John O’Donohue was a priest and a poet whose life was struck short in January 2008. Shortly before his death he replied to a question about if there was anything that haunted him. He said, “It is the sense of my days running through my fingers like the finest sand and I can’t stop it.”
Whether our minds like it or not, this is the reality. We all share a common truth in this life and that is the truth of impermanence. But it is this very truth that frees us up to recognize the wonders of everyday life.
Life becomes more routine when we deny or avoid this reality.
John wished that we “experience each day as sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.”
How could we possible do this if we’re not aware of the preciousness of life? Things are precious because they don’t last. Think about a butterfly or a flower. Many of us view these as precious because of their short lifespan.
In the context of this planet, we have a very short lifespan. In the context of the universe, this planet probably has a short lifespan.
Our moments in this life, in this day, right now, are precious and may even be considered a sacred gift.
Have you ever looked at the trees outside and truly wondered how it is that they grow? Or closed your eyes and listened to the birds chirping only to open the eyes back up again and sit in wonder about how we have all these different animals on this planet?
Have you ever wondered or been amazed at the fact that you have the ability to view the words on this page, read them, comprehend and make meaning? The complexity of our biological makeup is astounding our ability for consciousness and reflection has yet to be truly understood.
One thing that I am clear on is that behind everyone’s emotional walls sits a wise self that is there to love and receive love and it seems from the accounts of many on their deathbeds when life gets simple that this is truly what is most important.
Time is like fine sand slipping through our fingers, why not open our eyes to come in touch with what is most important right now.
Make this a reflection for today that you come back to.
As always, please share your thoughts, stories and questions below. Your interaction creates a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.
, co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook
, Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the Mindful Solutions at Work App, the Mindful Solutions audio series, and the Mindfulness at Work™ program currently being adopted in multiple multinational corporations. Join Elisha Goldstein's Facebook Community to keep up with important information, tips and events.You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Sheila at 4:59 pm on
August 30th, 2010You seem to live in my world at times. I garden for a profession so I live what you speak of. I have noticed with awe the perfect blend of colours of pansies and when I point out this art to some they respond with “ya, that’s nice” – they just don’t see it. One day I came across a weed that was covered in aphids and what amazed me about this sight was not the number of the insects but how they had all scuttled down the stem of the plant to avoid the large red lady bug that also occupied the plant. I left the plant instead of pulling it and returned the next day to see that the lady bug had indeed devoured every single aphid. How does an insect so simple as an aphid know that they will be eaten? Have you ever watched the sun dance on the surface of a lake and imagine it to be diamonds? Often my mind is more consumed with the details of my life and I know it would be better for me to pay attention to the details of the magic of the universe instead- it’s more fun – but lately I don’t get the same pleasure from these moments.
Elisa at 12:27 pm on
September 1st, 2010I remember the feeling when I finally took time to look up J. O’Donohue’s name in the Internet after having read several of his books. And it was so shocking when I found out he was no longer among the living – as if some light had gone out and there was considerably less love and meaning in my life. Yes, I thought him special and even though I rarely found enough will to live by the principles he proclaimed, I now remember reading his words as sacred time, little whiles when I actually could imagine that love did exist and maybe even I was worthy to be loved. And I do believe that finding wonder in this world can give meaning. It helps to forget yourself and your tedious problems and look around, notice the flutter of leaves and the way clouds hurry. I can actually recall the day I was feeling quite depressed and saw a single butterfly, and my thoughts went like: ‘it’s alive and it will probably be dead soon, only colourful powder where its wings have been – so what right on earth do I have to brood all day long when I should remember it’s the last day for so many?’ Insights like this only last so long and it’s difficult for me to comprehend my own death – I can’t imagine it, quite literally – but they are steps in the right way. The difficult one, too, the one we must go to take responsibility, actually become adults and live our life to its fullest.
“It is the sense of my days running through my fingers like the finest sand and I can’t stop it.”
I think many of us try to stay busy enough that we won’t notice the sand running. Great quote.
I just listened to Daniel Seigel (Wise Heart & Mindful Brain) reading John’s poem, To Bless the Space Between us. Beautiful.
Sheila, I too look at flowers and wonder upon their colour and beauty. I garden for a hobby and am wise enough to look at the flowers and plants not the weeds and debis that blows in. It wasn’t always this way.
Elisha – best post I have read – ever. Just what I needed to hear. The simplicity of life. Before I read this I was pondering on the complexity of the rules and regulations humans use to make our lives more complicated than it needs to be.
Synchronicity eh!
Last reviewed: 30 Aug 2010
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