"The sun goes out whenever the cloud of not-praising comes near." Rumi
In L.A. County, this month is known as "May Gray" and following that, "June Gloom" arrives. The seasonal, almost daily gray, gloomy cloud cover is the result of a complex weather system. Cooler air over the ocean condenses when it meets the warm air masses of California desert lands. The meeting brings low humid clouds that move inland, keeping the air cool and the sky...a muggy gray. I am a sunshine person, so to maintain a sunny outlook, I turn our attention back to the beauty of spring. Even with the grim news of the latest storms hitting Houston and the southeast, and another round of threatening weather across the mid-west, beauty brings a reassuring balance to life. As William Carlos William described in his poem, "The Locust Tree in Flower"--"Among of green stiff, old bright broken branch come white sweet May again." This is a reminder that nature repairs and shelters, even as it uproots and destroys. Our task in the 21st century is to further uncover the mystery of that natural process, finding new ways of being cared for, and taking care of, Nature. Appreciation of May's beauty is one step in that caring.
Of course, beauty is relative to the beholder. Multiple research studies over the last decade have deepened our discovery of the physical and psychological health benefits of time spent in Nature, or even just viewing pictures of Nature outside the field of known exercise benefits. You don't have to be "exercising" to be lifted by a natural environment to have positive health effects (like lower blood pressure). More recent studies zero in on an underlying sense of connectedness to Nature, beyond spending time in natural environments. Perhaps, that consciousness of connectedness holds a key to managing climate change--speculation on my part--but it seems to me worth reflecting on your personal sense of connection with Nature. I myself find such connection in neighborhood walks with ample towering trees and lush gardens along sidewalks. Venturing deeper into wilderness or the ocean beyond a beach (Nature includes both the green and the blue spaces), I find I am more of an observer than immersed in connection. The pull to praise the beauty of it all, lifts and dispels the gray.
Praise is the second theme for this Sunday. The opening Rumi quote above is from his poem "Praising Manners" (link below). It is a reminder of our need to acknowledge the good as Good, especially when life becomes turbulent. Praise, to be genuine, first requires recognition. When we are in relationship, praise includes an acknowledgment of the person, their being-ness. When we are praising Life and God, there is a recognition of Presence. An aspect of praising the Natural world is the recognition of beauty, the impact of beauty on our senses, moods, thoughts. Attending to any of of these levels can open doorways within us. This week, find some time for the beautiful. Let it light your way and lighten your load. Offer your praise. (Susan Nettleton)
For poetry: https://wordsfortheyear.com/.../praising-manners-by.../
https://hillsidesource.com/openness-poem