Reivised: Orignailly written for of the 2021 Call to Artists - for a Studio B's literary and Art exhibt, Boyertown, PA
My Favorite Things
Beauty, Goodness and Truth are not just a “few" of my favorite things, but very precious things for everyone. I strive to understand and reflect them in my life--falling far short most times, no doubt. Although they are not just “things,” rather they are qualities, or states of being; nevertheless, they are manifested outwardly and inwardly, in oursleves, in others and in the seen and unseen world. They are recognizable in people, places and life situations. We can understand and experience them, or their absence, in so many ways and places. In our own thoughts, feelings, intentions and actions, we can see, feel and be affected negatively or positively by them: in others' gestures, speech, tone of voice, and actions.
The words of a song from The Sound of Music only begin to suggest the effects of my favorite things, “When I'm feeling sad / I simply remember my favorite things / And then I don't feel so bad.” There is so much more than remembering and feeling better. Beauty, Goodness and Truth each has the capacity to convey various levels of meaning, and engender gratitude and even joy, day to day and throughout a lifetime.That this trinity exists affirms life and inspires as touchstones and guides.
Beauty
In William Wordsworth poem, “Tintern Abbey,” he returns after five years to the banks of the River Wye in Wales. Seeing the abbey again, and the surrounding landscape, he realizes that, “These beauteous forms, / Through a long absence, have not been to me / As is a landscape to a blind man's eye.” The scene havinglived in him all those years, was, “Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart; / And passing even into my purer mind.” I, believe Wordsworth that Beauty has, “no slight or trivial influence / On that best portion of a good man's life / His little, nameless, unremembered, acts / Of kindness and of love.“ And that when Beautym, seen or recollected, “the heavy and the weary weight/ Of all this unintelligible world/Is lightened.” As a young poet, A.E. Housman is also affecting by
Wow! Does beauty have such power? Yes! As newly weds, over 50 years ago now, my husband spent a year in Florence, Italy. I recollect, golden memories of being young, a life ahead, and the beauty all around in a city that, to me, was a work of art in itself: the architecture, gallaries, cathedrals, and the sunlight falling on red tile roofs and ancient stone, tall cedars on azure hills of orchards and vinyards, the green river Arno, the gardens and fountains, resounding church bells. All are "living" memories.
What is beautiful we love, and in loving, we respect and protect. Whether Beauty in the moment or remembed brings peace and lightens the heavy and weary weight of the world.
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever / Its loveliness increases; It will never / Pass into nothingness; ... (Keats)
Goodness
Under the umbrella of Goodness are many qualities to consider: ethics, honesty, civility, patience, kindness, compassion, integrity, actions and deeds for the common good. Goodness comes in many forms: Simple—paying it forward to the next person, when the person ahead of you at Starbucks, has paid for your coffee at. Or profound, as the story goes that, when one of Mahatma Ghandi's Hindu followers was distraught when his son was killed in a skirmish between Hindu and Muslim mobs: Ghandi advised, ”Go and find an orphan child born of Muslim parents, adopt him as your own son, and bring him to worship Allah with the ideal of non-violence.” A saintly lesson in Goodness.
We do not always see Goodness or are able to adhere to it when we most need to, It is often compromised, or intentionaly or uninentional perverted in personal agrandisemnt, conspiracies and other professional, political, cultural and even religious distortions. It can be, and is often is, difficult to live up to its demands, yet examples are all around if we but observe with with clear eyes, heart and mind. We can also contribute, to Goodness in our lives and in the world in significant ways, large and small, for the benefit of another, or for the common good, which fosters hope for, and faith in humanity and the future.
Truth
Truth is relative, it is said, which mostly refers to “our own truth,” specific to us as individuals, having formed opinions and beliefs, based on perceptions, experiences and the information we have (or do not have) at the time. It is often hard to say what is and who has absolute truth. Only such truth that is irrefutable can be absolute—such as in science and mathematics (i.e., the earth is round and 2 + 2 = 4, though some see to dispute the former, (maybe even the latter!). My understanding of the probablility of living truthfully (again, I admit to falling far short) has to rest in a commitment to striving (and recommitment) to seek truth by observing closely, listening with an open mind and heart, knowing how to think critically and employing it, then speaking honestly, acting cautiously, and as kindly as possible in all of our relationships and interactions with others, which helps create respect for and trust in one another.
Then there are those “significant if unverifiable truths," involving the transcendent, though discernable truths"" in spiritual teachings, in psychological principles, in philosophy, myths; music; literature and art, as well as in nature and the inscrutable universe. All have the capacity to inspire, motivate, enrich and sustain us beyond measure.
Beauty * Goodness * Truth
Often, Beauty, Goodness and Truth are interwoven for us to decipher what we see, read, hear, reflect upon, and attempt to understand the meaning and mystery within them and of what and who we are and wish to be. My three favorite things are often separately indistinguishable, as are the threads of a rich and brilliant tapestry design, yet, each with the power to pass into our purer mind, lightening the burden of this world, rendering it more intelligible.