The Beauty of the So-called Unbeautiful

One day, when my husband was about to do some yard-work, I asked him if it was necessary to yank out all the weeds. He replied that it kills the grass.

I then shared with him my thoughts and feelings about these rejected weeds, which I had a hard time understanding why most people disliked them; after all, they have attractive qualities, and I’m not just talking about a pretty face.

But then again, a couple of years ago, when my husband, dog and I would visit our local park, I didn’t appreciate the winter scenery due to its lack of greenery.

Note: Thank you www.barbarawood.com  for image on right.

However, as I worked on changing within myself (to include Being more positive, open-minded, open-hearted, more understanding, empathetic, compassionate, forgiving, accepting, embracing and unconditionally loving), I amazingly started to see the beauty in even dying or dead plants and trees.

Even while driving along the countryside, I love to look out the window and see all the weeds, and their lively and colorful beingness waving at me.

While running, I like to gently high-five the wheat-like weeds as I pass them by with a silent “good morning” from my heart.

Note: Thank you www.bloomberg.com  for image on left.

To me, their bright colors and their various artful shades, shapes, textures, sizes, designs and forms are more attractive than the plain grass, although I like them as well.

The weeds seem to have more life and creativity to them. I even respect their ability to survive practically anywhere and under various, harsh weather conditions.

Plus, I admire the weeds that produce the bright yellow and soft lavender flowers, as well as the puffy and delicate dandelions with its intricate design.

On slightly breezy or windy days, I like to watch them as they joyfully dance to the music of Life, swaying back and forth…to and fro, like a gentle wave playfully greeting the trillions of crystal sand particles on a lonely beach.

Note: Thank you quoteko.com for image on right.

As the soft tinkling of the wind chimes tickles our spirits, I imagine the weeds and I telepathically acknowledging one another’s presence with a Namaste.

Suddenly, an orange butterfly joins the dance as it gracefully moves from one flower to another like a ballerina. Then, a blue bird lands on the fence, turning its head side to side as if fascinated by the heavenly happenings of the moment.

As my senses are stimulated from my outer world—enjoying the Moment of Now (not dwelling in the past nor worrying about the future)—I realize that the tranquility of my inner world is being reflected back to me, and I intuitively sense that I AM One with God, Goddess and Divine Spirit/All That Is in those very moments.

Note: Thank you livelifelikecom.blogspot.com for image on left.

I even started seeing insects and bugs from a different perspective. Several years ago, in a hotel, I noticed a dead fly on the floor near a closet, and gently picked it up with a piece of toilet paper.

To my amazement, I was looking at the fly as if I was looking at a peacefully sleeping newborn baby, which has never happened before since I wasn’t fond of flies.

I felt like I froze in the moment and was able to zoom in and see the lifeless fly from close up. Looking back, I realize that at that very, precious moment, I was briefly observing the fly through the eyes of Universal Love. My heart went out to it.

Note: Thank you genestrother.com for image on right.

Unfortunately, after that beautiful moment, I went back to being my fearful ego self—killing flies that invaded my personal space (i.e., all up in my face or food when they have so much space around the house) within my home.

Recently, when a fly managed to sneak into our home,  I tried a different method since I was working on avoiding killing anything (to include insects and bugs) at all costs.

I would remind myself, even as I saw a baby spider crawling around the bathroom floor, that it was a beautiful and perfect aspect of God.

Note: Thank you popiatom.tumblr.com  for image on left.

After reading James Wilhelm’s book, I AM God and So Are You (a gift from him)––that further taught me what and who I don’t resonate with, as well as what and who I do resonate with—I tried something somewhat similar to one of his personal meditation experiences/teachings.

I focused on our energies being one, made an intention for the fly to fly out of my home so that I wouldn’t have to harm it, and then went about my business.

Shortly afterwards, I decided to close all the windows in the house (that had screens) after airing it out. As I was about to reach for the sliding glass door to our backyard, I noticed that the fly was sitting on the edge of the screen door.

I instantly knew that what Jim had taught worked like magic! I slowly opened the screen door, and the fly flew out as if it was waiting for me to set it free. I was so grateful for Jim’s gift/book that he generously shared with me and the rest of humanity.

Note: Thank you www.pcaproducts.com for image on right.

Once, my husband had to stop by a building to drop off some paperwork for his project.

While waiting in the car, I opened the windows so that I could better enjoy the shade that the grandmother tree provided, as well as the nice, cool breeze.

All of a sudden, four to five mosquitoes dove into my comfortable space like Air Force fighter jets about to attack King Kong, in order to quench their thirst for some special brand of Merlot.

Right as I was about to resist them—by swatting at them (like I usual did with mosquitoes)—I believe my True Self whispered to me to just Be still and welcoming.

So I telepathically communicated (at least that’s the story I’m sticking with) with the mosquitoes with love, “Take what you need.” Miraculously, they all flew out, and I felt frozen in the moment as I tried to digest what had happened.

Note: Thank you www.vectorfog.com for image on left.

While walking through the game room one day, I noticed a wasp on the carpet floor, which startled me at first. My initial reaction was to grab a fly swatter and kill it since they’re capable of stinging.

However, I believe my True Self whispered through my heart to Be Compassion. As I looked at the wasp close-up, it strangely appeared to have a human-like presence.

I couldn’t bring myself to kill it. I  managed to put a container over the wasp, and then released it outside.

That week, as I stepped outside, I saw a wasp flying near our doorstep. I instantly felt that it was the same one I had crossed paths with, although my logical side of my mind tried to convince me that it could’ve been any other wasp.

Note: Thank you moder-dye.blogspot.com for image on right.

During a walk portion of our weekly interval run one day (with my husband and dog), I noticed a beetle on its back, with its tiny legs doing a marathon in the air.

Although I normally didn’t dare touch bugs with my hands, I gently flipped it back onto its belly because I could no longer bare watching it struggle.

I imagined for a moment that I was out in the middle of the Mojave desert participating in a road march activity (like back in my Army days, just not in a desert).

While carrying a much larger than usual 80+ pound rucksack on my back, and having fallen behind the rest of the gang, I suddenly fall backwards and land on my back.

As I struggle to get back up, with my legs kicking frantically, I notice a few giants walk by, and I pray that one of them notices me. To my great surprise, one of them reaches down and gently flips me over.

Our eyes briefly meet, and I trust that my gratitude has been telepathically communicated via Universal Love, although there’s  an obvious language barrier between us since we’re “different” species.

Note: Thank you 1000awesomethings.com for image on left.

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

UPDATE (this section only)

11/13/15: Lately, I’ve noticed a few beetles in and outside of our apartment, which was more than usual, and I was reminded that whatever repeatedly shows up in our outer reality (i.e., person, place, thing, etc.) is like a neon sign that shouts, “Look here! I have a gift for you from the Universe within!”

I recalled writing about my encounter with a beetle in this post, but didn’t think to look up the symbolic meaning of it back then. So I chose to look up some interpretations of the beetle spirit guide this time, to include the one from “Symbolic Beetle Meaning.”

The following is a section of this reading that reminded me of my own physical smallness (4’9″/107 lbs), and how the beetle spirit guide within me is teaching me to no longer believe in small ways—-to include how I don’t contribute much to this world—because I do:

“Although they come in an infinite number of sizes, compared to people or elephants, beetles are mostly tiny creatures. Nevertheless, they are capable of moving mountains in their small worlds […] For such little creatures, beetles carry big messages […] “

Note: Thank you mashable.com for image on left.

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Continuing…

Although I remember loving insects, worms and bugs when I was a kid, I grew to become repulsed by most of them.

It was probably due to conditioning by society that they’re gross, fuzzy, disgusting, slimy, filthy, unattractive, harmful, and/or vicious.

I recall playing with caterpillars as a child–gently petting them–and even avoiding to step on a community of them—scattered all over the sidewalk right under a large tree—on my way home from school.

Note: Thank you www.aprairiehaven.com  for image on right.

I used to be fascinated by the various colors and designs of dragonflies and butterflies.

In second grade, a girlfriend of mine once taught me to gently catch a dragonfly when it landed, by placing its wings in-between my forefinger and middle finger.

We would then observe it, admire it, compare colors, and then set it free.

Once, I allowed these big, black ants to crawl up on my legs, as I was waiting right outside my house for someone. I just calmly and fearlessly brush them off.

Note: Thank you www.pinterest.com for image on right.

Looking back, I can’t believe I was able to do such things. As an adult, petting insects or allowing ants to crawl up my legs would send me straight to repulsed and panic mode. 

I read that a lot of our fears stem from being conditioned by a mostly fear-based society, and I’m convinced of this truth, not just by what others say, but from my own personal experiences as well.

Note: Thank you www.pen.org  for image on left.

Although being a kid has its pure and loving moments, there’s also a “darker”/lack of information side.

Sometimes, kids can be a bit “cruel” due to wanting to explore and satisfy their curiosities, and not realizing the consequences of their hurtful actions on others, to include non-human beings.

For instance, in 4th or 5th grade, I noticed some American boys in my neighborhood use a magnifying glass to to burn ants, and I felt sorry for them as they struggled to avoid the lazor-like fire.

Note: Thank you antfarm.yuku.com for image on right.

When I worked at an early learning center, we taught our preschoolers about concepts like empathy and compassion toward one another by providing them with various scenarios, and also showing them (i.e., gently lifting a rollie pollie that entered the classroom, and then setting it free outside, rather than smashing it (like one of our little boys did out of boredom).

Note: Thank you www.canstockphoto.com  for image on right.

I was surprised how well such young children are able to absorb such concepts and put them into willing action, something that even some of us adults don’t seem to comprehend and/or apply.

Observing these children talk about and act out what they’ve learned was simply amazing, to include but not limited to: understanding, unconditional kindness/love, forgiveness, acceptance of differences, the Golden Rule, sharing, taking initiative, having integrity (to include honesty), active listening, teamwork, etc.

I wrote about some of our methods in detail, as well as all the children’s oh-so-lovable and impressive qualities, in my unpublished post, “My Exciting New J.O.B. (Joy of Being).” I’m grateful that I learned some of these ideas from spiritual teachers such as Neale Donald Walsch.

Note: Thank you victoriaholland.wordpress.com on right.

Once, in 2nd grade, my neighbor friend (a boy) wanted to play a game. His nickname was pig in Korean for a reason I don’t recall since he wasn’t fat or sloppy.

However, as I’m typing this, the reason came to me (at least a reason that supported his unloving idea at the time).

Anyway, Pigbud told me to catch these flying bees nearby with this tiny, barrel-like container that connected and separated.

Note: Thank you thecrewreadandblog.blogspot.com for image on right.

He then instructed that once I catch them, to place the barrel in the small pond water, and then to pull apart the toy barrel.

I followed his lead, and then noticed a bee drown and become lifeless. It wasn’t a fun game anymore.

I wished I had been brighter then, so that I would’ve refused to do such a thing, but I didn’t know any better.

Note: Thank you flickrhivemind.net  for image on left.

When I was in high school (while living in Korea), I was walking up the stairs to my house (a rented two-story house where the landlord lived on the bottom section), and  a huge bee came flying toward me like a bat out of hell, and then stung me on the top of my head.

That was the first and last time I had ever been stung by a bee (I just knocked on my wooden incense holder).

I instantly had a flashback to that moment where I caused a bee to suffer, and I was in disbelief, as well as piercing pain. I wasn’t aware of what karma was back then, but I believe I intuitively sensed that I had it coming.

Note: Thank you www.financialdirector.co.uk for image on right.

Although I went through a phase in my later adult life, where I believed that karma was more like punishment, I now understand and believe that it’s for our soul growth/evolution.

Basically, the Universal Law of Cause and Effect…”You reap what you sow”…”What comes around goes around”…and “the Golden Rule”…as well as “What we do for others, we do for ourselves, and what we fail to do for others, we fail to do for ourselves…since We Are ALL One.” (last quote by Neale Donald Walsch).

Note: Thank you www.openhandweb.org  for image on left.

I felt guilty about the bee incident for a long time, along with anything else that I may have done to hurt another; but I recently chose to release guilt that no longer positively serves our soul growth, and to forgive myself.

I now choose to Be more cognizant of how I treat others, to include Mother Nature, since we are in essence all One….just unique aspects of All That Is.

While I watching one of Joel Osteen’s sermons (not because I’m religious, but because I enjoy his positive, uplifting, sparkling and lovable Being and his love for God), his cute bee story gave me a flashback about my bee experiences.

Note: Thank you commons.wikimedia.org for image on right.

I was tickled by his story because I understood that even though he was swatting at the very persistent bee (which he didn’t acknowledge as an aspect of Divine energy due to his limiting religious belief), he was merely trying to protect his baby girl, which any parent would want to do.

I admired how he ended the story with the fact that even a bee will stick around if it’s meant to survive (God’s will).

I believe the bee was highly attracted to Joel and his daughter’s loving energy, and just wanted to bask in his warmth and glow.

Note: Thank you rapgenius.com for image on left.

The more I had such experiences with Mother Nature, the more I became convinced that I was going through some major changes.

I also felt as though I experienced a taste of what it was like to be a Buddhist monk, since they don’t believe in killing any form of Life.

Even my Buddhist monk aunt brought home a kitten that was left in a trashcan, and raised it.

Hearing that story really moved me as a kid, and I didn’t understand why good people throughout the world (like my aunt), from outside of the Christian religion, weren’t allowed into heaven.

I went through a lot of inner conflict because of such a limited belief system, as well as my yearning to know God. However, I’m very grateful that God answered my silent prayer in Divine perfect timing, by not only introducing me to Neale Donald Walsch’s book, Conversations with God in my late twenties, but for also introducing me to the community of Spirituality in general in my late thirties, where there are many paths to God, and none is better or more superior than the other.

Note: Thank you www.elephantjournal.com for image on right.

Today, as I followed my path of excitement and passion (which informs us that we are in alignment with our True Self/Soul/God, Goddess and Divine Spirit/All That Is), I came upon a humorous post from the Openhand Foundation website.

I was reminded once again that humor truly has the power to uplift one’s spirits…sometimes sky-rocketing our vibrational frequency within seconds.

I was so grateful for yet another surprise and gift from the Universe, that I immediately decided to create a post, and not only share the post—filled with many funny, creative, cute, clever and even brilliant jokes—but to also share my personal experiences.

Note: Thank you bizarrocomics.com and www.ascensionearth2012.org for sharing the funny poster on left.

I copied the following brilliant joke (which reminded me of weeds, and then inspired me to write this post) from the blog title, “The humour thread – Jokes with a spiritual flavour (<= click on title to read in another window)”:

Note: I also added pictures below of the winter scenery that I took about a month ago at our local park. You can use them if you’d like. Enjoy! ^_^

St Francis and lawn ecology :0)

17 November, 2006 – 08:36 — Trinity