James - your earnest reflection, and willingness to share it, is admirable. Thank you for the perspective this brings, no matter the season we are in. The evolution of life requires so much adjustment and I’m thankful to benefit from your insights.
How fascinating too that one thing that can never be “measured” or felt by you in the present moment, is the impact your waves had on others. But, that lives on by people, like me, and the world is forever a better place because of it.
“Live meaningfully.” I might add.. not just during the exciting times, or the first 60 years of life, but as long as you live. Especially when meaning looks different than it did before. Your ability to ponder and distill may just so happen to be one of your best qualities. :) Sending love, my dear friend.
You are cut from a rare and exquisite fabric. This is an amazing reflection, that unfolded - like the waves - with ripple, crash, and retreat, and is so YOU. Everything is peaking at the same time. It is a wise man who recognizes that and leans into it. I'll DM for a longer chat and catch-up!
Ah, James, what a soul-stirring essay. David Whyte is one of my favorites, too. I attended one of his presentations years ago and the effects continue to soothe me.
Thank you for sharing your deft blending of imagery, emotion, and revelation. As I read your evocative phrases, I sat on that beach with you, gleaning lessons from sand, sea, and sky.
While "What we see is what we get" is such a trite cliche, you so eloquently remind us – especially folks with most of our Grand Paths snaking away in the rearview mirror – that reality is indeed mostly perception, that it's not about what we see, but how we're seeing it.
"Maybe my fog had never been about loss. Maybe it had come to slow me down long enough to hear what deeper waters were asking of me."
Then this:
"I arrived hoping my fog would lift. I left trusting its presence."
And I love the way you weave together the surf – "Gather. Rise. Break. Reach. Recede." – with the highlights of your life that follow; that's just wonderful wordsmithing.
If I was a more brilliant man I would better articulate the beauty with which you captured the fog of war every woman and man wrestles with. But as I think of that genesis moment when the spirit comes over all creation, and how the guide in the exodus is a cloud in the wilderness, and even how Peter, James, and John finally see coming on the clouds the living God in the Son. The fog all along is perhaps heavens way of helping us see beyond sight with different eyes for eternity.
What a beautiful piece James. Much love to you. I hope to pay you a visit again my fellow Idahoan.
This astonishingly beautiful essay is one of the deepest gifts you have ever given to me. Poet: Thank you for sharing your heart, your soul, through language, through poetry, through art, through music. My heart is awakened through the words that come from your heart.
James, this is beautifully written, but more importantly, excruciatingly honest. Compassion stirred in me. I sense that this was a moment in time, but I am here if you need a steady companion for some fog watching; I am just a technology activation away.
James - your earnest reflection, and willingness to share it, is admirable. Thank you for the perspective this brings, no matter the season we are in. The evolution of life requires so much adjustment and I’m thankful to benefit from your insights.
How fascinating too that one thing that can never be “measured” or felt by you in the present moment, is the impact your waves had on others. But, that lives on by people, like me, and the world is forever a better place because of it.
“Live meaningfully.” I might add.. not just during the exciting times, or the first 60 years of life, but as long as you live. Especially when meaning looks different than it did before. Your ability to ponder and distill may just so happen to be one of your best qualities. :) Sending love, my dear friend.
Beautiful essay James, one of my favourite pieces you've written. I hope you're proud of the work you did here.
You are cut from a rare and exquisite fabric. This is an amazing reflection, that unfolded - like the waves - with ripple, crash, and retreat, and is so YOU. Everything is peaking at the same time. It is a wise man who recognizes that and leans into it. I'll DM for a longer chat and catch-up!
Ah, James, what a soul-stirring essay. David Whyte is one of my favorites, too. I attended one of his presentations years ago and the effects continue to soothe me.
Thank you for sharing your deft blending of imagery, emotion, and revelation. As I read your evocative phrases, I sat on that beach with you, gleaning lessons from sand, sea, and sky.
Brilliant work, James. Simply brilliant.
While "What we see is what we get" is such a trite cliche, you so eloquently remind us – especially folks with most of our Grand Paths snaking away in the rearview mirror – that reality is indeed mostly perception, that it's not about what we see, but how we're seeing it.
"Maybe my fog had never been about loss. Maybe it had come to slow me down long enough to hear what deeper waters were asking of me."
Then this:
"I arrived hoping my fog would lift. I left trusting its presence."
And I love the way you weave together the surf – "Gather. Rise. Break. Reach. Recede." – with the highlights of your life that follow; that's just wonderful wordsmithing.
If I was a more brilliant man I would better articulate the beauty with which you captured the fog of war every woman and man wrestles with. But as I think of that genesis moment when the spirit comes over all creation, and how the guide in the exodus is a cloud in the wilderness, and even how Peter, James, and John finally see coming on the clouds the living God in the Son. The fog all along is perhaps heavens way of helping us see beyond sight with different eyes for eternity.
What a beautiful piece James. Much love to you. I hope to pay you a visit again my fellow Idahoan.
This astonishingly beautiful essay is one of the deepest gifts you have ever given to me. Poet: Thank you for sharing your heart, your soul, through language, through poetry, through art, through music. My heart is awakened through the words that come from your heart.
James, this is beautifully written, but more importantly, excruciatingly honest. Compassion stirred in me. I sense that this was a moment in time, but I am here if you need a steady companion for some fog watching; I am just a technology activation away.