I've
always enjoyed reading the thoughts and observations of recognized
philosophers like Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Spinoza, Nietzsche,
Kant and my favorite, Marcus Aurelius. These very bright people have
given mankind the benefit of their many insights. They offer us their
thoughts on how we might choose to think and to live our lives.
To
philosophize is to observe, to think and to comment on things like
the meaning of life, its purpose and its value. We are used to
reading and heeding the thoughts of human philosophers. I've always
wondered what we might learn about life from the other living things
on this earth. The Creator has given all of these living organisms
the very same characteristics. Whether it is a dog, a tree or a
flower, life must appear the same to them as it does to us. They are
born, they grow, heal themselves, reproduce, they grow old and die.
We
have been given eyes to see with, a brain to think with and a voice
with which we can speak. The other living things may not have the
same senses as we, but being alive tells me that they are
experiencing life just the same. What might they tell us about life?
What could we learn from them? Does a flower ever ask why it is here?
Does it wonder about where it came from? Just as sure as there are
flowers, there must be a Creator. Do the flowers pray to the Creator?
Do they ask for things or are they merely grateful to have been given
life?
Let's look at that most beloved flower, the
rose. It appears to have no discernible organs like a brain, eyes or
a voice. It does seem possible to me, though, that a rose is able to
feel. For instance, it knows when it has been wounded and it
immediately sends healing agents to the point of hurt. I also think
that the rose, just as we do, is having an inner dialogue while it is
living life.
We
will walk to the garden where a rose bush is growing. At the base of
one of its stems is a small protrusion, the beginning of a bud. That
bud may have no idea of what it is or what it can become. Let's enter
its world and listen in.
Here
I am - I'm alive! I don't have any idea of where I am. It's dark, I
feel nothing and yet I have a sense of being safe and cared for. I am
alone in my own little world and yet I have the feeling that I am
part of something bigger than myself. There may be a different world
out there, one that is beyond my own, but I don't know it and I may
never know it. I have no knowledge of what I am or what awaits me.
Lying
here in the dark, I can feel warmth and moisture. It has no meaning
to me, and yet I like the way it makes me feel. I am very comfortable
with my life. I can sense energy stirring within me. And there is a
kind of movement, ever so slight. I feel myself changing. I feel
small, but I can tell that I am growing. It makes me feel more alive.
As I grow, there seems to be more to me, somehow, beyond my size.
Today
my darkness has turned to light. I feel brightness and some heat. I
have changed even more. I feel like I'm becoming something else. I
wonder what I will look like? Will I be a certain shape? A color? I
guess it really doesn't make any difference to me. I can give no
value to color. As a bud my color was not yet determined. Now that I
am larger my color is concealed to me. When I blossom it will still
not be apparent to me. Maybe I will be able to tell my color or my
value from whatever I will feel from those things outside of myself.
Here inside, I am so happy and comfortable with who I am, how I feel
and what I am becoming.
I
have blossomed! I feel so complete, just as if I have arrived at an
important stage of my life. I can now sense things that are affecting
me from "out there". I do not understand all of them, but
somehow I feel akin to them. Yesterday a living creature entered me.
It showed up so quickly almost as if it had flown from above. It was
small enough to walk around inside me. It made a funny buzzing sound
and it roamed around and brushed itself all over my insides. It means
me no harm. It seems to use me for it's own nourishment. I don't mind. I look
forward to visits from these little fellows. They are welcome. I miss
them when they are not here. It makes me feel good to know that I
have helped them in some small way. It gives my life more meaning and
value when I can be of service to another.
Time
has passed and I am now receiving visits from some very large living
beings. They seem so drawn to me. They spend lots of time making a
fuss over me. I feel that they admire me and value me. They find
parts of me that they praise. I feel so respected. Their presence
gives me a feeling of warmth and importance. I don't understand it,
but I like the way I feel when they are near me. I love being able to
bring pleasure to these large creatures. It gives my life purpose and
joy. They make sounds that I do not understand. A few of those sounds
have a wonderful effect on me. I hear sounds like "beauty"
and "love". Those sounds seem magical to me somehow.
One
day one of those large beings came by and made sounds that created a totally
different feeling inside of me. I heard, "darned thorn!"
"hate those things" and "worthless flower". I
find it so hard to bear the feelings that these sounds cause in me. I
sensed the large creature's pain and the very harsh feelings that it
directed toward me. It made me feel that I was somehow responsible
for its discomfort. I meant no harm. I did nothing to cause its
discomfort. I am only who and what I am. I cannot do or say anything
that can help that creature feel better about its reaction to me.
What I will try to do when one of these creatures comes into my life
is to simply accept my plight. I will not allow those feelings to
affect mine. I will accept and forgive.
There
are times when I am alone. I can sense no visitors. I would welcome
one of my little buzzing friends or one of the large beings that find
so much value in my being. I would even welcome one of the large
beings that find no pleasure in being with me. I realize that being
here alone brings me no pleasure and no pain. I have learned that my
life has little meaning or context without other beings to interact
with me. Although I can recall the feelings of comfort that many of
them bring to me, I have no sense of loss. I am alone, but I am
not lonely. I am what I am and feel complete within myself. I
continue to do what I do and be only what I am.
I
am beginning to feel some different feelings. I've not experienced
these before. I feel tired and I seem to be changing. The wonderful
feelings of energy, of growth and of having blossomed are
disappearing. I find it difficult to hold my head up on some days. I
don't understand what is happening to me, but I remain content within
myself. Parts of me are withering away and dropping off. There seems
to be less of me, but I feel no sadness. I continue to accept my
existence as I always have. I am so tired - I sleep.