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Serendipity! I was thinking about Emerson's quote recently but applying it to my experience in conversation with a person rather than an observation about a weed. In that conversation just when I was mulling over in my head questioning their virtue as yet "undiscovered by me"... this question emerged w/o thought. "Are you virtuous?" If so, in what way?" Huh, where did that come from?

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Your comment sent me off to learn more about "virtue". Most sources attribute a meaning of "moral excellence".

Is that what Emerson meant? How would I know?

I found the 7 holy virtues are: humility, charity, chastity, gratitude, temperance, patience, and diligence.

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K writes and speaks about virtue. It is as if ii emerges from "insight" not from thought. It is manifested in relationship. I interpreted all this as "love".

For many years my mentor Lee Thayer taught or non taught the concept of playing our "roles" as virtuosos. It was a very pragmatic application.... of the concept in it actualized concepts or a way of being into "behaviors".

In 1985 before K or Thayer had entered my conscious world I wrote a life plan that included the language to be a virtuoso in my role as a Husband, Father, Brother, Son, Friend. What are the virtues of a virtuoso in these roles? Behaviors? I had no idea as to what or why I was doing it at the time. What I did know was that I was compelled...

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Insight… not thought. I understand what that means now. It has taken lots of learning/experience to get here.

A way of being then shows up in our doing — without thought.

Compelled to me means — I follow the lead of something bigger than my small self/ego.

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The seven deadly sins sound so much more interesting...

Just sayin'!

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Typist, as we were discussing:

“Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.” -Emerson

One of the 7 holy virtues...

What does undiscovered really mean? Is it the same as unrecognized? Is it possible a narrow focus might have us overlooking other qualities?

Reminds me of another short quote:

“Be curious, not judgmental.”

~Whitman

In Reno, my curiosity had me discover a beautiful yellow star shaped flower (weed). It became the centerpiece of one of my impermanent earth art

🌎🎨🌎 creations. It was an interloper, what the locals call, one of the “good” weeds! 😊

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Undiscovered and unrecognized have the "same" meaning to me in this context.

And yes! No doubt there are more than 7 virtues. 🙏🏻

I'm reading The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr and in the early pages he's introduced me to a way of thinking that is quite powerful. "But God loves things by becoming them. God loves things by uniting with them, not by excluding them."

That said, as a creative gardener, I think it's okay to exclude weeds from beds and planters with an understanding that they can perhaps be of service in a different environment... ???

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Sign: “I used to be a bus driver but I had to quit. I was fed up with people talking behind my back!” 😁

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The school bus is now passing Henrietta and I on our morning strolls. That’s one job I’d never consider! I can’t imagine maneuvering the vehicle… and then… all of those kids!

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😂🤣😂

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The topic stirred a memory of a nearly 100 year old song. (I didn’t hear it when first recorded)

I’m looking over a four-leaf clover

I overlooked before

One is the sunshine, the second is rain

Third is the roses that bloom in the lane.

No need explaining the one remaining

Is somebody I adore

I’m looking over a four-leaf clover

I over looked before.

I can almost see a Vaudeville production of this number...

So on this September day, what a delight to see the clover blossom rising above the adjacent plants. Previously undiscovered beauty, now on display.

Best of days to the four of you!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY-_8XOrvTs

The interloping clover (along with Emerson's quote) has stirred an idea for a children's book! 😄

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OMGoodness This takes me way back to "Mummer's Parade" and the cadre of "String Bands"...

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As a participant or observer?

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An observer mostly. A couple of times as a participant. Although, I would have to say that even as an observer along the parade path it was a form of participation.

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The sound in the video was monophonic, the plucking of the upright bass strings muffled, but the message of the song was clear as a bell!

So as a soundtrack to pondering possibilities, one has emerged. Sweet!

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Jack, I appreciate you making sure we understood that you didn’t hear the song when it was first recorded! 😂🤣😂

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