at the Open Installation, by Olafur Eliasson
The Power of Openness: Seeing Beyond What’s in Front of Us
When Danish artist Olafur Eliasson created an art installation called Open, he invited visitors to engage with their surroundings in surprising ways. Mirrors multiplied the space infinitely. Light changed how objects appeared. Colors shifted, revealing the unexpected. More than art, it was a question: Am I open? Am I open to seeing the extraordinary within the ordinary?
Openness is about curiosity—choosing to see what’s possible when it feels like life is saying “no.” Amanda Gorman, born with a speech impediment, could have let that "no" define her. Instead, she stayed open, nurturing her creativity and finding her voice in poetry. That openness led her to the world stage as the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, inspiring millions with her words. Imagine what’s possible when we embrace openness in our own lives.
The Power of Appreciation: Starting with What We Have
The loaves and fish on hand in the well-known story of Jesus feeding the multitudes were laughably insufficient. Yet Jesus appreciated what he had before giving the formula for experiencing spiritual abundance.
Appreciation is like that. It shifts our focus to possibility. I remember sitting in my first apartment with little more than a plastic fork and plate, feeling sorry for myself. Then I started to count my blessings—quietly, silently, finding one thing at a time to appreciate. There was carpet. It was quiet. I had a job. The act of gratitude didn’t change my circumstances overnight, but it transformed me. It built strength and hope where there had been doubt.
The Power of Flexibility: Turning “No” Into “What else is possible?”
Life doesn’t always go the way we hope, and sometimes the “no” feels final. Wilma Rudolph, diagnosed with polio as a child, was told she’d never walk again. She didn’t fight the “no”; she adapted, leaning into her resilience and flexibility. Not only did she walk—she ran, and she became an Olympic champion. Her story is a testament to the beauty of flexibility: the ability to move with life, seeing potential even when circumstances seem impossible.
A Community Rooted in Possibility
At the Center for Spiritual Living, we explore these ideas together, discovering ways to nurture openness, gratitude, and flexibility in our lives. We believe spiritual abundance isn’t about waiting for perfect conditions—it’s about finding beauty and opportunity in life just as it is.
Join us and Dr. Edward Viljoen tomorrow at 9 or 11 am, in person or online via YouTube, as we delve deeper into these practices. Together, we’ll uncover how to live abundantly, even in an endlessly changing world. Whether through Sunday services, educational programs, or shared community, you’ll find tools to bring greater meaning, peace, and connection into your life.
Let’s meet in this moment, as we are, and explore the abundance waiting to unfold.
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