Good Wednesday morning to you, my dears. (Smile. I have always wanted to call people “my dears” like spiritual folks sometimes do. They always sound so loving when they say that.)
Today I would like to introduce you to an elder living in the United Kingdom named John Butler. Sometimes I listen to his YouTube videos about all things spiritual and holy and loving.
He sports white eyebrows and a Santa Claus beard and speaks so calmly and peacefully from his heart. He’s one of the most humble spiritual teachers I’ve stumbled across. He makes fun of himself, embraces his humanity, and yet keeps gesturing to the earth as solid and the heavens as holy.
This video caught my attention because he shares what I heartily believe (and often forget): Life itself is the teacher.
Isn’t Life teaching us all the time? Every single day we’re given what we need to digest, to look deeper, to relax , to explore, to seek, to let go? Life polishes us like gemstones: around and around in the rock-tumbler of Life.
If you listen to the end of this twelve minute video, you’ll reach the heart of his message. (In the beginning you’ll see the ordinary humility and laughter which pours out of him.)
I hope you enjoy this. Please let me know what you think. As always, blessings on your day.
Day 11 of a seventy-five day journey to more deeply connect with God, Spirit, Holy, Love…to explore “What the Heart Knows” during the waning days of 2020.
“… it does become more meaningful to trust… to trust Life itself.” Not sure why that settled in my heart this morning, but it did. Thank you for introducing us to John Butler. There is something very calming about him, isn’t there? ❤
There really is, Robin. That is settling in my heart after hearing this, too. I don’t always follow him, but his spirit is so peaceful that he’s a good listen–especially if we’re not feeling that way. I am glad you resonated.
John is a delight. I especially like the part in the video where he’s talking about meditation, the ability to rise up & look down to see that people and their dogs are little parts of life– while at the same time three hikers are walking the path behind him. They seem like an example of what he is saying. Serendipity, you gotta love it.
Wasn’t that cool, Ally? I noticed it, too. It’s like his words and the actual happenings of life came together in that part of the video. Glad you thought he was a delight, too!
That will be me in a few more years! Ha Ha! Standing in nature share whatever wisdom I may have gleamed from living life one day at a time. In the grand scheme of things all those questions, concerns, worries, and so forth will be answered or just forgotten.
Mediation in whatever form one finds comfortable is the time Oneness can be obtained as well as felt.
Sending (((Hugs & Healing)))
Jeff, I am grinning thinking of you with a big white beard and bushy eyebrows teaching your wisdom to the world! You have a lot to give, and I hope you continue to share all the wisdom that you’ve learned. xoxoxo
Thank you Kathy! I don’t have eyebrows or not very much of them. I could have a long beard…
I am so happy about this. Thank you Kathy!
Leelah, and you know I’m happy that you’re happy! 🙂 🙂 🙂
So here’s my life. As soon as I started the video, granddaughter got into the paint and painted herself and the brick before I could stop her. There must be a lesson here. Patience? I let the video play during the cleaning but I have no idea what he said except, “Until another day. God bless you.” Well, that’s something. XOXO
Oh my oh my oh my! I can totally get it why you were totally unable to concentrate on dear John. But think of the memories you’re making with that precious little one! I so envy you a grandbaby… (And you probably caught just what you needed. Until another day. God bless you.) Smile.
Yes, I am thankful for this type of chaos.
“Life polishes us like gemstones: around and around in the rock-tumbler of Life.” I love this so much and it is quickly becoming the theme of my day. I need to trust more and feel the peace of everything happening. So beautiful. Thank you
Doesn’t it feel like it’s a rock-tumbler of life we’re in? I think we all need to trust more and more that we’re being guided each and every moment. Thank you so much, my dear wandering empath. 🙂
Great fun. Shared this on my FB page and your blog link as well.
Thank you, Deb! I am glad you enjoyed!! And that you shared on Facebook…maybe others will get to know John Butler as well.
I think I could listen to John’s voice as I meditate, and afterward, when I take my blood pressure it would be low. Tomorrow is another day…life itself as teacher…the giving up of control. John makes it sound easy. Thanks “my dear” for this post.
Isn’t that right, Barb? I think he could lower all of our blood pressures. He does make it sound like a piece of cake, but we know it’s probably a bit more than that… 🙂 Grinning ear-to-ear for your “my dear” comment.
Life gives us so much to ponder, digestive, and reflect. Human tendency is to look at the pieces, therefore forgetting to look at their connections. Meanwhile, the Dance of Life made me smile – after all, we miss our ballroom dance hobby & friends.
You do ballroom dancing, Frank? If so–it must be for you that I found the old dancing photo and put it up here. It sounds like you and I think about connections a lot.
Yep – about 12 years – but for fun, not competing. But COVID has kept us away from that hobby. Wrote about it a lot on the old blog – but dance topics will appear as a walk. 🙂
I think it’s cool that you compete! Will look forward to reading about dance topics in the coming weeks.
John Butler says life is the teacher. He advises people to do as he is doing, to simply listen to the river, go home for tea, go to bed, and wake up tomorrow to a new day. It’s a very simple message at its core – life goes on, regardless of what happens in the world. I believe this is a message the world needs to hear now, but the question is, is everyone listening? Hopefully many are.
Just an aside, Kathy, with my family roots being in England I had to look up John Butler before I listened to him. He fimed this from where he lives, Bakewell, which is in Derbyshire. Bakewell is a town many of my ancestors were born in. I thought that was rather nice. 🙂
I am so glad you listened to John, Joanne. And what a cool connection between you and him and Bakewell! This is a great synchronicity. His message is very simple and direct, as you’ve noted. I don’t know that many are listening. I wish they were. But whoever finds something like this, I suppose that has to be enough for now. (And good morning to you!)
Oh, will watch the video. I love his look, super nice!
Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Sunrise leaf ~ what a lovely picture! I love John Butler — I started listening to his videos after Joan Tollifson posted one on Facebook. I feel like I’m listening to the calm steady wisdom of my grandfather or even Gandalf. So happy you shared this and that it resonated with so many of your dear readers.
I am glad you liked the sunrise leaf pic, Barbara–it is actually sitting on our woodshed roof (outside the bathroom window, don’t tell anyone, ha ha). It looked so stunning with the dawn light behind it that I had to try & capture it. As to John Butler, I think I learned of him from Joan too! 🙂
My favorite part of that video: “Oh my dear boy!”
Adorable and wise.
Wasn’t that great? I loved that line too!
His warmth and calm are so welcoming. I just want to hug him.
Awww, Lori, I am so glad you liked his energy, too! What a “dear”. 🙂
He really does look and sound very wise, doesn’t he.
I always think so when listening to him.