“It’s all about finding the calm in the chaos.” ~ Donna Karan
Good Sunday morning, beautiful souls. I hope this finds you well and at peace. The deadly virus appears to be on the rise in almost every state and the rise of heated political rhetoric is flourishing as well, unfortunately. So how do we find “calm amidst such chaos?” I certainly do not know. However, I do know, once upon a time, life was sweeter.
Jim Kirwan writes, “We live in a world where violence has become the currency of the day, where the insanity of hatred overwhelms the spirituality of our existence. We search for meaning, yet all we find is chaos.” For me, home is my shelter from the ugliness of the world. As I imagine it is for you. Home, now more than ever, is a true blessing and such a refuge for all of us.
Our home in the spring.
Although, the violence of this world came too close to our doorstep these past few weeks. One horrible incident: our neighbor (three houses down the street) was shot while trying to protect his wife from someone who carjacked her and her mother as she pulled out of their driveway. Thankfully, he was not killed but remains in the hospital, and his wife and her mother are safe but emotionally scarred.
These times are so difficult on many levels and it is not only the violence that seems to be out of control, it is also the failure to respect other opinions. Resulting in friendships being lost, some expanding decades upon decades. And when this happens, friends lose the shelter of one another. Both are tragic.
Heart, I implore you, it’s time to come back from the dark.” ~ Mary Oliver
I feel certain you will agree, “it is time for many hearts to come back from the dark.” Perhaps it will be the end result of the virus, once it is over. I pray we never return to this constant state of ‘rush and confusion.’ And that we will once again respect each other, know our neighbors, pay attention to the magnificence of the earth that surrounds us, and foster kindness. Because the words of Robert A. Heinlein speak the truth, ” A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. A lack of consideration for others in minor matters and a loss of politeness…”
“There are many things to be grateful “for” but, as I ripen with the seasons of life, the many reasons blend into a sacred mystery. And, most deeply, I realize that living gratefully is its own blessing.” ~ Michael Mahoney
There are many things I am extremely grateful for and have helped me sort through these difficult times. To name a few, my husband who is at his core a cheerful person, the beauty of nature, and my blog. I am so grateful for my dear blogging friends, their encouraging words, and humor. And my dear friend of sixty-plus years, Janet. I am grateful life has not eroded our friendship.
“Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.” ~ Helen Keller
Dear friends, thank you so much for your visit. I wish you and yours a perfectly gorgeous day. May the week ahead be filled with everything that is good and wonderful. And, may you always find “calm in the chaos.” Stay well!
On that note, I will leave you with the thoughts of Steven Charleston. I hope you will find them as hopeful as I did.
Amour,
Sandra
Images: via tumblr, Michael S. Lambiotte
Sandra, my heart grew heavy as I read about your neighbor. We don’t expect things to happen like that where we live, do we? The Heinlein quote seems emblematic of our times. I hope that “wait and see” will prove true. Like you, I do long for the time when life was sweeter.
Dewena, no, we do not expect such dreadful things where we live. Such things I never thought would be possible in our little town, nestled in these West Virginia Hills. But, hate seems to be everywhere. I still hold on to my faith and I will “wait and see.” Have a beautiful and peaceful day, my friend.
Gorgeous pictures and quotes!Sending prayers to your neighbors,God bless you all…Hugs!
Thank you, Maristella. Have a beautiful day and week.❤
Sandra, how very sad about your neighbors three doors down from you. I so hope that they will recover from the wounds to the body and to their emotional well being. The first image is so calming and filled with the beauty of stillness. Thank you for the beautiful quotes, sentiments, and images. I pray for our country…
Good morning, Pam. It is so terribly sad about our neighbors. I pray for our country also but try to hold on to my faith that we shall heal wounds and once again be a kind and loving nation. We have much work to do. Have a beautiful day and week, dear friend.❤
As always, thank you for bringing sunshine to the dreary times we are living in. Have a peaceful Sunday.
Thanks, Penny. You have a wonderful day and enjoy your new home.
It is so very sad when the place we find as our comfort – our home – becomes the center of trauma. My guess is drugs were involved in the hijacker’s behavior, but the face of evil i shard to decipher. I hope your neighbor recovers completely, not only physically, but emotionally as well. I lean into uplifting reading and visuals in times of trials and stress. Your blog is good medicine, Sandra.
Good morning, Rita. It is so sad and disturbing when such things occur. I also try and read words that are uplifting and I find comfort in words written by talented souls of long ago. They also had many struggles in their worlds. I am happy you feel my blog is “good medicine.” Writing it is medicine for my own soul. Have a beautiful day and week ahead.❤
Sandra, I am so very sorry about the terrible incident with your neighbors. I will be praying for complete healing both physically and emotionally.
The lovely swan and the beautiful light peaking through fall leaves were very beautiful. The last picture is beautiful as well.
Thank you, Bonnie. I would never have dreamed in a million years that such an incident would have occurred in my sweet neighborhood. Even, small towns in the hills of West Virginia are not free from the evil of the world. Thank you for your kind comments, have a beautiful day.
A resounding Yes, this post! I thank you for the light you shine Sandra. I remain fully committed to sharing kindness and blooming where I am planted. If everyone did this we could create a beautiful world. Keeping your dear neighbor in prayer.
Dear Laura, I so thank you and definitely agree with you. I am a firm believer that the light will once again shine, but it will take all of us spreading it around. Your prayers are most appreciated. Have a lovely day and week ahead.❤
Sandra,
I agree wholeheartedly, chaos everywhere one goes, listens, hears , and feels. Your Sunday Thoughts, especially today “Calm” brings just that, “Calm” !!
Thanks so much !
David
David, thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to comment. I hold on to my faith that we will once again return to a kinder and better world, full of calm moments and beauty.
Have a lovely day and week ahead.
Sandra, I appreciated your blog. Last night I watched 17 doctors talk about how we need to quit this fear of this virus. They said the news is putting this fear in us; they are lying. It has caused unnecessary hysteria. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. We are losing our country. We need to retake our health. The doctors said that if this virus is treated early and aggressively, people will be fine. What I appreciated was how they talked about how we are harming our children with fear.
Mary Ann, yes, many people will survive, however, the numbers show many do not. Also, there is a concern for the ones who do survive of long-term effects that crop up later. And, not everyone has access to aggressive treatment. I just believe we all need to be smart and wear masks and respect our fellow man. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and your thoughts. Have a great week!
Sandra, I am very sorry to learn about your poor neighbors…just horrible. I sent up a prayer for their healing. I just felt tearful reading today because the world has changed in so many ways from what we once held dear. Living with a grateful heart, for even the smallest things, is carrying me through these difficult times, and reading your words of hope for our future days gives me something very precious to be very grateful for. Thank you! Wishing us all brighter days to come. Hugs!
Dear Bobbi, thank you so much for your kind words and for your prayers for my neighbors. Yes, living with a grateful heart, is also what keeps me afloat. I also hold onto my faith that “we will see” better and sweeter times. Many blessings, Bobbi. You are a gift.❤
Sandra, I am so sorry about your neighbors. I keep hearing of things like this happening, and it scares and troubles me so. I pray everyday for our country. Thank you for your beautiful blog. I always find it a place of peace. Take care, my sweet friend.
Good morning, Shannon. Yes, these things are so tragic. And in our little town here in West Virginia, in our sweet neighborhood, one would never think of such things happening. I am happy you enjoy the blog, as I do yours. It is such a help during these times.
Wishing you a beautiful week, sweet friend.❤
The quote by Steven Charleston is most beautiful, and so longed for during these tumultuous days. Lord, let it be so. I am so sorry that violence came so very near to you and I pray for peace.
Good morning, Lorrie. I so loved the words of Steven Charleston as well. And, like you, I pray they will come to pass. Wishing you and yours a beautiful week.❤
Dearest Sandra,
I could weep reading your beautiful words. For so many reasons. For the bad, but mostly for the uplifting and good. Even though these times in our country are disturbing, to put it mildly, I do know that our God is still in charge. I too wait hopefully for a better time, when we return to being a people who love each other, who don’t speak hateful or mocking words, and we can once again be a nation under God, one for all. I pray for your sweet neighborhood, and for our country. xo Lidy
Dear Lidy, thank you so much for your always kind and loving words and for your prayers for our neighborhood. Truly, it is so sad, and such things do not occur in our little area. I, too, pray for better days ahead. It is blogs, such as yours and words such as yours, that help through these difficult days.
Many blessings, dear friend.❤