fear

St. Augustine’s Fear—And Mine

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St. Augustine once said, “I fear that Jesus will pass by me unnoticed.” I fear that the gifts of this day will pass by me unnoticed—the cloud formations, the birds, the fragile blooms open to the sun at this moment, the peace within this day. So as I move through this day, I hope to look for the gifts that nature has for me and linger with them. – kh, Linger: 365 Days of Peaceful Pauses

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2022 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Easing Change, Quieting Fear

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“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.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

What Remains to be Feared?

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“In the course of my work this last long winter, I have experienced a truth more completely than ever before: that life’s bestowal of riches already surpasses any subsequent impoverishment. What, then, remains to be feared? Only that we might forget this! But around and within us, how much it helps to remember!”

– Rainer Maria Rilke, A Year With Rilke –

 

Remember life’s riches. 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.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Live, Breathe, Give: A Child’s Wisdom

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This week, two quotes from children’s books seem timely:

“To fear is one thing.

To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another.”

– Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved –

 

“Live courage, breathe courage and give courage.”

– Dhan Gopal Mukerji, Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon –

 

Nourish peace and cultivate loving kindness. Then live calm, breathe calm, and give calm.

Nature of the week: Japanese apricot blooming at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens:

Shadow of the Week:

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

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

 

Text and photos © 2017 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

 

Can We Feel the Eternal?

I Have Loved the Stars

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“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”

– Sarah Williams –

Even when stars are not visible – in daylight or under cloud cover at night – they are still there. And when life around us seems cloudy and dark, love is still there. Love holds steady. Grace holds. Kindness holds. These are our stars in the darkness. If we locate them, we can trust them to guide us on our journey; out of trust, hope is born. Step toward love. Step toward grace. Step toward kindness. And carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

jpmaplefall

Shadow of the Week:

shdwbtls

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

 

The Essential Invisible