JUST STOP! written by Jan Spiller

Behind the timeless striving

Of man to reach his goals…

Behind the search for knowledge

So the answer can be known

Behind the endless looking for

That something to make us full

The object of the searching

Has been there all the while.

If you can stop…and listen

Just stop, and you will know -

The mind was only a diversion

And all the time you were whole!

Apart from the appearance

Of what in life is real

Apart from the mirage of things

That seem to have some value

Apart from personality

With all its different needs

Lies the source of all . . . . .

To live content with small means

to seek elegance rather than luxury and refinement rather than fashion

to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich

to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly

to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart

to bear all cheerfully

do all bravely

await occasions

hurry never-

in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconcious

grow up through the common.

This is to be my symphony.

-William Ellery Channing