THE DAILY SPARK

CAST A STONE

Stone skipping pond in Bearsville, NY

I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.

Quote by Mother Teresa

REFLECTION:

  • Have you cast a stone that has created ripples?
  • What was your stone (mentored someone, organized an event, listened to a friend in need, held the hand of someone who was afraid…)?
  • Is there another stone you can cast that can create a ripple?

COMFORTABLE..UNCOMFORTABLE

Takahe Bird seen while hiking in Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

Normality is a paved road; it’s comfortable to walk but no flowers grow on it.

Quote by Vincent Van Gogh

REFLECTION:

  • Do you stay in your comfort zone?
  • Much of our time, we need to stay on the paved road but too much of comfort may result in a very small world.  
  • Is there an unpaved road you can take to find some flowers… to grow, to go beyond a paved road?

OUR HUMAN CONDITION

View hiking to the summit of Fiordland National Park New Zealand

Many people suffer because of the false supposition on which they have based their lives.  That supposition is that there should be no fear or loneliness, no confusion or doubt.  But these sufferings can only be dealt with creatively when they are understood as wounds integral to our human condition.

Quote by Henri J. Nouwen from his book  The Wounded Healer

Check out this book: https://henrinouwen.org/read/the-wounded-healer/

REFLECTION:

  • Do you believe you should not struggle with loneliness, doubt, fear?
  • Are you able to accept these as part of the human condition?
  • When have you experienced some of these conditions in the past? Was there a creative way you dealt with them?
  • Is there a struggle you are dealing with now?  
  • Can you see this as an integral wound that makes you human?
  • How can you creatively deal with loneliness, fear, doubt or confusion that is present now?