W. Lee Baker Author Musings

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July 24, 2015 By W. Lee Baker

Meaningful Growth

Exploring Meaningful Growth

We humans can accomplish just about anything we want. Why not meaningful growth?  Better food? Done. More  entertaining diversions? Easy. We have a wider range of creative ability than any other species on this grand little planet. We can change just about anything with enough effort. Man has learned to fly, dive the oceans, and visit the moon and return.

We do know meaningful growth is a real result we have accomplished. We have consciousness of ourselves, who we are, and what we can do or not do. We can imagine and make images with paint or clay that are divine and  inspirational. We explore and find places previously unknown, discovering new realms, new ways to live, and ways to be productive. These are real meaningful growth.

We now make hugely productive smart phones and computers. These are miracles of our human abilities, and are bonded to the earthly elements we use to make them, aptly named rare earth elements, for good reason.

We have learned that sometimes the by products of our creativity sometimes make it hard to breathe.  We have learned to plant trees to replace the ones we have harvested for the buildings we live in and the fireplaces we have filled. We have noticed the differences between being on a freeway or in a meadow. Only our own limits of imagination controls how far we can see.

This blog aims to explore and elevate the conversation of what it is to be human, at this time in our history. I hope you will enjoy the explorations with me.

 

More resources:

Meetup.com spiritual growth groups

Exploring the Labyrinth for Growth

Exercise for Meaningful Growth

Filed Under: Spirituality, Uncategorized

MEDITATIONS

Rainer Maria Rilke

If you trust in Nature, in the small Things that hardly anyone sees and that can so suddenly become huge, immeasurable; if you have this love for what is humble and try very simply, as someone who serves, to win the confidence of what seems poor, then everything will become easier for you.

Rainer Maria Rilke
Ray Stevens - 1939

Everything is beautiful in its own way. Like the starry summer night, or a snow-covered winter’s day. And everybody’s beautiful in their own way. Under God’s heaven, the world’s gonna find the way. There is none so blind as he who will not see. We must not close our minds, we must let our thoughts be free. For every hour that passes by, we know the world gets a little bit older,it’s time to realize that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Ray Stevens - 1939
Stuart Wilde ~ 1946

Watch nature, because it is your greatest teacher. It moves and flows and moves on again. There is an incredible beauty out there in the mountains, in the forests, to teach you it’s silence, it’s beauty, it’s humility. Stay aligned to that.

Stuart Wilde ~ 1946
Native American

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us. We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases. We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone. We return thanks to the sun, that has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye. Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of her children.

Native American
John Burroughs

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night: to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring… these are some of the rewards of the simple life.

John Burroughs
Dalai Lama

When the days become longer and there is more sunshine, the grass becomes fresh and, consequently, we feel very happy. On the other hand, in autumn, one leaf falls down and another leaf falls down. The beautiful plants become as if dead and we do not feel very happy. Why? I think it is because deep down our human nature likes construction, and does not like destruction.

Dalai Lama
Hermann Hesse

For me, trees have always been the most penetrating preachers. I revere them when they live in tribes and families, in forests and groves. And even more I revere them when they stand alone. They are like lonely persons. Not like hermits who have stolen away out of some weakness, but like great, solitary men, like Beethoven and Nietzsche.

Hermann Hesse
Rumi

We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten our former states, except in early spring when we slightly recall being green again.

Rumi

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FROM W LEE BAKER

I am a testimonial to waking up from the deep sleep buried in clouds of doubt. I wandered lost until I found my way into this life, and I am ever thankful and reverent of the mistakes and losses along the way. Now I hope to offer inspiration to others who find this story.

– W Lee Baker

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