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To become mindfully aware of our surroundings
is to bring our thinking back to
our present moment reality
and to the possibility of some semblance of serenity
in the face of circumstances outside our ability to control.
Jeff Kober, 1953-
American actor.
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SERENITY
The ability to offer no resistance to reality brings a sense of serenity. It’s one of the ways I can turn off the judging messages that pass through my mind. I can merely say, “It’s raining,” without having to welcome all kinds of commentary about how I feel about it. It’s a discipline to be able to stop and look upon nature as it is without interpreting it. Like looking at mushrooms in a forest, I want to allow myself to just observe without endless commentary. It brings me to a deeper place in my being.
Having serenity and a sense of calm as I enter into the room of my patients helps me be present to them with all that I am. The tranquility I feel gives off a sense that my efforts will be to assist them on the healing path. It requires of me a commitment, to be honest with the things going on in my life. Learning what I need to do to free myself from my internal commentary, is a great spiritual practice.
There are so many temptations to judge my colleagues instead of offering no resistance to where they find themselves at this moment. I want to keep trying to allow them to be where they are at and realize that it’s all part of the created worlds movement toward authenticity. Serenity is the outcome.
Divine Calm, transform all my judgments into peaceful acceptance. Knowing that serenity comes with a recognition of things as they are, help me to trust that the energies of love and care that I bring to others can heal. Let me accept this grace. AMEN.
ACTION: What challenges your serenity most in these days? Is there a way you could find a new sense of calm? Talk to a good friend about your hope and desire for peace. |
About the Photographer
Central American eco-guide and professional nature photographer Fred Muller was busy climbing trees and inventorying orchids in the mist-saturated cloud forests of Cobán, central Guatemala as part of a diversity study when I connected with him by phone this week. Fred is one of those incredible people who has abandoned the familiar to follow his passion; exploring and documenting the phenomenal diversity of tropical nature. He lives a full and active life introducing visitors from around the world to regional wildlands and their remarkable flora and fauna, especially the thousands of orchids that inhabit Mesoamerica.
Fred was born in Montpellier in southern France and, since early childhood, has had a fascination with nature and wild places around the world. He was a jewelry maker in France for a few years and that too stemmed from his fascination with all beautiful things. But, tired of sitting at a bench, he finally heeded the call of the wilderness. Traveling to Australia he followed the light with nothing else than a recent gift, his first professional camera given by one of his uncle’s friends, and boundless dedication day after day. Then, life connected him with both researchers and amateurs that needed high-quality photos of tropical wildlife and plants. He has been fulfilling his dream in Guatemala since his arrival there in 2007 after spending five years as staff photographer at the botanical garden in Lyon, France.
Fred’s extraordinary photographs of Central American orchids flowering in nature have appeared in the annual calendars of the American Orchid Society as well as on several well-known webpages that showcase tropical nature, including David Scherberich’s amazing online aroid plant image base and Exotica Esoterica where he is a collaborating author.
You can see samples of Fred’s amazing photographic work here. Or, better yet, feel free to contact us to connect with Fred and schedule a custom-made tour through the fascinating ecosystems and Pre-Columbian archaeological sites of southern Mexico, Guatemala and other countries in Central America.
Nursing Heart is grateful to Fred for permitting the use of his photos in this series called, “Peace.” |
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Quote of the Week
Seeking inner peace and serenity
empowers the nurse to remain calm amidst the chaos.
Chris Tesch, MSN, RN
Nursing Instructor
University of South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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