The One Who Lies Awake With Plans : better to get a good night’s sleep
It is none of my business to condemn a man who in this life lies awake with plans for adding to his buildings, his income, his estate, in the hope of leaving behind him a great name and reputation. But neither can I praise him; for … we ought to use the things of this world as though we used them not, and own them as though we owned them not — because the fashion of this world passes and in a moment is gone. St. Ignatius Loyola
look
what do you see?
the scene you fashioned one year ago?
two? twenty? more?
can you force a small green nub
to unfurl?
can you prevent pink petals
from losing color?
can you program tomorrow’s
troubles to abate?
can you proscribe
your enemy’s fate?
do you really think you are
in charge of planning?
if true, would you
paint brown spots on your hand?
bury the shy mouse
caught in a trap?
accumulate losses?
give away gain?
pray?
the world is steeped in sound
sight natural goodness delight
but
clinging to a single sound
cedes deafness to new notes
training the eye on a single sight
benefits blindness
adulating natural goodness
adjudicates all else
deifying delight
refuses sadness and dislike
better to sleep
than lie awake planning
letting things alone
greet them
as the rising moon
and setting sun
Words through Debra Asis, by the grace of Infinite Generativity
You may also like (click on link)
We Don’t Need Another Theory : or proverb?
If you appreciate this blog
Please stay on the site for 30+ seconds and clap as many times as you like!
Subscribe on Medium site for an email whenever I post. Thank you.
St. Ignatius of Loyola’s quote is found in today’s selection in An Ignatian Book of Days by Jim Manney is a series of daily reflections from the Spiritual Wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Throughout the book we hear the voices of St. Ignatius as well as many great thinkers and writers, long gone and present day, each uniquely revealing the way of finding God in all things. And that is my intention; to find God/Divine Presence/Ultimate Reality in whatever presents itself to me each day in 2024.
Each day I read, reflect and write on the selection, hoping to articulate the ways in which I come to know God/Divine Presence/Ultimate Reality via personal experience, impelled by the leading of my inner life.
INVITATION
Would you like to join me? The book is accessible on Amazon. Let me know in the comments to this post and sign up to get an email whenever I post. I would love to read your reflections too, public or private messages welcome!
If you find this post meaningful please clap and leave a comment. If you have not yet, please subscribe to receive an email when I post. Thank you!
All words are generated by grace and the grit of a real human being,
Debra Asis writing challenge
All words are generated by grace and the grit of a real human being,
Debra Asis writing challenge
