Ponder this:

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

As long as this exists...

I would be unsurprised to know that people who read this blog are familiar with Public Radio's The Writer's Almanac. On Monday morning as I drove to work, Mr. Keillor's voice was at first simply a soothing sound as he began to read "As long as this exists..." By the time he reached the second sentence, I was thinking of the appreciation of people throughout the world, throughout time, for the peace of nature. 
"As long as this exists," I thought, "and I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies, while this lasts, I cannot be unhappy." The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature, and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.

20 comments:

esbboston said...

&^)

Wanda..... said...

Very moving and appropriate thoughts for me to read this morning, June....after a night of strong lingering thunderstorms, longer and louder than any of my 67 years have experienced....there's a peace in the air this morning!

Christina said...

I have always, always felt strengthened and renewed after taking a walk in the woods, being in the quiet of nature. Thank you for one of my new favourite quotes.

Muffy's Marks said...

Yup, the very reason we moved from the city to an isolated area of Northern Wisconsin. My Maker is here and he gives me peace.

DJan said...

I listen to NPR whenever I am in the car, and I have often heard that program. I too am soothed by Garrison Keillor's voice but didn't hear that one, so I'm grateful you helped me out and I got to hear it after all. Perfect words for today. Thank ou.

Olga said...

True words all around.

Tom said...

I'm embarrassed to admit that I do not know of that program or the website, so thanks for the tip. (Did anyone else get those funny marks covering the Anne Frank quote, or is it just me? And if so, what are they for?)

Joanne Noragon said...

I am so grateful for NPR.

Sally Wessely said...

Thanks for sharing this. Sometimes, we must be reminded of the blessings we have where we can just go outside and enjoy the peace that nature gives. I think Anne Frank's positive approach to life despite all is what has continued to inspire others since her tragic death.

Carolynn Anctil said...

Beautiful. I know I feel this, here, in my new home in a semi-rural neighbourhood. Just this morning, I felt such peace, strolling with my dog in the back yard, stooping to examine the delicate blue tones of a broken robin's egg on the ground, and then rising to watch a woodpecker high in a tree beat out a tempo on the bark in search of breakfast.

Thank you for sharing this.

(P.S. What Muffy's Marks said.)

Blessings,
Carolynn

Grandmother Mary said...

Imagine being able to say that in her circumstances. When I lived in the states, I followed NPR. Now I follow Garrison's blog. Thanks for the inspiration.

Linda Myers said...

I was driving through Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia for the last two weeks. We took back roads. Wonderful!

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

Amen!

English Rider said...

It works for me:)

Hilary said...

Lovely passage, June. There sure is truth to that.

@Sightings: Yes, I see them too but I was able to read it without the markings in Google Reader, first. It must be a copyright protection of sorts... preventing easy copy and paste.

June said...

I don't see any markings anywhere....?

Hilary said...

June, here's a partial screenshot of how I see your current blog post.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x2/thesmittenimage/Main%20Album%202/Picture3.png

Hilary said...

Interestingly, I see it like that with Firefox but not with Safari.

Technology is strange and wonderful. :)

Freda said...

So very true and like the way I have been feeling myself. Easy to be grateful for creation when the weather is good, not so easy when all is damp and dark and wet. Thank goodness for spring.

June said...

Thank you, Hilary!
That's the flourish that I see only one of at the end of the piece.
I tried to remove that one little decorative piece, and can't.
I'd guess it's less about copyright and more about programming, hidden and otherwise.