How does an apple ripen?
It just sits in the sun.
~ Thomas Merton, From Merton’s Palace of Nowhere by James Finley
Notes:
- Passage from James Finley: “Merton once told me to quit trying so hard in prayer. He said, ‘How does an apple ripen? I just sits in the sun.’ A small green apple cannot ripen in one night by tightening all its muscles, squinting its eyes and tightening its jaw in order to find itself the next morning miraculously large, red, ripe and juicy beside its small green counterparts. Like the birth of a baby or the opening of a rose, the birth of true self takes place in God’s time.”
- Photograph: Patty Maher with Claire in Exhibit A
- Prior “Lightly child, lightly” Posts? Connect here.
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.”
Live & Learn 
I guess we have some things in common with an apple…have a gentle day, pal – & if you don’t want to ripen before your time, don’t stay in the sun too long..😉
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Smiling. Yes. Thanks Mimi
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Merton was right. Believe me when I tell you this. Sun or no sun by the time you reach my age seventy three, you’re ripe. :o)
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Laughing. Funny!
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Laughing helps. :o)))))
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Often in life, we want to speed up a process that cannot be hurried. 🙏🏻 #patience
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Yes. And that was exactly authors point if you hadn’t seen the note on my post.
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in it’s own time. unless it is blown off or attacked by a bird. )
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Ha!
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They ripen best without our interference. Lesson.
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Truth.
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I am going to quite sitting in the sun…though I really do not do much of it anyway–want to get no riper……(Red Green: I am not old, I am just ripe)
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Not old, just ripe. That has rhythm.
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“…in God’s time.”
That same sun that shines bright on everything and everyone!
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Shine on!
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Reblogged this on Quiet Confidence and commented:
“Lightly child, lightly” I keep this quote next to favorite scripture and long a left note from my daughter reminding me not to worry. David Kanigan tells me what I already know and knew but, need to be told again. Prayer is trust and waiting. Striving is counterproductive to being the you God designed. This post is inspired by a quote from James Finley in which he, too reminds, “the birth of true self takes place in God’s time.”
So, rewind Lisa and rethink your waking thoughts of “Oh, I must do better today! I must be more disciplined and more productive! I must be more of who God wants to be!” Instead, I begin again. I quietly trust the consistent me.
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Thank you for the redesign of my day.
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So glad to have contributed a wee part.
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Slowly and patiently!!
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My heart needed to hear this today. 💛
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So glad!
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I’d like to see an apple tightening its jaw. Just once.
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Me too!
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Nice
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