Emerson - A Heart Reignited

Reading an Introduction into The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, I was stirred by the words of Mary Oliver. As she described Emerson I was reminded of how “like-souled” we are and how in many ways I desire to be like him in his simplicity in observing life, his contentment, and yet his deep thinking, active mind to find beauty in the most common observances of everyday life.

I have felt for some days, perhaps even weeks, as though I were half dead in my soul, trying to figure out why I should still draw breath daily when my life felt purposeless and empty of aim. Mind you, I was not suicidal, but rather, just sort of living on "empty". Life lacked something.

Last night, my soul’s embers, once thought smoldered and cold, were suddenly stirred while reading. Reignited was this small spark, a flicker, that turned into a slow and steady flame. I know now that much of what was lost was my own observation of life, life with its daily common happenings. Instead, I had been filling my day with the clutter of duty, chores, deadlines, etc… the mundane…all these calling me to attend to them, but all the while neglecting what has been a passion in life, the keen observation of life all around, and drawing upon the hidden lessons that life wants to teach me if I will stop and observe.

How seldom I had opened the doors so that I might step outside and see the happenings in my community. Here, I have been granted this unique privilege to live in this particular time, and in this unique area of the world. But sadly, my only portals to see outside this vessel had been the media…the news, magazines, articles, television, the internet, etc. To my own detriment I had ignored the most obvious portal of all – my own eyes, my own heart, my own understanding. How about those things I look upon, learn about, apply my heart to understand about what I am seeing. What about my perspective? Why should everyone else's perspective about life be more esteemed than my own? After all, they cannot see what only I can see. If perchance I understand what I am observing, I might in turn also elevate those who are involved.

Emerson in his introduction to his first published essay entitled Nature wrote, “The sun shines to-day also.” (This is our day to live, much like others who lived so fully before us! They had their time; we now have ours!)

Harriet Martineau wrote of Emerson, “His influence is of the curious sort. There is a vague nobleness and thorough sweetness about him, which move people to their very depths, without their being able to explain why… He conquers minds, as well as hearts, wherever he goes; and without convincing anybody’s reason of any one thing, exalts their reason, and makes their minds worth more than they ever were before.” 9th June, 1848

I want this to be the theme of my life, that others were better for having been in my presence, that they were edified, elevated, improved, for having known me. People should be left better than we find them! As a young girl I can recall my mother's teachings: "People cannot be replaced," she would say, "things can be replaced, but not people!" She helped me realize the worth of a man.

Emerson would daily jot notes in his journal – simple observances versed profoundly, and vice versa, profound observances versed simply. He wrote with eloquence. He was inspirational, yet modest. Some favorites of the thoughts he preserved in his journals:

“We live amid surfaces, and the true art of life is to skate well on them.”

And perhaps my favorite (taken from Ms. Oliver's introduction):

Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view."

This last quote noted here gives wings to my petitions, reminding me that yes, I see the situation…indeed, it is right here; I am not denying it. I simply choose to change my perception, viewing it instead with God beside me. He is in the picture. Viewing it from God’s vantage point, suddenly, all appears possible!