Dear friends,
Just to say that at this time that I will be holding you all in my heart as surely many of us are doing for one another on an unprecedented global scale.
This morning as I walked through the beauty of a very still garden, I again realised how amazingly beneficial the effect of nature is for mind, spirit and body. I pondered too how many of us have taken her for granted as she reveals to us how to be grateful and appreciate the positive things in life. Even amidst all the problems we may face the birds are still singing, the sun is still shining and somehow life goes on. I trust, as I know so many of you do, that we come through this time of crisis with a deeper appreciation and gratitude and reverence for nature and for the gift of life. This is indeed an ‘opportunity blowing on a dangerous wind.’ May each of us who are privileged enough to embrace a measure of solitude, emerge from this time with renewed commitment to a heightened consciousness of our beautiful and fragile world, and our interconnection and compassion and care for one another.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have expressed concern for Temenos and the large family under our wing. We do so appreciate your ongoing awareness and kind support, especially over the last weeks.
I would also like to say a huge thank you to those of you who have come forward, completely unexpectedly, to offer monetary assistance during these challenging weeks. Every contribution, big or small, has touched me deeply. We are committed to supporting our Temenos staff and their many dependants to the best of our ability. This has also enabled us to begin putting in place a feeding scheme for the animals in the care of our staff who may well suffer greatly as a result of economic circumstances. My gratitude too to those friends who have offered ‘hands on’ assistance with a soup kitchen should the need arise in the near future.
To conclude, I would like to share with you the inspiration I draw from a little Christian saint, Therese of Lisieux. We may not be able to solve or control the bigger picture or its outcome, but moment by moment we can do little things with great love. I feel sure many of you are involved in your own gestures of kindness and compassion towards others, whatever from that takes. Let us not judge one another’s reactions and responses but commit rather to live quietly and firmly in our faith, our spiritual practice and our integrity. By choosing to direct ourselves to be peaceful and calm on the inside, regardless of what is happening on the outside, we may be assisting one another in greater ways than we can imagine.
With love,
Billy