Hello Everyone
Last week was a big week for me. I received a phone call one evening from a dear friend of mine and it was obvious she was very distressed. Early the next morning I received another call from the hospital to say that she was ill. As my sister suicided 10 years ago, I am now acutely aware of the mental anguish some people experience and how difficult it can be for them to ask for help.
I changed my plans for the week and flew across the country to be with her and help her in any way I could. It seemed that one of the best things I could do for her was to take her away to a quiet piece of the countryside. I was lucky that the beach was only 30 minutes away and we found an isolated spot to soak up the sun, listen to the waves gently lapping the shoreline and watch the birds. She fell asleep swaddled by the beauty and therapy that only nature can offer. Later she awoke feeling far more peaceful.
What is it about nature that is so soothing and nourishing to the spirit? Not that I do know the answer but, I suppose in some way it touches the inner core of who we are and our deep connectedness to this planet.
My relationship and commitment to this dear friend is something I cherish. So it is with some detachment that I read about the great social media of Facebook having reached its 500 millionth ‘friend’. There is no doubt that the internet and all it offers is going to be a significant part of the future. It IS another world and one that we will need to understand.
We have the internet and while it is the future, what is equally clear is that we need to remember our connectedness with the planet and the intimate friendships that go well beyond anything that Facebook could ever offer.
At its deepest level, our commitment to spiritual fulfilment, social justice and environmental sustainability are not likely to be achieved by superficial relationships on the net. We need not only a balance but a real desire to highlight the importance of nature. What were the words of that famous song? Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings these are a few of my favourite things!
Yes we have technology and it can be wonderful, we just need a balance.
Live! love! Laugh!
Roz Townsend visit www.roztownsend.com
Friday, July 23, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Technology and Spiritual Nourishment
Hello Everyone
Can you remember the first time you saw a mobile phone? Can you remember the first time you saw a television? Can you remember the first time you saw your mother? These are some of the questions that Dr Bruce Fell from Charles Sturt university challenged us with recently. For those of you reading this article you probably do remember the ‘first time’ you saw these things – except for your mother of course.
Dr Fell pointed out that for most of his students, they have no first memory of the mobile phone and many other items of technology. This level of technology has always been with them.
And recently I met the father of a two year old. The father woke up thinking that a stranger had entered his house and was talking to his son. When he went to investigate he found that the two year old had already mastered his latest piece of technology. The two year old had turned on his father’s iphone, then found one of his favourite stories and tapped on the icon to have the story read to him as he turned the pages! This from a two year old. What on earth will he be like as a twenty year old!
It is as though there is another planet that many young people are living on and it is the virtual world. A world where people do not ‘go’ online they are ‘living’ online; they are ‘being’ online.
It was also interesting when Dr Fell recounted an assignment he gave his students where they had to go outside into nature and observe. For many students this was their ‘first’ time in nature. Scary isn’t it?
This is one of the main reasons why the work done by organisations like Rahamim Ecological Learning Community is so important. It offers a space in Bathurst where people committed to living the spiritual values of mercy and justice might find kindred spirits. It also provides a gathering place where people can explore what it means to be good planetary citizens in the third millennium.
To lead healthy lives, people need the space and programs nourish their spirit. IA time and space where they can be connected to other people, the planet and their spirit. This in turn leads to a greater sense of well-being and purpose.
We need to acknowledge the place of consumerism and technology and then find a balance with real human values.
Live1 love Laugh!
Roz
http://www.roztownsend.com/
Can you remember the first time you saw a mobile phone? Can you remember the first time you saw a television? Can you remember the first time you saw your mother? These are some of the questions that Dr Bruce Fell from Charles Sturt university challenged us with recently. For those of you reading this article you probably do remember the ‘first time’ you saw these things – except for your mother of course.
Dr Fell pointed out that for most of his students, they have no first memory of the mobile phone and many other items of technology. This level of technology has always been with them.
And recently I met the father of a two year old. The father woke up thinking that a stranger had entered his house and was talking to his son. When he went to investigate he found that the two year old had already mastered his latest piece of technology. The two year old had turned on his father’s iphone, then found one of his favourite stories and tapped on the icon to have the story read to him as he turned the pages! This from a two year old. What on earth will he be like as a twenty year old!
It is as though there is another planet that many young people are living on and it is the virtual world. A world where people do not ‘go’ online they are ‘living’ online; they are ‘being’ online.
It was also interesting when Dr Fell recounted an assignment he gave his students where they had to go outside into nature and observe. For many students this was their ‘first’ time in nature. Scary isn’t it?
This is one of the main reasons why the work done by organisations like Rahamim Ecological Learning Community is so important. It offers a space in Bathurst where people committed to living the spiritual values of mercy and justice might find kindred spirits. It also provides a gathering place where people can explore what it means to be good planetary citizens in the third millennium.
To lead healthy lives, people need the space and programs nourish their spirit. IA time and space where they can be connected to other people, the planet and their spirit. This in turn leads to a greater sense of well-being and purpose.
We need to acknowledge the place of consumerism and technology and then find a balance with real human values.
Live1 love Laugh!
Roz
http://www.roztownsend.com/
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