Readings week of May 4th.

Readings from last week's Daily Contemplative Pauses

*All previous readings & reflections can be found here*

Monday, May 4th with Tom

Reading: I remember one morning when I discovered a cocoon in the back of a  tree just as a butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing  to come out. I waited awhile, but it was too long appearing and I was impatient. I bent over it and breathed on it to warm it. I warmed it as quickly as I could and the miracle began to happen before my eyes faster than life. The case opened; the butterfly started slowly crawling out, and I shall never forget my horror when I saw how its wings were folded back and crumpled; the wretched butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold them. Bending over it, I tried  to help it with my breath, in vain.  It needed to be hatched out patiently and the unfolding of the wings  should be a gradual process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath had forced the butterfly to appear all crumpled, before its time.

It struggled desperately and, a few seconds later, died in the palm of my hand. That little body is, I do believe, the greatest weight I have on my  conscience. For I realize today that it is a mortal sin to violate to great laws of nature. We should not hurry, we should not be impatient, but we should confidently obey the external rhythm.

— Nikos Kazantzakis in Zorba the Greek

Chant: Slowly Blooms the Rose within  — Lynn Bauman

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