It’s said that when the legendary Russian ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky leapt across the stage, he would pause in mid-air for a moment before descending to earth. This last day of the calendar year is a bit like that, isn’t it? We pause, just for the briefest of moments, before the new year begins.
I’ve spent the afternoon watching the wonderful film Mr Smith Goes to Washington. I love Frank Capra’s work, and I haven’t seen this one for years. There’s a scene early on in which the eponymous Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) talks to his assistant Saunders (Jean Arthur) about his father. The wonders of the DVD pause button allowed me to jot down the dialogue. This is what he tells her:
My dad had the right idea. He had it all worked out. He said “Son, don’t miss the wonders that surround you. Every tree, every rock, every anthill, every star, is filled with the wonder of nature.” He said “Have you ever noticed how grateful you are to see daylight after coming through a long dark tunnel? Well,” he said, “always try to see life as if you’d just come out of a tunnel.”
That’s what I wish for you and for me during 2009, that we really notice the beauty of light, or know it’s out there, even if we cannot always see it from our tunnels.
In these most uncertain times, I wish you all a year filled with meaning, depth and beauty.
Photograph by Vaidy Krishnan
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
molly 12.31.08 at 5:03 pm
“pause in mid-air for a moment before descending back to earth”…that is like the space, the silence between thoughts when meditating…the place where the all-that-is is experienced. That is beautiful Thanks for sharing it.
Elaine 12.31.08 at 6:48 pm
So lovely, Tess. The finest New Year’s greeting I have ever received. And I return the same good wishes back to you.
I’m going to forward the link to your post to a few close friends and families.
It’s much more meaningful than a simple “Happy New Year.”
Epiphany Girl 12.31.08 at 6:48 pm
Dear Tess, I am thinking that I have been remiss as an American and a person having never seen this movie.
May you dance into the new year with the grace and power of Nijinsky. May you look at life with the wide open eyes of the most perfect idealist, the most awestruck child.
Blessings,
Marisa
Kate Iredale 01.01.09 at 9:01 am
Thank you for those wonderful wishes Tess and I wish for you, many, many blessings of joyful delight for the coming year!
Tess 01.01.09 at 3:27 pm
@Molly: “…the all-that-is…” that phrase really speaks to me, it is both present and permanent. Thank you.
@Elaine: thank you so much, I’m always grateful for your lovely comments!
@Marisa: thank you, what a lovely blessing. And yes, get your order into Netflix right away, the film is dated in many ways but there are still a lot of echoes for us today.
@Kate: I was thinking about you earlier as I experimented with the optikVerve Photoshop filter – that was a great introduction from you during 2008!
Endlessly Restless 01.01.09 at 5:51 pm
Tess – what a lovely and positive thought to start the year with.
I hope that 2009 is full of God’s goodness and rich blessings for you.
Sunrise Sister 01.01.09 at 7:21 pm
What a beautiful blessing you’ve sent out to us all. The message of the light and the message of “Mr. Smith” – truly words to live by. Happy New Year Tess!
lucy 01.02.09 at 5:13 am
wishing you light, dear friend! i thought maybe “light” was my word for the year, but i think it may be “fire”…still pondering, but it was delightful to see the words of mr. smith. thank you and happy new year!!!
Barney 01.02.09 at 9:15 am
There’s something here about figure and ground. I believe psychological research shows that we find it easier to focus on the figure rather than on the ground. I often find myself consumed by what presents itself with immediacy and fail to notice the ground of my being, miss out on the spaces between things, the moments of silence that are as important as the music – that are part of the music of life.
Anyway, as I write, the pause has finished and we’re off at high speed into 2009. Tess, I wish you a fruitful year.
Barbara 01.02.09 at 2:24 pm
Good, gentle, shadow-chasing light surround you in the New Year, Tess. Did you ever see Nureyev dance? He, too, seemed to pause in midair.