“Every day opens and closes like a flower,

noiseless, effortless.

Divine peace glows on all the majestic landscape,

like the silent enthusiastic joy

that sometimes transfigures a noble human face.”

– John Muir –

“Silent enthusiastic joy.” That’s what I often see in Thursday night art class at Art and Soul. Music plays softly in the background as my friends and I work independently but side by side, each of us creating art that comes from our souls and nourishes our souls. It’s then that I often see in my friends’ faces a “silent enthusiastic joy.”

But I picture other faces as well – my dad and sisters laughing uproariously in enthusiastic joy – delightfully not silent. Then there are my friends in the church choir as we listen to our director in silent, enthusiastic joy – which transforms into the joy of song. Whose faces do you picture when you think of enthusiastic joy – silent or not?

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, “Earth laughs in flowers.” In our part of the world, nature is now in bloom. As each day opens and closes like a flower, I wish you the divine peace that comes with earth’s joy and laughter. Happy Spring!

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week – peach blossoms:

Shadow of the Week – stems in a back-porch pot:

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Text and photos © 2019 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.