The State of Presence

What are the moments that take your breath away? When the light falls on leaves in a certain way, I am acutely aware of the beauty of nature. When I hear music that stirs my soul, I see beauty; when I hear the poetry of David Whyte or Mary Oliver, something awakens.

"Beyond the beauty of the external forms, there is more here; something that cannot be named, something ineffable, some deep, inner, holy essence. Whenever and wherever there is beauty, this inner essence shines through somehow. It only reveals itself to you when you are present. Could it be that this nameless essence and your presence are one and the same? Would it be there without your presence? Go deeply into it. Find out yourself." 

Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now, pp 96-97

I first traveled to Southern California in May of 1993.  A stunning tree, unknown to me as a Canadian, was flowering everywhere. I had never before seen a tree that was entirely flowers -- the beautiful Jacaranda. I was high on life, beginning the next part of my life as a senior minister. There was beauty everywhere.

The second part of the quote is very important. The beauty to which we are responding is the Presence of the Divine in us.  This is vastly important. By being still, by letting the chatter stop, we touch the Thing Itself, the beloved within.

This Thing is magnificent! It is breath-taking! Take a moment today and appreciate the wonder that YOU are.  Don't think about it. Just let the sacred self within bedazzle you.

Poet John Keats wrote Ode to a Grecian Urn in the  early 1800's and said:

'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'