MUCH MAGNIFICENCE

‘And so it is that most people have no idea how beautiful the world is and how much magnificence is revealed in the tiniest things, in some flower, in a stone, in tree bark, or in a birch leaf.  The grown ups, going about their business and worries, and tormenting themselves with all kinds of details, gradually lose the perspective for these riches that children, when they are attentive and good, soon notice and love with their whole heart.  And yet the greatest beauty would be achieved if everyone remained in this regard always like attentive and good children, simple and pious in sensitivities, and if people did not lose the capacity for taking pleasure as intensely in a birch leaf or a peacock’s feather or the wing of a hooded crow as in a mighty mountain or a splendid palace.  What is small is not small in itself, just as that which is great is not – great.  A great and eternal beauty passes through the whole world, and it is distributed fairly over that which is small and that which is large; for in such important and essential matters, no injustice is to be found on earth.’

Quote by Rainer Maria Rilke, letter to Helmut Westhoff, Nov. 12, 1901 in: Briefe, p. 31 (R. Sieber-Rilke ed. 1950) (transl. S.H.)

REFLECTION:

  • Can you pause… reclaim perspective… notice the beauty in nature… the magnificence of the tiniest things – the poinsettia plant, a bird, a barren tree…
  • Take some time this holiday season to take pleasure in small, simple beauty surrounding you.
  • Happy Holidays – my best to you!