This belated blog post started ages ago as I was taking a break from my computer by strolling through my neighborhood. The sky was bright blue, and the leaves… oh my goodness. I marveled at them, and said aloud, “The fall divas have arrived.” There was nothing subdued about the assault on my senses, each leaf dancing and waving to catch God’s eye. Some were still verdant green, which, combined with the deep blue sky, provided a pleasing oasis for the jewel colored divas, popping in lemon yellow, chartreuse, citrus orange, and carmine red. They were impossible to ignore, like a beautiful woman wearing a lot of makeup. A beautiful woman can get away with a lot more color than one who hasn’t such “good bones”. In short, bright color or creating a big bang in the right environment is one formula for catching God’s eye. But, it’s not the only one.
Last weekend I drove through the back wood mountains of West Virginia and North Carolina on my way to Savannah, Georgia. The color was stunning in a completely different way. It was more subdued. The fall leaves were not screaming; they were whispering.
The highlands were painted in an endless variety of ochre, copper, and brick. The wind brushed through the leaves, resulting in the sound of a polite applause for each other’s performance. The blue sky and verdant greens were still there, but it was a softer visual experience. I loved it.
When I arrived in Savannah, the trees were just beginning to turn. By default, the colors were muted by the blankets of cadet grey moss that drape mournfully from the enormous oak trees. And in this theater, it is the stunning architecture that provides a special backdrop for their performance. It is yet another story that burns bright enough to catch God’s eye.
All three experiences fill me with admiration, joy, and respect for the divine talent of nature – the same talent that is within us all.
Part of my role as a leadership consultant is to explore the hearts, minds, and desires of people, to help them listen to the clues the universe shares with them, and to find the courage to craft their own story. We build it together upon the strong foundation of our strengths. Slowly, gently, we reveal our own true colors, and make a difference in the world. This lifelong journey will inevitably catch the eyes of God and mankind, inspire those around us, and fill us with bliss.
What divine story are you creating today? Where does your bliss reside? Tell me more…
Vicki Flaherty
Wow! Love this post. Speaks to me, awakens me, invites me…moves me toward the light within, inspired by the beauty of nature. So many lines in your post were pure poetry to me: The fall leaves were not screaming; they were whispering… The wind brushed through the leaves, resulting in the sound of a polite applause for each other’s performance (now, that makes me think of me and you!)…Slowly, gently, we reveal our own true colors, and make a difference in the world. Yes, this last one feels right…my divine story is writing itself slowly, deliberately, soaking in what it needs to make the colors bright enough to catch God’s eye. YOU are the best, my friend. So glad you have arrived in Savannah! EnJOY! I predict it’s going to inspire your God’s-eye-catching-stuff!
Maureen Monte
Hi Vicki! thanks for coming out to play! I am delighted to hear that you found your own connection to nature in my words – it really was a marvelous experience. I have seen those colors of yours, over and over again. The question, for all of us, is do we see it in ourselves or must we be made aware of our beauty, turning God’s head in our direction, through the eyes of others? I don’t know… in my case, it’s the latter more often than the former. But it’s all part of our learning adventure – and for the adventure, I am deeply grateful. Here’s to celebrating (insert polite applause!) ;-)
Hazel
Maureen, I haven’t commented on this one until now because it is too hard. Your posts challenge me and make me think, and often I have something coherent from my thinking, but this one has challenged me to the point of me not having a response. I will come back to it, but for now I don’t feel that I am creating a divine story; I am just seeing where the world takes me, and all the while it is acceptable, I am letting it unfold. I watch as you, and others, create your stories.
I do love your use of language here, as Vicki says; pure poetry.
Maureen Monte
Hi Hazel! My goodness, I see you catching the eye of the universe and mankind on a regular basis! You are remarkable – think of the new people that have been introduced to you in the past few months, and who value your insight and guidance! Is that not a divine story? I believe it is. In addition, the source of creating a divine story is founded within, and comes from revealing all that beauty. Your strengths (adaptability being one of them) contribute to how you travel – letting the world shape that path rather than forcing it. I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. My only question is this: are you unhappy or do you wish it were different? If not, then I think all is divinely perfect! If you do hear or feel a tug to try something else, would it be possible to start small? Could you consider it a leadership experiment without self-judgement or attachment to the outcome? Permission to go play? “:-) Sounds like fun to me!
Thanks for your kind remarks about the language – that beautiful scenery was so inspirational!!
Hazel
Maureen, I am not unhappy. I have always been the sort of person to enjoy the ‘now’ for what it is, not fret over what it might have been. Sometimes things go wrong for me and then I push back. That is why I have moved to new employers, or done something as mundane as reorganizing my sock drawer. Just at the moment I don’t feel any great need to push back, with the possible exception of my sock drawer, so I struggle to see it as me creating any sort of story, I am just taking a path of low (not least) resistance. You shine light in unexpected places.
Maureen Monte
See? I like your description – enjoying the now. That IS YOUR STORY. . Do you understand how hard that is for most people, and the fact that they are unable to experience life that way causes them great angst? I think the universe is winking at you, rock star. :-)
Onward!