to me.

                                   *** Coy ***

Being Fully Present In The Moment

    Mention meditation and most people think of sitting with crossed legs in a quiet room, chanting something like "ommmm, ommmm," right? Well ... there are actually many different ways to meditate.

     I read a Thanksgiving entry today in Albert's Journal about a visit he made yesterday to Grace Cathedral where he took a meditative walk on the Labyrinith. Reading this made me almost feel as if I were there.

     Meditation for me is usually found on a long quiet walk alone, outdoors in a beautiful environment uninterrupted, unrushed and viewing the world through the lens of my camera.

     One of my favorite places to do this is at the Morikami Park near my house. This garden was designed by artists' who's soul intent was to make every view in the park, picture perfect.

     Below are some pictures I've taken there at different times this year. I'm starting to feel more relaxed and connected just looking at them.

                             *** Coy ***

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, November 26, 2004

Bring On The Carols The Holly And Snow

     Thanksgiving is over, we saw Santa Clause's face at the end of the Macy's Day Parade yesterday. Now it's time to deck the halls and bring on the carols, the holly and snow.

     Well, almost ... here in South Florida we can still look forward to blue skies, a warm breeze and early morning walks with the butterflies and bees.

                           *** Coy ***

Thursday, November 25, 2004

Happy Thanksgiving

    Each of you are among the things that

          I 'm most thankful for today.

                 Hugs to you all

                    *** Coy ***

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving

This day was filled with family and friends. I went to the funeral this afternoon and then spent an evening at my sisters house. Mandy and Brittney were home, the house was full of kids.

    

     We had a Fajita Fiesta, played Texas Holdem with our friends and set the table for Thanksgiving.

    

       Ahhh ... all is as it should be.

                *** Coy ***

Remembering Russ Part 7

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Yo ... Guiedo

Remembering Russ part 6

and Laughing Out Loud