Prayer
Room
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Step Eight-
Wisdom
Psychosocial Crisis:
Integrity vs. Despair
Range of Relationship: Humankind/My Kind
Wisdom is a detached and yet active concern with life in the face of death.
[Erik H. Erickson, The Human Cycle (1968)]
[Wisdom; 8½x38 in. Painting by Nadine McHenry. In old age, there can be fulfillment and satisfaction.]
Biblical Reference I am making all things new
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new."
[Revelation, Chapter 21, verses 1-5a]
Taoist Reference
Upon completion comes fulfillment
With fulfillment comes liberation,
Liberation allows you to go on.
Even death is not a true ending.
Life is infinite continuation.
[365 Tao - Daily Meditations, Day 364, by Deng Ming-Dao]
Plant Selection
Larch and Bald Cypress
The bald cypress knows. The days are becoming shorter, the nights cooler. Like clockwork, the tiny leaves of this mighty tree change from green to yellow. Soon, but not too soon, they turn gold. In one final message to the world that another season is concluding, the leaves fall to the ground serving as a blanket, retaining the ground heat and warding off the winter chill. The casual observer might wonder what caused the demise of the great cypress. It had looked so regal this year. What a shame. Stripped of its cloak, no fruit to offer, arms held out almost as if asking for help, the cypress sleeps. Content. For the mighty Bald Cypress will, as in years past, wake to the warmth of spring showers and will once again, gain its rightful rank. Proud, strong
[Thomas Bare]
A Man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected; it must and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.
[As a Man Thinketh, James Allen]
Step Eight: Wisdom
Completion now brings liberation
Proving death is no true ending.
Life with ever continuity,
Wisdom facing death with life.
With detachment yet concern the
Larch and Cypress wear their winters
As caps of ice and cloaks of darkness
Exclaim, "Behold all things made new!"
[Randall E. Dinsdale]
From the program notes for the Abendmusik: Lincoln Eight Garden Steps concert, May 19, 2002.
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05/03/08 |