And Zen we did it again

Today has been very pleasant. Jill by my side; no Olive Oyl; feeling mostly pretty good. I ate a big breakfast by my standards and had more than my usual energy, which is not saying much!

We went for a walk to the Zen garden in the morning. It is very peaceful and comforting. We found a place in the filtered morning sun on a bench under a small tree and just sat and chatted. 

Here's a picture of the waterfall/stream. As usual the photo doesn't do the real thing justice.
Some of the denizens of the water garden include a rubber ducky mariachi band.

 And no Zen water garden would be complete without 1) a green unicorn/lamb, 2) a Ducktopus, and 3) a rubber ducky, unadorned.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 When we returned, it was lunch time. We ate in the room and then I needed a nap. At least I think  I needed a nap, since I slept for about three hours. That gave Jill some quiet time to spend on her Bible study. 

When I awoke I was feeling quite refreshed. My tummy felt better, and the weather is perfect today. So, we went back to the Zen garden via a shorter route. Don't want to tempt fate by overdoing, you know.

God is teaching me so many things through this experience. First, it's OK to slow down and go at your own pace. And when you do that, you have time to appreciate the beautiful things around you, including the people you pass and the flower you might have missed if you were hurry-scurrying.  Now this may not be new thinking for you and it may seem too Thoreauesque for others, but someone wiser than me has said that it's not the things we did that we tend to regret; it's those we didn't do. 

As we were enjoying the beauty of the day, it occurred to me that, too often, our children watch us and learn from the pace and goals we set for ourselves. They may become very successful by some measures, but by the measure of human kindness, it is apparent that some have not caught the lesson. 

Two of my favorite verses come to mind: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) 

And finally there is a bit of wisdom from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young:

Teach your children well.
Their father's hell
Did slowly go by.
And feed them on your dreams.
The one they pick's the one you'll know by.  

 


Comments

  1. DebbieJuly 9, 2021 at 7:56 PM

    Happy you and Jill are able to get out and enjoy the summer weather. I am enjoying your posts and your positive outlook. Faith, love, family and friends will help you on this journey. Looking forward to the day you can come home to Orchard View Lane!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dr. Dennis D. FreyJuly 10, 2021 at 8:05 AM

    "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (II Corinthians 1:3-4 NASV). Be comforted today my brother!

    ReplyDelete

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