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“Life glistens all around you. Can you find the immense beauty in nature today?” — Chris Dunmire

Photo from the 'Nature Sentiments' Printable Card Collection »

Life Glistens Beauty

Seeking Light Amid Darkness

By Chris Dunmire, CurrentLiving.com

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Those with alternative answers about "sacred contracts" and karmic comeuppance, or with atheistic and agnostic outlooks don't ease my pain or make the questions go away or keep me from experiencing what is innately human — how I'm hardwired to react to and cope with the aftermath of these tragic fallouts. Sometimes I wonder how I find the strength to face the unfolding of another day. If there is no other reason but 'survival of the fittest', then I'm afraid we're all in trouble.

To those who think tragic events only affect a locality, an immediate few of family, friends, schools, communities, a specific country or two, know this: the ripple effect is global, and what happens over there affects over here. It matters to me on so many levels what is happening around this world. What is happening in the land that I live. In my community. In my home. In my heart. And in the heart of my neighbor.

It's times like these that make me wonder if I write so much about creativity, cherishing life and drinking from the cup of laughter as a survival mechanism; to help reinforce my sense of self-preservation; as preventative maintenance for the inner coping mechanism that allows me to continue operating (even at low levels) to keep life moving. This shoring up ahead of time — the nailing of boards over the delicate glass windows of my soul before the hurricane arrives — must be what gives me strength to peel away the covers in the morning and put my socks back on when I'd rather stay undercover in my soft, warm bed hiding from another unpredictable day of "What's going to happen next?"

Yes, I'm afraid to leave my house at times. Yes, I go into shopping malls and wonder if the sweet smells wafting from the Bath and Body Works store will be my last. (I think of the time I broke up a fight between two snarling, multi-pierced teenager girls outside the BBW store. I don't stand by as an idle spectator when I'm endowed with the adrenaline-induced power to intervene between fellow females). And yes, there are nights I pray that I will slip away during my slumber so that I don't have to wake up to another day of tragic human loss due to school shootings, robberies, carjackings, wars, suicide bombings, disease, food poisoning, starvation, corporate greed, plane crashes, domestic disputes, mall fights, anger, jealousy, egomania, lust, and (insert your tragic state or event here).

Seeking the Light

This is where you're going to begin feeling the healing energy of this essay. If you haven't already, take a few moments to meditate on the opening quote and photo at the start of this piece. I wrote the words, “Life glistens all around you. Can you find the immense beauty in nature today?” for the accompanying photo capturing the vision of a bright starburst of sunshine glistening through the branches of an ice-coated tree.

This picture was taken within miles of my home after a nightfall of winter rain gifted our Midwest community with a delightful morning of ice-encrusted bushes and trees glistening beautifully in the sun. It was dangerously breathtaking — a unique far and few between sight that brought artistic eyes and cameras out into the daybreak cold to capture timeless moments of loveliness. I can't help but to look at this picture and find comfort and hope about life, about divinity, about the human potential of true peace and love.

I witness something so undeniable spiritual about this photo that transcends my pain, my fears, my lamentations about how business is conducted on this planet by desperate, disconnected souls who haven't learned how to connect to a higher purpose, a higher source. By those who haven't been shown how to thrive, and not just survive, in this complex world, and tap into their innate qualities and talents with the potential to unite us all to a higher level and expand our human family.

It is to these lost and disconnected family members that I offer deep compassion and love; my wish is to help them find their own light so that it reflects back to them the deep beauty and potential embedded within. I wish to help others to learn how to fill the voids of their souls in loving, nourishing ways instead of with desperate acts of self-abuse and violence. I believe in love and light. I believe it can be better than this.

When I'm in the desert at night, I look up at the dark sky illuminated by the bright moon and glistening stars. It's in this sacred space that I meditate and pray and ask why and fill my basket of hope for another day. In my darkness, the beauty of nature — of all creation — casts its light. As I look up and around I know there is something bigger, brighter, more compelling than me. Its expanse fills time and space up beyond what I can see or comprehend in my small life. This brings me comfort. This brings me joy.

Act on Your Inspiration — Photo Writing Prompts:

• What are you currently struggling with in your life? What are healthy solutions and resolutions to your struggles?

• Does finding the immense beauty in nature shore up your joy and illuminate your darkness? What takes your breath away?

• What is the "light" to you? What is glistening in your world? What do you see growing? Where do you thrive? •

© 2008 Chris Dunmire, CurrentLiving.com. All rights reserved. (03/12/08) Please do not duplicate this article elsewhere without my permission.

About the Author
Chris Dunmire is creatively engaged in life as an artist, writer, humorist, and publisher of the popular Creativity Portal Web site. She's trained as a creativity coach with Eric Maisel, Ph.D., and develops projects and playbooks to encourage creative thinking, artistic expression, and play in people of all ages. Learn more about Chris's books at CreativeSlush.com.