October 27-B, 2022

**Beech Trees 10/28/2008 Oil Paint Rendered — Guilford College Woods, Greensboro, North Carolina**

Knowing and serving what needs to be done
in each situation as it arises
is complicated by 10,000 things,
which can be categorized
as noise and complexity.

Reducing the noise and complexity
at work in our life
is the first thing that needs to be done.

We reduce it by being aware of it
and distancing ourselves from it.

Increasing the emptiness,
stillness
and silence in our life
is the second thing that needs to be done.

Removing the distractions/diversions
is the third thing that needs to be done.

Taking care of the Three Things
is called Preparing The Way
For Seeing, Hearing, Understanding,
Knowing, Doing, Being.

With that, things fall into place,
and we are able to be what is needed
in the time and place of our living,

To expect more of ourselves than that
is to raise the level of noise and complexity
in our life,
and we will have to excuse ourselves
in order to take care of that.

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Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything. View more posts