March blog: Tony and Barbara – ‘paying attention'

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Maybe you have a school-time memory of a voice of authority calling out: “pay attention.”

Nowadays paying attention seems increasingly difficult given the levels of information that beset us. Life is busier, faster, more quickly changing – we feel – as we use the all-enticing media. We know it’s a common complaint. But it feels important and at times threatening.

On the ground, in so many countries, people face the brute outcome of hatred, divisiveness, revenge, human made famines and wars.

We resist such “harm, noise, and violence.” We also hang on to what we learn about all who work for peace and justice. It’s there in leaders at all levels, in communities and shared projects, in new entrepreneurial and scientific initiatives.

[2]

Given the limitations of our lives – to the house and garden for Tony and additionally to LMC church for Barbara – we have to dig deep. Perhaps not as deep as Krishnamurtis’ words: “attention is the total silence of the brain.” But deep as in our friendships, our own creativity and spirituality, and in St David’s “do the little things.” This works out in ordinary daily tasks, routine processes, the help of our carers.

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So, this time a poem from Tony, a photo of Barbara with one of her colourings, a photo of Barbara under our garden blossom. And from us love and peace.

Tony Holden - make possible

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We move between -

Mythologies and archetypes

Dreams and stories

Science and ideas,

But there is too much of everything

[Not least too much harm, noise, violence].

[2]

So slow down and wait,

Abstract and simplify,

Attend longer with greater

Insight and creativity

[3]

Then you can make possible

That fusion of wonder and anxiety

Strangeness and ecstasy

That is the best of our common humanity.