Some may remember a favourite poem of mine. ‘Leisure‘ is a poem by Welsh poet W. H. Davies, where he writes…
“What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.”
and finishes with the words…
“A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.”
When we look around us I’m sure that you, like me, see and feel the effects of life lived at a very fast pace with little time to just relax and be ourselves. Technology is a wonderful thing and where in the world would we be without it? It is especially valuable for those who rely on it to make their special needs easier to live with; and yet there is a downside. People seem to find it more and more difficult to live in the moment.
I have become more conscious that instead of just enjoying a walk, playing with children, looking at a beautiful garden, out comes the phone or camera to take a picture, send a message, tweet or post it on Facebook. Perhaps that is why I enjoy going to the cinema or a music concert because I can sit back and enjoy the film or appreciate the music with gadgets switched off.
We all need time to be ourselves, time to think and reflect and enjoy moments that strengthen and feed our inner being. This can’t happen if there is always a screen to claim our attention. For years I have kept some words written by a monk and I found them recently when I was clearing out my study. I think they can give us all food for thought.
He says…
“If I had to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take more holidays. I would be crazier.
I would climb mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets.
I would do more walking and looking.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I am one of those people who lives life sensibly hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments and if I had to do it over again I’d have more of them.
In fact, I’d try to have nothing else, just moments, one after the other, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I’ve been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, aspirin and a parachute.
If I had to do it over again I would go places, do things and travel lighter than I have.
If I had my Life to live over I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the autumn.”
(Anonymous. A friar in a Nebraska monastery.)
Somewhere in those words is truth for us and our world. Maybe next time you reach for your phone, stop, look, enjoy the moment and let it feed your soul.
(This article by Rev’d. Jenny was originally published as part of St David’s Messenger in November 2017)