Comments on: The Bridge to Authenticity http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/ It's about lessons learned... from life! Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:24:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1947 Robert Hruzek Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:06:18 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1947 <p>Joanna, what a great p.s. to your earlier comment. You're absolutely right - those of us who dwell in urban or suburban areas may have to look a little harder to find natural elements.</p> <p>But when we do, sometimes the interaction of man made and natural makes a sublime statement all its own.</p> Joanna, what a great p.s. to your earlier comment. You’re absolutely right - those of us who dwell in urban or suburban areas may have to look a little harder to find natural elements.

But when we do, sometimes the interaction of man made and natural makes a sublime statement all its own.

]]> By: Joanna Young http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1942 Joanna Young Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:39:49 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1942 Hi Robert, your storytelling is reaching amazing heights the last few days! Just wanted to add a ps that the sense of connection I was thinking of is possible in a very urban environment too - in fact sometimes it's more fun that way - watching a plant curl up through the crack in the paving stones, the flying ants that swarm around Edinburgh twice a year when the temperature goes marginally over the 'fresh summer day' bar, a cat snoozing on the warmth of a parked car... it's everywhere, you just have to - well I guess following on from today's story you just have to switch your focus and look for it :-) Joanna Hi Robert, your storytelling is reaching amazing heights the last few days!

Just wanted to add a ps that the sense of connection I was thinking of is possible in a very urban environment too - in fact sometimes it’s more fun that way - watching a plant curl up through the crack in the paving stones, the flying ants that swarm around Edinburgh twice a year when the temperature goes marginally over the ‘fresh summer day’ bar, a cat snoozing on the warmth of a parked car… it’s everywhere, you just have to - well I guess following on from today’s story you just have to switch your focus and look for it :-)

Joanna

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1933 Robert Hruzek Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:01:36 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1933 Rosa, you always leave such thoughtful comments! I think I know what you mean, too. For me, it's definitely my Faith in my Creator, His Son, and His Word that grounds me. Thanks for the kind words! :-) Rosa, you always leave such thoughtful comments! I think I know what you mean, too. For me, it’s definitely my Faith in my Creator, His Son, and His Word that grounds me.

Thanks for the kind words! :-)

]]> By: Rosa Say http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1929 Rosa Say Thu, 27 Sep 2007 05:06:30 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1929 Love the goal Robert, it’s another way to say live with aloha: If everyone resolved to living an authentic life, all pretense would be stripped away, we would love ourselves, and things would be so much easier. But alas, it’s not that easy. I’m with Joanna in her thoughts of sense of place, but to be completely truthful, place may give me comfort without authenticity at times. So I think my answer would have to be faith, not in the religious sense, but in the certainty of possibility. By the way, your bridge story kept me enthralled. You are such a fabulous story-teller! Love the goal Robert, it’s another way to say live with aloha: If everyone resolved to living an authentic life, all pretense would be stripped away, we would love ourselves, and things would be so much easier. But alas, it’s not that easy.

I’m with Joanna in her thoughts of sense of place, but to be completely truthful, place may give me comfort without authenticity at times. So I think my answer would have to be faith, not in the religious sense, but in the certainty of possibility.

By the way, your bridge story kept me enthralled. You are such a fabulous story-teller!

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1932 Robert Hruzek Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:00:06 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1932 <p>Mike, I thought it was CHEESE-art you guys were famous for! :-D</p> Mike, I thought it was CHEESE-art you guys were famous for! :-D

]]> By: Mike DeWitt http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1928 Mike DeWitt Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:49:12 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1928 Bob, As a native Wisconsin boy I couldn't erase those footprints. That's butter-art! Mike P.S. The mindfield is a term some eastern types use for the collective consciousness. Bob,

As a native Wisconsin boy I couldn’t erase those footprints. That’s butter-art!

Mike

P.S. The mindfield is a term some eastern types use for the collective consciousness.

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1927 Robert Hruzek Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:16:26 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1927 Joanna, Mike: hey, no problemo! Mike and I hung out at Liz's yesterday and sneaked into her refrigerator for a couple of Klondike bars while she was busy (tee-hee)... Would've gotten away with it too if Mike had remembered to erase our footprints from the butter dish! :-D Joanna, Mike: hey, no problemo! Mike and I hung out at Liz’s yesterday and sneaked into her refrigerator for a couple of Klondike bars while she was busy (tee-hee)…

Would’ve gotten away with it too if Mike had remembered to erase our footprints from the butter dish! :-D

]]> By: Mike DeWitt http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1922 Mike DeWitt Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:26:02 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1922 Joanna, Didn't I just see you in Chicago? You're fast! Mike Joanna,

Didn’t I just see you in Chicago? You’re fast!

Mike

]]> By: Joanna Young http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1921 Joanna Young Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:28:19 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1921 Hi Mike, looks like we're hanging out together today! Joanna Hi Mike, looks like we’re hanging out together today!

Joanna

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1926 Robert Hruzek Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:20:15 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1926 <p>Mike, not sure what you mean by "the mindfield" - never heard that one before. But I know the Holy Spirit and agree with you there!</p> <p>I guess I never put the connection to the name of your blog, though. Thanks!</p> Mike, not sure what you mean by “the mindfield” - never heard that one before. But I know the Holy Spirit and agree with you there!

I guess I never put the connection to the name of your blog, though. Thanks!

]]> By: Mike DeWitt http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1920 Mike DeWitt Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:17:54 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1920 ...and yes, that's the second definition of Spooky Action! …and yes, that’s the second definition of Spooky Action!

]]> By: Mike DeWitt http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1919 Mike DeWitt Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:17:08 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1919 Hi Bob, Call it the Holy Spirit, the mindfield, whatever. We're all connected all the time. Yes, it does (when I have the presence of mind to remember that fact). Mike Hi Bob,

Call it the Holy Spirit, the mindfield, whatever. We’re all connected all the time.

Yes, it does (when I have the presence of mind to remember that fact).

Mike

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1925 Robert Hruzek Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:09:46 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1925 <p>No problem, Joanna! Yes, I read Robyn's piece this morning too, and can certainly agree that being "out there" in God's creation can really give you a feeling of comfort than our usual urban surroundings.</p> No problem, Joanna! Yes, I read Robyn’s piece this morning too, and can certainly agree that being “out there” in God’s creation can really give you a feeling of comfort than our usual urban surroundings.

]]> By: Joanna Young http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1917 Joanna Young Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:19:22 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1917 Boy oh boy, Robert, you do hit us with some big questions - and I thought this was just going to be a witty travel piece! I think my answer comes in part from the amazing Robyn McMaster's blog this very day. http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com/2007/09/nature-stirs-insights-and-connections.html I look around me to the natural world. The ground beneath me is still: there. The trees are still breathing in, and out: there. Look about you and you will always find a sign of the seasons relentlessly changing. I don't know if it's the same thing as knowing who I am, but it's more like knowing 'that' I am, that I'm still here, the world is still turning, life goes on. There's a poem called "lost" that captures this for me, I believe it was a Native American poem adapted by David Wagoner. It starts like this "Stand still. The trees ahead and the bushes beside you Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here" It makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, doesn't it? Thanks for waking us up out of our comfort zones again! Joanna Boy oh boy, Robert, you do hit us with some big questions - and I thought this was just going to be a witty travel piece!

I think my answer comes in part from the amazing Robyn McMaster’s blog this very day.

http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com/2007/09/nature-stirs-insights-and-connections.html

I look around me to the natural world. The ground beneath me is still: there. The trees are still breathing in, and out: there. Look about you and you will always find a sign of the seasons relentlessly changing.

I don’t know if it’s the same thing as knowing who I am, but it’s more like knowing ‘that’ I am, that I’m still here, the world is still turning, life goes on.

There’s a poem called “lost” that captures this for me, I believe it was a Native American poem adapted by David Wagoner.

It starts like this

“Stand still.
The trees ahead and the bushes beside you Are not lost.
Wherever you are is called Here”

It makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, doesn’t it?

Thanks for waking us up out of our comfort zones again!

Joanna

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1924 Robert Hruzek Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:05:44 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/the-bridge-to-authenticity/#comment-1924 <p>Mark, I don't know... but being truly alone certainly wouldn't work for me! Personally, I really need to be connected to something outside of myself. I mean, I'm so limited...</p> Mark, I don’t know… but being truly alone certainly wouldn’t work for me! Personally, I really need to be connected to something outside of myself. I mean, I’m so limited…

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