I always enjoy an early morning walk with my Golden Retriever, Micah. Each morning we walk 3 or 5 miles through our neighborhood. We meet various dogs, cats, an occasional red fox, possums and other creatures. On our routine walk we pass many homes including the home of a pony. On Micah’s first meeting with the pony, he was so very curious and humbled by the creature that towered over him. He was entertained when the pony laid down in the grass and rolled around for a good back scratching. Now Micah simply greets the pony as he does all of his other four legged friends.
My goodness, I forgot the squirrels! How could I forget the countless squirrels that Micah still chases morning after morning after morning? At the age of eight, greying muzzle and all, Micah still hasn’t given up the great chase of the squirrel. This morning was no exception. He pulls and tugs every time a squirrel is in view. As he approaches, he crouches as the mighty hunter, ready to pounce at the perfect moment only to be left empty handed as the squirrel scampers up a tree to safety. Once the squirrel is safely above on a low hanging branch, the squirrel looks down and tauntingly chirps at Micah.
Today was not different. We turn a corner and Micah spies a squirrel eating. This little guy doesn’t even notice Micah and continues with his breakfast. My crouching hunter lurks forward and the squirrel still doesn’t see Micha. Now, in striking distance with a viable possibility of catching his unaware prey, Micah stopped as if frozen. Micah didn’t move for what seems like eternity. Here he was merely inches away from what he had chased his entire life and he watched the moment pass by. It was perhaps only seconds before the squirrel finally catches a glimpse of Micah behind him and off he runs. Micah looks on as if to say “Hey, what just happened here?”
How many times do we diligently seek and when that which we seek is in front of us we say in some fashion or another “No thank you”. Perhaps we don’t recognize what we have been seeking has arrived. Perhaps it arrives in packaging very differently than we imagined and we don’t see it beneath the exterior trappings. Perhaps we are immobilized by fear or doubt. Perhaps we are unsure what we are to do now that we have found what we sought. Jeremiah 5:21 brings it to light with:
“Hear now this, O foolish people who have no understanding, who have eyes and see not
Who have ears and hear not”
I wonder how many wonderful opportunities slipped by simply because I didn’t see the possibility or didn’t hear the still small voice. I wonder how many times I lingered in the longing to find fulfillment of my life purpose yet didn’t follow the inner guidance. When that “gut feeling” pulled me forward, I resisted out of doubt of what I was feeling or out of fear to step out in faith to the unknown.
How, as I grow in my spiritual consciousness, might I grow eyes that truly see and ears that really hear. It is not the cacophony of noise of the world but the divine guidance that is always at work within me. How might I better hear the voice that speaks in gentle loving tones, or subtle nudges?
For me, it helps to pray asking for clarity. My prayer is this: “make it so clear that I can’t help to know what I am to do”. And when it becomes this clear, I usually chuckle knowing that anything less, I may have missed.
Living mindfully is a powerful aid to hearing and seeing clearly. As I slow my pace and become acutely aware of my surroundings, the aromas, the sounds, the sights, all that is happening before my very eyes, I notice the clues from the universe that guide my way. As I walk, make my bed, enjoy my meals, or do everything mindfully. I become attune to my connection with all creation and how all moves in a sweet, beautiful rhythm.
Becoming present to each and every moment also calls me to slow down, to drink in all that is right here, right now. I relinquish past hurts, mistakes, or anything that keeps me tied to a story of the past. I let go of worry about the future and I savor here and now.
Of course this is quite a practice to undertake and maintain. The world continues its noise and confusion and we forget what treasures await us in the silence.
Sunday we will continue “Let’s Talk Unity ~ How May We Pray?” Please join me at 11:00 for our Celebration Service. Remember, I’m saving a seat for you because you truly matter to me. And besides, it’s never the same without you!
Blessings of great awareness,