The same day Kathy took the picture for my post Time to Rest she took this picture of a single tree standing against the horizon as the sun set. She called it the sun set tree.
This spring and summer has been cool and dreary with many days below average for temperature and with. Yesterday, we began to turn the corner with some heat that is supposed to continue for at least a week. If we wait, the sun comes out and warms things up. For growth to occur, we need rain. As the heat takes hold and the sun does it job, a little rain must fall.
The same applies to our lives. We conflate passion and love. Passion contains love. It also holds moments of sorrow and pain. Compassion is sharing the good, the not-so-good, and refraining from doing harm to other sentient and non-sentient beings. We cannot go it alone. Nature teaches us about the essential idea of inter-being, a concept Thich Nhat Hanh writes about. Being mindful of Nature’s teaching gives insight into how we might inter-be with and in the world. It is not always clear. Into our lives a little rain will fall and there will cloudy days to help produce the sun and growth.
Sentinel stands guard;
Blurry silhouette.
Against leaden backdrop;
Appearing lonely.
Gently smiling sun;
Sharing tentative rays.
Receiving warming glow;
Gathering to grow.
Revealing that hidden by shadows;
Stretching boldly.
Smiling with Brother Sun;
Sharing sacred moments.
In a time where social inequity has been laid bare in incredibly visible ways, brought out of the shadows, we need to think, not about what privilege we might lose, but about how we can help each other be lifted up, particularly the most oppressed amongst us. I listened to Simon and Garfunkel growing up and enjoyed The Sound of Silence. This cover is my favourite version and reminds us we need prophets to write words on the subway walls.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Beautiful! π, C
Thank you Cheryl
Fabulous video. Wow! The name, Sun Set Tree is lovely.
Thank you Gigi. I love well done a capella songs well done. This group does a great job with a wonderful mix of voices.
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And the post ended so eloquently:
“…. reminds us we need prophets to write words on the subway walls.”
ππΎ
Thank you for the kind words
. “We conflate passion and love.” Ooooh. I love that phrase. It sounds good saying it out loud too.
The weird thing is that I discovered that video of Sounds of Silence just at Christmas after I listened to their version of Mary Did You Know. I wholeheartedly agree with its “wonderfulness”. Certainly, the best I’ve heard since the original by S&G.
I learned something, a great photo, and poetry to make me ponder.
Another great post, Ivon. ππ»π LL
As someone who grew up in the church, I understand the difference between passion and love based on the the agony of Jesus.
Kathy likes a version done by a guy who calls himself Disturbed. I find his version too dark and disturbing, pun intended. Thank you Laura-Lee.
I have several single trees that speak to me and the words of this song have always moved me to tears. Love their version as well. I am saddened to think I am known as now being a privileged white when I have always loved for who you are not your nationality. Sometimes I want the world to stop so I can leave all this madness π¦ Be well.
Nice allegorical post, Ivon.
Thank you Bela.