FEBRUARY FOOTNOTESFebruary 1st, 2012
WRITING WORDS ABOUT WINTER
Writing is such a wonderful adventure. You start with nothing, then an idea comes and presents itself for your perusal and before you know it you are off to the races, well, soo to speak. Last evening was spent soaking up great words of wisdom as Bernie Lucht gave a wonderful idea filled lecture on the CBC program "Ideas." It was very pleasant indeed to sit there as listen to the depths of this man's experience of nearly forty years asociated with the program that seeks to put before a listening audience an experience of 'ideas' that call us to look at the world and ourselves differently.
To explore ideas is a wonderful gift. To be able to think about things that shape our world is also a wonderful gift. Sometimes as we think about things, and as John O'Donohue beautifully yet with great simplicity describes it "inspiration is always a surprising visitor". The CBC program "Ideas" is designed for people who like to think. Here is an interesting place to visit and spend a few minutes when you have a a few to spare http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/
As I look out the window this morning, it is snowing. As it does, my thoughts bring to mind Snowflake Bentley - a man who first had the patience and idea of photographing sonwflakes. He discovered that each snowflake had six sides. His work and ideas cause me to think about how many snowflakes does it take to make a good New Brunswick snow storm?
Today is the first day of February. We managed to get through the dark days of January relatively unscathed in terms of storms that is. Now February is here - the month of 'love' days are getting longer. Thinking about winter my thoughts have recalled to mind some really deep thoughts about winter and they come from someone who is always shaping my thoughts - John O'Donohue - Irish poet, philosopher, writer, thinker and was once a priest of the Roman Catholic Church.
When asked by Diane Covington by in an interview why he left the priesthood O'Donohue gave this answer: "It was a difficult decision, and it did take years to make. I suppose the oxygen had become too scarce. I also found myself diverging from quite a few of the teachings. The final straw was acquiring a new bishop who exhibited and exercised a strong chemical hesitancy to my theological viewpoint. Once made, the decision brought me great peace of heart. "
But I digress. One of the great experiences of being an outdoor runner all year round, for nearly 40 years ( you wimpy fairweather runners listen up :-) is how it is a wonderful gift to the soul as you experience the majestic beauty of the changing seasons. Take Winter for example. Seems like we are 'in the dead of winter'. Not so. Really not so. Let John O'Donohue's words about winter get your mind in gear and thinking good thoughts about this wonderful season that sees nature's canvas change each and every day .... which in itself, like the new day, is a gift from God.
"The deadest season of all is winter. And this is a kind point I want to make to you. Spring is born out of the cold dead heart of winter. It's not that winter suddenly says some day, "geez, I'm so bored with being winter," and does a little kind of lateral shift, and suddenly, ah! Springtime! It's not like that. Springtime is the secret work of winter all the time."
run gently and be excessively gentle with yourself!
the running rev!
John O'Donohue interviewed by Diane Covington
http://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/376/the_unseen_life_that_dreams_us