From Joan Chittister's book - Wisdom Distilled from the Daily/Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today -
"Just like the sun and its light, the ocean and the wave, the singer and the song. Not one. But not two."
TRAVELING
Do we travel alone or with a myriad of passengers
Do we travel on the wave and the sea
On the wave and the sea with the moon's rays casting reflection on the night waters
Do we ourselves acknowledge the abundance and blessing of travel and leisure
Or that God and His Son travel beside us at the ship's rail
As the sea and the wave are one, as the moon and the light are one, but not two
In walking cobbled thoroughfares of Romans, Ephesians, Christians
Our steps on ancient paths cannot separate us from their footfalls
Rather remind us of our connection and mortality
We are not one, but many, not one but not two
Below, my own reflection and thanksgiving upon Sister Joan's words -
TRAVELING
Do we travel alone or with a myriad of passengers
Do we travel on the wave and the sea
On the wave and the sea with the moon's rays casting reflection on the night waters
Do we ourselves acknowledge the abundance and blessing of travel and leisure
Or that God and His Son travel beside us at the ship's rail
As the sea and the wave are one, as the moon and the light are one, but not two
In walking cobbled thoroughfares of Romans, Ephesians, Christians
Our steps on ancient paths cannot separate us from their footfalls
Rather remind us of our connection and mortality
We are not one, but many, not one but not two
SS Photos - Ephesus Ancient Cross and slow tourist season in Ephesus
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Lovely!
ReplyDeleteyour words and joan chittister's make a lovely combination. one of the main questions people ask as i prepare for my upcoming trip is "who are you going with?" or "are you traveling alone?" i have had a hard time responding. i mean - do we every really travel alone? "not one. but not two." profound.
ReplyDeletexoxoxoxo
btw--i love the photos in the sidebar! AND am stunned everytime i see the coliseum in the midst of modern day traffic!
Jennifer - love to have you reading here! Tx.
ReplyDeleteLucy - people we meet in conversation can't believe we, get that we, traveled alone without a group. The only "lemming-like" thing I really like to do is to cross a busy street:)
Anyway, to answer your question, no, we're never really traveling alone - although, there is something to be said for the bravery of certain spirits I know who launch into adventure seemingly alone:) I agree that Chittister's - "not one. But not two." was also quite profound. I went back again after I had posted and realized that she was quoting an unknown Benedictine monastic. No matter who said it, it's great to ponder the concept!
I'm loving reliving the trip in my "sidebar" - glad you noticed:)
xoxox