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The Bonfire of Happiness

August 13, 2007

susan_preston_joanGarden.jpg

You are filled with God's glow.
It radiates out pure sparking light
making you appear as a mystical flower.
So why the sad face?
You have a bonfire of happiness within.

~ Gerald Rhoades

The creative fire burning within me isn't unique and it isn't special. My fire is your fire ~ it is our fire. Let go of the need to be celebrated apart from "the rest". Artists have been driven to madness doing so. Just let the self-obsession go. It only serves to heighten your sense of un-belonging, and creativity thrives on unselfconsciousness. Fear will not only sabotage your work, it will mangle your motivation and kill the connection to all that makes you sparkle.

Pay attention. We have a choice. It's an important one, so choose carefully. Will your work be defined by trying to find your special "self", or will it transcend the limits of narrow definitions to inspire goodness and healing in the world?

Will you become a master of self-focused expression?
Will you become a humble servant ~ an instrument of beauty and freedom in the world?

Which choice is the more powerful one?

Every moment is a gateway of beginning, and with each breath, the choice is made anew. It's never too late to become an instrument of inspiration. I don't know about you, but I'm taking the path less taken, the one that challenges and inspires me to give up my stories so I can simply and mysteriously GLOW.


{Yet another image from Joan's spectacular garden in Charlottesville.}

Posted by vincent at August 13, 2007 03:39 PM

Comments

I'm almost speachless by these words...by the truth of them.

There's so much I would like to say, but you've said it so elequently already, so I will just say thank you. Thank you for this reminder.

Posted by: Kate I at August 16, 2007 01:24 AM

Such beautiful words. And beautiful photographs. I am so glad I discovered you...I look forward to visiting often.

You truly have a gift.

I am relatively new to blogging and yours is an inspiration. Thank you.

Posted by: Pamela at August 16, 2007 03:35 AM

There is a fear of letting go of this sense of self, whether it be a small self, a unique self, a better self, a narcissistic self, etc... It is extremely frightening to let go. But when you finally do and the self falls away; the I-ness of the I, the Me-ness of the me, the Mine-ness of the mine, and the My-ness of the My and all that is left is the essense of This. Then there is a realization, that it is just a phenomena of one's perception. Then when you plug back into the "Matrix" and all these perceptrions return, then your perceptions take on a different meaning and bonfire burns and glows. Understanding of self has taken root.

Posted by: Bob at August 16, 2007 11:19 AM

Fantastic. I needed your words of wisdom this morning and i thank you for them and your firery photo. You are an inspiration.

Posted by: janet at August 16, 2007 11:53 AM

Beautiful words and photos as always.

Posted by: yolanda at August 16, 2007 05:23 PM

This sings of truth and what we all yearn for.

thank you! and this photo is stunning!

Posted by: Stephanie at August 17, 2007 10:45 AM

I'm having trouble with the words, must be the day. But the photo is breathtaking; truly a bonfire of happiness.

Posted by: Star at August 17, 2007 01:06 PM

What inspiring words....the picture; breathtaking!

Posted by: Alice at August 17, 2007 05:13 PM

I love this. Humility is very powerful. If we let it take hold of each of us imagine what the world might be like. I also love the quote. "A bonfire of happiness within." Beautiful.

Posted by: Candy at August 18, 2007 09:34 AM