Monday, July 23, 2007

Communication and Beauty

I used to make a living from writing words and broadcasting both mine and others words across radio, tv and the internet. I know how to impart complex stories to an audience of millions ....... And yet,when it comes to real life its amazing how we all struggle to communicate what we really think or to hear what friends are really saying. How friendships can be full of misapprehensions and even fear of what someone may mean or not mean. Sometimes we judge each other directly on what we say , sometimes we listen to asides and decide that has more truth than asking the person directly what they think about something. Sometimes we are afraid to challenge others ....sometimes we are right and sometimes we are wrong. And we all find it so hard to admit when we are wrong. (mea culpa)

But surely there has to be a better way. The Moot Community in London lives by a rhythm of live through presence, acceptance,creativity,balance,accountability and hospitality. I'm working at integrating those rhythms into my life and its acceptance I think I need to work on the most ...... we defined it as
"We desire to accept both ourselves,and other people as the are,and to allow people to say what they believe without fear of judgement. We want to create a safe space where people feel at home and welcomed.We hope to learn from all those in and outside the community.'

I'm trying to do that but its very much a work in progress and I hope people can bear with me as I practice.

And finally beauty - the summer here in our little island has been terrible but when we get a glimpse of beauty its is sometimes worth the wait. Last night I was heading out to see a friend who was farm sitting in the midst of the County Down. Driving over the Craigantlet hills , the sunset was a glorious fiery clouded Turner painting - I could see for miles right down to where the mountains of Mournes were shrouded in mist. CS Lewis used to walk in these hills and its thought that a lot of the geography of Narnia is based on what he could see from here . And why not - Last night it certainly felt magical . Equally today - the sun shone and after so many days of rain the sky seemed somehow bluer , the few clouds whiter and the air freah and clean. Cycling through the forest at the back of Sanctus Boscus today all I could feel was joy ....perhaps a glimpse of what Chesterton said was that "sunrise of wonder" - the joy and wonder at our own existence .

Today I believe.

blessings ...

"The end of all seeking is purity of heart - a clear unobstructed vision of the true state of affairs,an intuitive grasp of ones own inner reality as anchored or rather lost in God. " Thomas Merton . The Wisdom of the Desert.

11 comments:

Trevor Henderson said...

Hey there - looking forward to joining in the glory soon!!

By the way have you become aware of the joy that is bookmooch.com? James and Kari put us onto it and it is a wonder for dealing with old books that you don't want and some you do.

Trevor Henderson said...

by the way - i've taken on a new job with the Nashville Health Department as community liaison for a HIV/AIDS program - fun eh?

mister tumnus said...

as someone else whose job depens on communication i get the irony!

do you remember sitting in gillies with associated tarts (including him up there) and you writing in my journal to try and allay my feeling that you really disliked me? i've still got it. must show it to you sometime. communication between humans is, IMHO, a miracle when it goes right. i think the best we can do is be open to the inevitability of our failure. i have the written evidence of your capabilities when communication fails. we are always only trying to bridge the gaps. i think it has to be the trying that counts.

The Father said...

Mr T - I do have a fuzzy memory of that night and all I can say is yes to all you have written . I think we have both come a long way since then and it is the trying that counts .... island calling to island ...stranger , no stranger as Julie Lee would say. Glad that you hung in there ....m

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

ah, dear father, what was it that papa o'donohue said.....

......that, 'the consumerist heart becomes empty and lonesome because it has squangered reverence. as a parent, child, lover, prayer or artist - a sense of reverence opens pathways of beauty to surprise us. The earth is full of thresholds where beauty awaits the wonder of our gaze.'

you my friend have always embodied reverence more than most....which is why you are and know beauty....

The Father said...

ah lulu if there is one man who can make me cry it is yourself .... GB 07 is creeping closer .... see you in the organic beer tent my friend and we will consume some beauty...m

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

ah, the great gift of making eveyone burst into tears, how blessed i am.....

we may need canoes to get around the beer tent - twil be almost like venice me thinks....

awareness said...

I think the answer is found in merton's quote.....to strive for the purity of heart.

we have no control over how someone receives us, how they perceive us....it depends on where they are in their own journey. If we have an appreciation for where they are....our empathy will filter through our ways and means of communicating.
What we can control is how we express ourselves....actions always speak louder dont they? And if it is done with a purity of heart.....with gladness and openness to the other human being, we at least put forth our best efforts in hopes that it is received as we intended.

I love Chesterton's.......sunrise of wonder....always the birth of a new day......where beauty is there for the seeking.

The Father said...

Hi awareness - i think you are right - Mertons quote is the key though still the hardest thing to do. Purity of heart will be a lifelong struggle I feel.

and Paul - thanks for reminding me of the Papa O'donohue book . I must get myself a copy and have a read .... am glad it is still speaking to you out on your island.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

dear father.....it seems in a moment of madness i have given you an award! bit of fun but i mean what i say

GBug said...

Loving your work... and all the comments too.

x