I return from my time of silence. Inspiration is born as an idea within me. It pours itself into the world from the end of my pen as it meets the pages below it. At this moment, I am aware of what is being written. As the moment evaporates, my awareness loosens its hold on the here and now and I often look away as the letters fall from the pen forming words that make sentences that grow into thoughts. Thoughts grow of the Divine and all that is born of this Presence in my life, in my heart and in my mind. This Presence that moves through me without which a mere breath - life sustaining breath - is not possible. This Presence that moves in me is my conscious clarity of wholeness and completeness.
My humanness of me, all that is endearing to me and all that I am repulsed by, captures my attention. I examine what I turn away from. I explore qualities in the world that cause me to move away rather than lean into. I ask:
“When am I that?
Where in my life do I show up as this?
How do I demonstrate this attribute that I move away from?”
With these questions comes pure honesty, raw authenticity, and a clear vision of the totality of that which resides within me. With these questions comes courage, knowing that I needn’t be afraid of my feelings, for they have come to be a great guide in my healing and my spiritual growth
I have within me the potential for love, kindness, and compassion. Also, within me is the potential for the opposite of the qualities. I have the potential to be unloving, unkind and lacking compassion. Knowing and accepting the full continuum of possibility that dwells within, I am called to greater wholehearted living.
Knowing and realizing that in each moment of every day I choose what places on this continuum of authentic possibility from which I respond to life as life shows up.
Whether it be news, politics, other people’s actions, simply life in general, I have the opportunity / responsibility to choose my response.
I do this by acknowledging the feelings that rise in me with each passing moment. I call the feeling exactly what it is and I know that I never need to respond from that feeling because I have the power to choose! I choose my response by calling up the intention I have set for my life. The intention I have set for my life is to be the presence of Love wherever I am. Whatever I am doing in this space of knowing, what is rumbling and rolling around inside me , AND by recalling my intention, I respond.
Am I always successful in this? Absolutely not!
When I fall short, I ask forgiveness from others. I recalibrate. I mediate/pray and I begin again. I know I will have plenty of opportunity to practice being the best me possible each day.
I believe this to be true for me. I believe this to be true for all.
When the moment comes that I feel I have become enlighten in my ability to be love, I quickly learn otherwise as I experience another moment of life. Perhaps it is a distracted driver, a traffic snarl, a technology interruption, or a family visit that becomes my teacher.
None of this is possible for me with a single spiritual practice. It’s a combination of each of my practices that brings this depth of potential to emerge into manifestation in my life. The practice of meditation allows me to slow my pace. Meditation builds a buffer of time between the experience and my response to it. It is in that buffer of time that I have the ability to choose my response rather than a knee-jerk reaction or any impulsive reactions.
It is in my practice of mindfulness that allows me to identify and to call out the feeling that forms in me. It is my mindfulness that allows me to be just as comfortable with the feeling of anger as with harmony. It is through my mindfulness that I am able to know that each of these feelings comes and each of these feelings go. Each bringing a new awareness, a piece of information, the possibility for healing and for giving.
It is through my practice of forgiveness that I allow awareness of my own errors to rise and to forgive myself, to seek forgiveness from others thus allowing peace and integrity in my reactions. I must also allow the other to withhold forgiveness and to be OK with that until there is a readiness in all parties to move forward in harmony peace and love.
I know there is much for me to learn, practice, and become. For this always present power of life that draws me ever forward, I am grateful.
Sunday, we celebrate the Advent gift of Joy. Join us at 11:00 for our celebration service. I say from my heart that it isn’t the same without you! Mark your calendar for Monday also. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is at 7:00pm.
Blessings of great joy!