When a waitress asked my father what he'd like, he often responded, "A pound of wisdom." My Daddy always reminded me that the pursuit of wisdom, dangling like a carrot just out of our reach, ensured us active minds and a sense of striving. He'd offer me hints along the way and the most resounding insight he gave me was, "true wisdom lies in the discovery and enjoyment of life's inter-relationships."
Daddy said "everything in life is inter-related. It's there. Just look for it." To him, life unfurled both a mystery and majesty at every turn. He'd notice, observe and then integrate. And somehow, deep within him, he figured it out.
Sometimes Socratic in methodology, Daddy asked both rhetorical and challenging questions of me, to keep both my mind and spirit alive. I always believed - and still do - that he taught more from his patience and silence in allowing me the discovery, than I could ever learn in school.
He taught me to "look beyond what I see" because most times, things are not as they appear and certainly more substance lives beneath our capabilities of casual observation. So, I look, I probe, I wonder and life continues to provide me with more insight and understanding as I walk, and often dance through this glorious experience called Life.
My spirit continues to renew as I look at life through lenses of relationships. I enjoy the more than occasional, "aha!" as a reward and satisfaction when I understand. Then, I confidently move on to the next puzzle.
You see, relationships exist not only between people, but events, circumstances, even cultures and environments. We easily recognize our human interaction, and that provides us with a glimpse of a small percentage of what the world holds. Human observations fall victim to time, and when we set aside the experience of evolvement, we can then align ourselves with a bigger concept of the Universe.
We broaden our vision of time and space and a new enlightenment unfolds - that which thrives, depends on and nurtures relationships. Burning within us, our souls activate eternal understanding and carry with us memories of all things past and present. Tapping into that recollection allows us to formulate today's world with a foundation of self-knowing. Extending beyond the limitations of "right now" we reach the summit of thought and enjoy an acme of discovery.
In seeking wisdom, we rely on the memories of our experiences, the observation of the present moment and our faith in a promising future. We integrate all these components into recognizing and understanding the inter-relationships of life and embrace our role in the world. --Marlene
Marlene Buffa “There I was, minding my own business, and God showed up!”
Taking a quiet sideways glance at life, Marlene offers us insight through her words and experiences. With degrees in Communications and Psychology from the University of Michigan, Marlene finds practical spirituality around every corner. A student of new-thought teachings she seeks wisdom through her observation of inter-relationships in our daily lives. Sometimes playful, sometimes poignant, always thought-provoking, her works inspire her readers in meaningful ways.
Marlene Buffa “There I was, minding my own business, and God showed up!”