Peace and Pageantry

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

Let us … seek peace …

near the inland murmur of streams,

and the gracious waving of trees,

the beauteous vesture of earth,

and sublime pageantry of the skies.

– Mary Shelley, The Last Man –

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

A World Full, A Cup Full

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

“…although the world is full of suffering,

it is full also of the overcoming of it.”

– Helen Keller –

Helen Keller’s words remind me of something Frederick Buechner said in his essay for Going on Faith: “All the death that ever was, set next to life, would scarcely fill a cup.” It also makes me think of some advice that Fred Rogers left us: When bad things happen, look for the helpers.

So keep your eyes open; be aware of the bad. But don’t drown in that cup.

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Keep moving toward what brings life.

Look for the helpers.

And be one.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

An Eden Summer

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

“The times are dark but never too dark for

An Eden Summer, this flower-rich creation.”

– Elizabeth Jennings –

“English Wild Flowers”

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Windows Open to Beauty

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

“Let there be windows to your soul,

that all the glory of the world may beautify it.”

– Ella Wheeler Wilcox –

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Infinite Beauty

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

“Nature is painting for us,

day after day,

pictures of infinite beauty.”

– John Ruskin –

Pause and see the beauty nature is painting—and linger to smell, taste, listen, and touch infinity. Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

More Than Any Wise Man

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

“The soul that is kind and intends justice

discovers more than any wise man.”

– Sophocles –

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week – zucchini blooms:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Balancing Two Nevers

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

Never let your kindness keep you from being honest.

Never let your honesty keep you from being kind.

(adapted from The Artful Edit by Susan Bell)

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Easing Change, Quieting Fear

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

“Kindness eases change.

Love quiets fear.”

– Octavia F. Butler, Parable of the Talents –

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Just to clarify, I’m not talking about the peace of ignorance or the kindness of platitudes or the calmness of inaction. I’m talking about a reservoir of inner peace, kindness, and calm that strengthens, balances, and guides our thoughts, our words, our actions.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

If You Want to See Birds

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

“If you want to see birds, you must have birds in your heart.”

– John Burroughs–

I think, too, that if we want to see peace, we must have peace in our hearts. If we want to see kindness, we must have kindness in our hearts. If we want to find calm, we must carry it within.

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week – A bluebird visited this week, which is a rare event. I barely got a picture of him before he flew away. Yesterday, he and his mate returned carrying grassy twigs and made themselves at home!