The Freedom to Choose Graciousness

I've long found a magnetic beauty in the idea of graciousness. We've all had those moments, when an unexpected graciousness is summoned from us, or when we've experienced the gift of another's graciousness. The expression of graciousness lends a degree of beauty and meaningfulness to our interactions; they're lifted above the ordinary and become truly memorable.

Recently, dipping again into the late John O'Donohue's poetic and inspiring book, Beauty: The Invisible Embrace, I came across this passage on the freedom to choose graciousness:

"…a spirit and atmosphere of graciousness often emerges when the human heart reaches into its own nobility and allows the destructive reaction to disappointment and hurt to open into something more healing and creative. Regardless of outer circumstances and even inner turbulence, we always have the freedom to choose differently. This is a difficult freedom. In many instances, it may be beyond our reach. However, the freedom to choose graciousness is a freedom no-one can take from us..." (p. 184)

One definition of 'graciousness' is acting from or expressing 'a Divine influence upon the Heart' that causes one to rejoice and feel a sense of wellbeing and heartfulness. How lovely is that?

In a time when so many things seem overwhelming, beyond the grasp of our seemingly small efforts, we become weavers of beauty, right where we are, when we cultivate graciousness and extend it in our day to day interactions with each of the people with whom we come into contact.

A seemingly small thing, yet, as O'Donohue says, perhaps a 'difficult freedom' in our current hurriedness. Yet we know the power of it -- we've experienced it, and have been left better for it, or have left another better for it, as we've continued on through our day.

Comments

[Kim]

That's just gorgeous Jamie, and at the same time, so powerful. If we all got this: "we become weavers of beauty, right where we are" how amazing our world would be. And as you and John O'Donohue rightly say .. it starts right here and now in the heart of each one of us.