Nature as a Mirror
Scaley Breasted Lorikeets
Throughout his life in his interactions with creatures—including birds, a wolf, a lamb, worms, fish and bees—St Francis of Assisi is always telling them that by their very existence they are inherently giving glory to God. All things should be who they truly are, and that is enough. Every animal must simply “be itself.” Each creature has a unique thing to do in the circle of life, and in that simple performance it is giving glory to a unique aspect of God and making us happy besides.
Nature was a mirror of the soul for St Francis of Assisi - a Mirror for himself and a mirror for God. All this mirroring effected a complete change of consciousness, a shift in how he saw reality. When Francis was a young man, he loved to party. One night he left the paty and looked up at the stars above Assisi. He stood there a long time, in awe of what he saw. He said, "if these are the creatures, what must the creator be like"? The outer world began to name the inner experience and the nature of God for Francis. It all became a two-way mirror through which he could see God and also see his deepest soul.
Taken from reflections of
Fr Richard Ruhr.
Nature was a mirror of the soul for St Francis of Assisi - a Mirror for himself and a mirror for God. All this mirroring effected a complete change of consciousness, a shift in how he saw reality. When Francis was a young man, he loved to party. One night he left the paty and looked up at the stars above Assisi. He stood there a long time, in awe of what he saw. He said, "if these are the creatures, what must the creator be like"? The outer world began to name the inner experience and the nature of God for Francis. It all became a two-way mirror through which he could see God and also see his deepest soul.
Taken from reflections of
Fr Richard Ruhr.
*****
Beautiful Image and words my friend;)
ReplyDeleteAll things come from the Lord, so yes. Nature does give us a glimpse at the Lord, and He is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Baz
ReplyDeleteHi Virginia thank you - Amen! I hope too that in becoming our real selves in Jesus that we too will become a Glimpse of God to others.
ReplyDeleteI really like this piece *sigh* thank you for posting, it gives my soul peace to read this.
ReplyDeleteforgot to say, I love the photograph, these little skelms are in your backyard too?? Just like the little Love-birds Melissa and I were breeding here. I gave them to a friend who has a larger aviary. They are so very cute.
ReplyDeleteYes I took these yesterday in the back yard - I have about 20 photos of them snuggling up in the wind and rain I think it was a mum and its baby by the way the second bird was behaving - in this photo the mum is just putting it's wing over its chick (i think). It is the chick that flew off in the other photo
ReplyDeleteFlickr">
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaawww they are too beautiful. Post and album of all your birds, remember we did say we were going to do that. Mine is not good as yours but I do have loads of bird photos from my garden
ReplyDeleteEverything has a purpose :) Nature can be so enlightening and definitely a time of reflection. The photograph is wonderful and I particularly enjoyed how you were able to capture the difference in both birds. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots and reading this morning. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of those wonderful colourful birds.
ReplyDeleteawww...very nice images!!
ReplyDeletehiya Cinna - thank you. It can be as you say even looking at water or mountains or anything from our world or universe - it can inspire or bring about deep reflection. You shoul know living in such a beautiful part of the world.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lyn - amd so glad you enjoyed!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mitch!
ReplyDeleteThanks Iva - real nice you dropped by!!
ReplyDeleteSorry I am late to the post, I love lorikeets and am so jealous that you have them in your backyard! wonderful shots!
ReplyDeleteand I really loved your post about St Francis and his epiphany! How magnificent.....
Reading this made me feel well. And your image is perfect. St Francis of Assisi must have been an interesting and good man and his thoughts about life has inspired so many of us!
ReplyDeleteI love this post...the photo and words equally. I wish everyone thought this way.
ReplyDeleteHey there Mo - real nice to see you and thanks for dropping in. Yeah I have so many birds in the back yard - you would be beside yourself with joy if it were your back yard. I have concentrated on capturing all the birds that comes into the yard. It is fun and I am getting more skillful in photographing them in the wild so o speak - if you call my back yard wild hahah. Soon I will do an album of all the different birds then you will really have something to be jealous about!!. St Francis was an amazing man and I am so happy you enjoyed the little post about him. Even this little post opens so many things one could think about let alone al the other things that happened in his life.
ReplyDeleteAre you sick at the moment or are you saying it made you feel good? Either way it is nice to think that a post could make someone feel better or happier or more positive. So thank you!!! St Francis inspires me in the way he looks at Gods creation, his Love and simple life. Real nice you came by always so nice seeing your face on my page.
ReplyDeleteMe too - imagine the world then - I am sure we would not only have a safer happier world with no global warming, poverty or greed!! Ahh well!! Thanks for your comment and so happy you love this post - I loved creating it. It is fun to create a post based on a photo or other times creating a photo to go with an post. Love it!! Thanks Dannette.
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos Keith. I can remember reading about St Francis of Assisi and it is the only one I believed and liked.
ReplyDeleteHiya Shayna - thank you! Yeah He is really likeable and had a beautiful approach to his Faith - pity those nuns were not more like him eh!!
ReplyDelete:-) I probably used wrong word. I meant feeling good.
ReplyDeleteI thought so!!
ReplyDelete:-)
ReplyDeleteThat is for sure Keith. They were really vicious where I was.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous blog Keith - love the combination of words and image.
ReplyDelete- sigh - photographing birds takes so much patience to get such good images., and I know how quickly Lorikeets can move about. Great catches.
hiya Lois - thank you!!! I sure does take patience and developing some new skills. You have experience with lorikeets or parakeets or something on your island as I remember - they do move fast!
ReplyDeleteHi you! Yay, one of most favorite photographers. The birds are true blessings of beauty are they not? And in all of those missed camera shots, those images will forever remain with you. What an honor given, just to spend that time with them! Thank you for sharing such inspiration!
ReplyDelete