No coincidence; a friend told me about your posts and shared the last one. I subscribed and felt I was guided to your sharing because I am in a small congregation in Ohio and am beginning a meditation group this next week there. I come from Buddhist and Congregational faiths and practices. I thank you for this sharing on slowing down and coming into stillness for the sacred rhythms of our lives. 🙏
While I completely agree with the sentiment of today's offering, it feels easy to misinterpret/misunderstand the myth - if the myth says humans/demi-gods could tamper with natural laws back then, then why shouldn't humans continue to use "science and technology" to tamper with nature now (leading to the cliff we are racing off of)?
Thank you for this thoughtful reflection. You’re right to point out the danger of interpreting myths like Māui’s as endorsements of human domination over nature. In our age—when, as Jean Houston puts it, we have the power to destroy ourselves without the wisdom not to—we must be careful about the stories we elevate. For me, the heart of the Māui myth isn’t about tampering with natural law, but about relational courage—acting for the common good when the rhythms of life no longer serve the whole. In many Indigenous worldviews, including Māori, humans are not separate from nature but part of an interwoven kinship. Māui’s intervention can be seen as a call back into balance, not an act of control.
Still, as you wisely note here, the threads of force and extraction are present. The discernment, I believe, is not whether we should “intervene” in nature, but how we do so—and from what posture. Do we act from fear, entitlement, and control? Or from reverence, reciprocity, and mutual flourishing? You've gifted us with something to think about. Thank you.
No coincidence; a friend told me about your posts and shared the last one. I subscribed and felt I was guided to your sharing because I am in a small congregation in Ohio and am beginning a meditation group this next week there. I come from Buddhist and Congregational faiths and practices. I thank you for this sharing on slowing down and coming into stillness for the sacred rhythms of our lives. 🙏
Love the Howard Thurman quote, thanks! End of that paragraph: 'Despite all the crassness of
life, despite all the hardness of life, despite all of the harsh discords of life, life is saved
by the singing of angels.' Yes!
While I completely agree with the sentiment of today's offering, it feels easy to misinterpret/misunderstand the myth - if the myth says humans/demi-gods could tamper with natural laws back then, then why shouldn't humans continue to use "science and technology" to tamper with nature now (leading to the cliff we are racing off of)?
Thank you for this thoughtful reflection. You’re right to point out the danger of interpreting myths like Māui’s as endorsements of human domination over nature. In our age—when, as Jean Houston puts it, we have the power to destroy ourselves without the wisdom not to—we must be careful about the stories we elevate. For me, the heart of the Māui myth isn’t about tampering with natural law, but about relational courage—acting for the common good when the rhythms of life no longer serve the whole. In many Indigenous worldviews, including Māori, humans are not separate from nature but part of an interwoven kinship. Māui’s intervention can be seen as a call back into balance, not an act of control.
Still, as you wisely note here, the threads of force and extraction are present. The discernment, I believe, is not whether we should “intervene” in nature, but how we do so—and from what posture. Do we act from fear, entitlement, and control? Or from reverence, reciprocity, and mutual flourishing? You've gifted us with something to think about. Thank you.
Let the Sun Shine in.