One Day at a time, a daily reflection

by surprisedbyjoy@yahoo.com

December 5

Walk in Peace and beauty

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30

Thich Nhat Hanh is keenly aware that when we look deeply, we can literally see each other’s worries and anxieties with every step. Our steps may be heavy, filled with sorrow and fear. We might feel insecure and our steps are self-revealing. Yes, the world has many paths. If we walk on them with a heavy heart, we will not appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, and the joy that can be within us. Learn to walk again. Learn to walk slowly, with joy, deep comfort and peace. Smile like a Buddha and be happy inside.

Thich Nhat Hanh writes: "Peace is the walk. Happiness is the walk. Walk for yourself and you walk for everyone. Peace is every step. The shining red sun is my heart. Each flower smiles with me. How green, how fresh all that grows. How cool the wind blows. Peace is every step. It turns the endless path to joy."

Near my home is a wild flower labyrinth on a full acre of land. The owner is a gentle, elderly woman who lovingly cares for her garden. At the beginning of the labyrinth walk, she has posted a laminated copy of this Navajo prayer, to encourage pilgrims to walk in the beauty of their precious lives: "In Beauty may I walk. All day long may I walk. Through the returning seasons, may I walk. Beautifully will I possess again. Beautifully birds…Beautifully joyful bird…On the trail marked with pollen may I walk. With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk. With beauty may I walk. With beauty before me may I walk. With beauty before me, may I walk. With beauty all around me may I walk. In old age wondering on a trail of beauty, lively may I walk. In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk. It is finished in beauty. In beauty may I walk. All day long may I walk. It is finished in beauty."

Prayer: God, help us walk peacefully and in beauty. Amen.