Ripples
Water nourishes my body and my soul. I'm never more at home with myself when it's part of the landscape. I have so many memories of trying to skim stones across water. It's one of those simple pleasures whose delight far outweighs its difficulty. I can see myself standing on the shore of Pickwick Lake, Greer's Ferry Lake, an inlet of the Tennessee River, and the manmade lake in the backyard of a friend's house tossing one stone after another to watch the smooth surface of the water gently buckle up, calm and then repeat itself. I can't go near a lake without tossing a stone in it.
All my memories of this seem to take place at twilight when water and sky are both darkening and the opposite shore seems more distant. It's something best done after you've spent an active day on the water, when your energy is waning, and mentally, you're shifting gears to a quiet night ahead. It's an activity perfect for both contemplation and quiet companionship.
The world of Physics is confounding. Very few classes intimidated me as much as it did. I struggled through it, not because I hated it, but because I loved it, and all of its implications blew my mind. Who needed hallucinogens when the operations of our natural world were so incredible? The simple act of throwing stones into a pond was the perfect example of every action having an equal and opposite reaction. The opposite reaction of a pebble tossed into water always surprised me with how far it reached. Seeing how far ripples could spread made me realize how much energy little things like a pebble and an easy sideways arm toss contained.
I think that most of our actions are like that. We often don't realize how far simple things can spread and the affect they can have. Ripples remind me to use my energy well. They remind me of the world's interconnections. They remind me that I actually do have power in this world to make changes. They remind me to act mindfully and with my intention aimed at that so hard to define greater good because I can't always predict what the outcome of my actions will be. This is the wisdom of water.
This topic suggested by Wil.
All my memories of this seem to take place at twilight when water and sky are both darkening and the opposite shore seems more distant. It's something best done after you've spent an active day on the water, when your energy is waning, and mentally, you're shifting gears to a quiet night ahead. It's an activity perfect for both contemplation and quiet companionship.
The world of Physics is confounding. Very few classes intimidated me as much as it did. I struggled through it, not because I hated it, but because I loved it, and all of its implications blew my mind. Who needed hallucinogens when the operations of our natural world were so incredible? The simple act of throwing stones into a pond was the perfect example of every action having an equal and opposite reaction. The opposite reaction of a pebble tossed into water always surprised me with how far it reached. Seeing how far ripples could spread made me realize how much energy little things like a pebble and an easy sideways arm toss contained.
I think that most of our actions are like that. We often don't realize how far simple things can spread and the affect they can have. Ripples remind me to use my energy well. They remind me of the world's interconnections. They remind me that I actually do have power in this world to make changes. They remind me to act mindfully and with my intention aimed at that so hard to define greater good because I can't always predict what the outcome of my actions will be. This is the wisdom of water.
This topic suggested by Wil.
posted by Cynthia at
3:56 AM
3 Comments:
I've believed in the ripple effect for a long time. My hubby is one of those "change the world" people and he gets frustrated because he only sees the big picture... I'm more for changing the world a little bit at a time, even if you can't see where your ripples are actually going :)
Skipping stones...always remends me of my Dad and my Grndfather. Lisa
And sometimes I feel so insubstantial that I swear I've never made a ripple in my life.. :-]
beautiful post.
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