A Plein Air Life

My head is full of images of beauty and wonder as I listen to John O’Donohue. I hold my friends dear to my side in life and friendship, and I want to share the following interview with you that we may talk about this approach to seeing life and beauty and God in each other.

John O’Donohue was an Irish poet and philosopher beloved for his book Anam Cara — Gaelic for “soul friend” — and for his insistence on beauty as a human calling and a defining aspect of God. He was interviewed on Speaking of Faith. When you have an hour (make the time) to listen… go to http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/john_odonahue/ to hear this safari of beauty… or » Download (mp3, 53:05)

Here is a quote from the interview…

“If you realize how vital and important to your whole being, spirit, character and healthy friendship actually is, you will take time for it. The trouble for so many of us is that we have to been in trouble before we remember what’s essential. Sometimes its one of the lonelinesses of humans is that you hold on desperately to the things that make you miserable, and sometimes you only realize what you have when you are almost about to loose it. So I think it would be great to step back from ones life and see those that hold me dear, truly see me and those who I need. and be able to go to them in a different way. The amazing thing about humans is, we have an immense capacity to reawaken in each other the profound ability to be with each other and to be intimate. There is this a lonelinesses here that is being covered over by this fake language of intimacy that you see everywhere.”

“When I think of ‘beauty,’ some of the faces of those that I love come to my mind. When I think of beauty, I also think of beautiful landscapes the I know. Then, I think of acts of such lovely kindness that have been done to me by people that cared for me and in bleak and unsheltered times or when I needed to be loved and minded. I also think of those unknown heros…I also love music, I believe that music is what language would be if it could.”

Please make time to download this to your iPod and listen as you walk along the beach, or at the edge of a forest, or at dusk in your own backyard. When you do, let me know and let’s have a cup together to reflect on it. At the least… feel free to make a comment below. -Peace, Rich