An echo of one's spirit

A Cheerful Temper

Artist: Jack Lundsdal

It was last year (or maybe the year before) that I gave myself a copy of Small Graces by Kent Nerburn for Christmas. Here's an excerpt that I just stumbled upon today:

I try always to look upon the world and the people I meet as echoes of my spirit. I know that if I am speaking with deceit, deceit will be echoed back to me . . . Likewise, if I find that I am constantly cheerful, full of brightness and hope, or deeply contemplative in the presence of a particular person, I know I am in the presence of a gracious spirit, and I am echoing the gift that is being given to me. It is as if the lesson of the echo contains the secret to understanding the space between us all.

This is really valuable to ponder as we start saying good-bye to the old year and welcoming the new.