She quotes a term, "Zerrissenheit," translated from German as "torn-to-pieces-hood." Does that describe any of your days, your life? She talks about life today (this was written in 1955)..."the feverish pursuit of centrifugul activities which only lead in the end to fragmentation...shattered into a thousand pieces. On the contrary, she must consciously encourage those pursuits which oppose the centrifugul forces of today. Quiet time alone, contemplation, prayer, music, a centering line of thought or reading, of study or work. It can be physical or intellectual or artistic, any creative life proceeding from oneself...Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day--like writing a poem or saying a prayer..."
Written during a seaside vacation, her analogies are related to the ocean, seashells, the beach. She relates lessons of life to lessons from the sea.
Another term I enjoy thinking about is her idea of having "island eyes." The ability to see through a lens to examine your life, your priorities, your choices; especially to be able to see the beauty all around you and how our lives are touched by that beauty:
"I must remember to see with island eyes."For her, the ocean helped her step back and see values, significance, signposts, and find balance for her life.
Lessons as we observe nature and the beauty of this world help us to understand the complexities of life.
What part of nature helps you to see more clearly? Do you have mountain-eyes, garden eyes, desert eyes, or as Anne Morrow Lindbergh, island eyes? Wherever you prefer;
remember to see, really see, with [your] eyes.
Yes, Maureen - This is a favorite one of mine, too. I recently gifted a copy to my principal at the end of the school year this year - posted about it the last week of June. Such reflections drawn from the lessons God has hidden in Creation for those who would seek it in stillness. How I seek to be that person - might I write my own "Gift from the Sea" someday . . .
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Kathy
Yesterday I subbed for a special ed. para. As the day progressed I watched the teacher keep the students with four different learning levels on tract with their lessons. Plus the state testing was going on for different subjects. A Gift from the Sea came to my mind and the word zerrissenheit came to mind. I would feel that way in such a demanding position.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I subbed for a special ed. para. As the day progressed I watched the teacher keep the students with four different learning levels on tract with their lessons. Plus the state testing was going on for different subjects. A Gift from the Sea came to my mind and the word zerrissenheit came to mind. I would feel that way in such a demanding position.
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