O GREAT REMINDER

Please remind me. . . .

that I came here, 

to this quiet, this prayer, 

to bask in your love, 

and to love you back.

Please remind me. . . .

that I came here because, 

--as you know all too well--

I’m always looking for a good deal,

for the freebies and the free food,

for the sale rack, the half-price table,

even for faith-free living. (Sorry.)

Please remind me. . . .

that I came here because,

from somewhere deep inside me, 

--or somewhere way beyond--

I heard you calling me, calling me 

back from my gaming and gallivanting.

Please remind me. . . 

that I came here to share my latest triumphs,

and feel the warm of your humbling smile,

to lay my latest crash-and-burns at your feet,

to feel your heal in my soul.

Please remind me. . . .

that I came here to remember

I’m not so needy after all,

No. In fact, I’m immeasurably blessed.

Please remind me. . . .

that these are the reasons I came here 

because, in the thick of thin things.

I’ve forgotten them.

Again.

MEDITATION 101: THE CAVE BEHIND THE WATERFALL (Part 4 of ?)

MEDITATION 101: THE CAVE BEHIND THE WATERFALL (Part 4/?)

While I’m all about thinking, I find it so easy to overthink. I go there way too often. 

Meditation is a counterbalance that takes us in the other direction. It gets us behind our thinking mind, goes beneath it--like a quiet cave behind a waterfall. Even if someone tells you about it, you won’t really know what that cave is like until you experience it for yourself. But just hearing about it, doesn’t it make you want to go there?

This is what meditation is like except, unlike going to that quiet cave, there is no one right path to the practice meditation. Some find sitting very still and focusing on their breathing most helpful. Others prefer “background” movement like a slow walk or yoga or tai chi. Still others like creating art or playing a musical instrument. What works for you? Where’s your cave?

The benefits of visiting it are many--and all of them are healing and healthful. Through them, we discover how velocitized our lives can and frequently do become. We realize how much we miss out on in life when the speed we’re moving at is far too fast to take in all that’s happening in and around us--much of which, like our cave, is exquisitely beautiful--and therefore a source of inspiration which we daily need. Hence, meditation has a balancing--even reorienting--effect, which is a trustworthy way that deep inner and lasting transformation occurs in, and subsequently, through us. 

One visit at a time.

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK.

 

THE EYES OF MY SOUL

If I am looking out through eyes of fear,

I will see danger.

If I am looking out through eyes of judgment,

I will see transgression.

If I am looking out through eyes of anger,

I will see enemy.

If I am looking out through eyes of greed,

I will see scarcity.

If I am looking out through eyes of apathy,

I will see complacency.

If I am looking out through eyes of vengeance,

I will see alienation.

If I am looking out through eyes of entitlement,

I will see war. 

But.

If I am looking out through eyes of compassion,

I will see humanity.

If I am looking out through eyes of kindness,

I will see joy.

If I am looking out through eyes of peace,

I will see restoration.

If am looking out through eyes of forgiveness,

I will see community.

If I am looking out through eyes of hope,

I will see resilience.

If I am looking out through eyes of thankfulness,

I will see abundance.

If I am looking out through eyes of love

I will see beauty.

MEDITATION 101: INTIMACY (Part 3 of ?)

Think of a person with whom you share an intimate relationship. 

Regardless of who he or she is--or how you may be feeling about them at the moment!--your relationship has (and must have) a one-on-one quality to it. It cannot be otherwise. Second, your relationship, by virtue of the uniqueness of each person involved and the experiences you share, is unique at its very core. Again, it cannot be otherwise. Third, in spite of and in light of each one’s uniqueness, this person (for better and worse) has more power and influence over your thoughts, feelings and actions than anyone else--and you’re the one who willingly gives it to them! And, did I mention, it cannot be otherwise.

Why would we do that? 

Because it’s the nature of intimacy. At its best, intimacy invites trust, revels in vulnerability and enjoins courage. It provides safety, relishes humility, and thrives on integrity. It abounds in understanding, fosters honesty, and begets enlightenment. And this, Alfie, is what it’s all about. 

But intimacy’s attributes aren’t unique solely to our closest human relationships. They also hold true (In fact, I believe, even more so.) for the unique and empowering relationship each of us can have with whomever (God/Yahweh/Allah, etc.) or whatever (Universe/Oneness/Higher Power/Nature, etc.) we esteem to the level of the holy or sacred or truly “awe-some” in our lives. (Again, regarding the name we use, remember: the label on the jar is not the contents. See Part #2 🙂)

How do we get there from here?

In a word, meditation. When we enter into a practice of meditation (contemplative prayer/centering prayer/deep listening, etc.) we can do so believing and more--deeply knowing--that the one on the other end of our intimate relationship uniquely and genuinely cares for the welfare of each and the wellbeing of all. 

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK.

EVOLVE & EXPAND

What if

the primal purpose

of our lives

is to evolve and expand?

Like the universe.

With the universe.

As part of the universe.

Then the meaning of life

is experienced in our be-ing,

and mission of life

in our be-coming.

In such a world,

justice is the noble vocation

of securing each one’s freedom to be,

mercy is the mooring of all mitigations,

and religion is the high calling

of ensuring each one’s freedom to become.

MEDITATION 101: THE WHO & WHAT (Part 2 of ?)

THE WHO

If we hear or feel a voice is speaking to us when we meditate, whose voice is it? God’s? Another person’s? Our own? Honestly? For me, all of the above and more.

But the label is not the contents. 

Whether it says “JIF” or “Justin’s” on the outside of the peanut butter jar it has absolutely no bearing on what’s inside. It’s just the label. It may tell us something about the flavor of one brand over another but that’s all! Because...it's just the label. Switches a jar’s label? Doesn’t alter the contents. Similarly, regardless of what label we use to answer the “who” question, IT'S JUST OUR LABEL. (BTW...look at how many “brands” of religion and spirituality are out there!) Further, I believe that the voice of wisdom in our lives is so powerful and empowering it can and does SPEAK THROUGH ANY AND ALL MEANS AND MEDIUMS. The real question is: Are we listening?

THE WHAT

Creating a meditation practice is so helpful. At first putting our trust in who and what we’re hearing can feel very risky. But, in time, we gain a quiet sense of confidence based on trusting the thoughts, words and images coming to us that consistently “speak” loving, affirming, stabilizing (if sometimes surprising) words of wisdom. If what we’re hearing tells us to think, say or do anything otherwise, well, we’re not there yet. Let's stick with it. 

Comments and questions welcome. We’re in this together! Next week I'll share about the intimacy factor of meditation. In the meantime, let’s keep our commitment to deep listening.

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK.

EGO & LOVE

There’s my ego

which identifies itself in me

as ubiquitous fearfulness 

as if I’m under omnipresent threat, 

as belligerent resistance to rising

to meet someone’s simplest needs, 

as impatient intolerance of those not of my liking,

as condescending judgment,

as refusal to enter into another’s joy,

as lack of inner serenity and outer confidence, 

as baseless defensiveness, 

as denier of the obvious,

as compassion-numbing apathy, 

as personal aggrandizement,

as bald, even bawdy, superiority,

as self-paralyzing insecurity,

and so, self-perpetuating inadequacy,

and yet, self-justifying entitlement.

And that’s on a good day.

And then there is love.

Love gently escorts my ego to the door,

closes it, turns, then puts its arms around me,

and hugs me with the kind of deep hug

that completely disarms me,

that makes me go limp,

that makes me want to cry,

and then holds my silent sobs.

Love melts me,

molds me,

makes me.

MEDITATION 101: TAKING DICTATION (Part 1 of ?)

I have a question for you. If you could do one thing today that would have a profound and positive effect on virtually everything else in your life right now and on the year ahead, what would it be? (I’d love to hear your answers on this one!)

For me, that one thing would be meditation. 

In its broadest sense, meditation--as I'm referring to it--is simply the regular setting aside of a few minutes to be alone, still and attentive. It goes by different names and comes in a variety of versions--both religious and secular. 

You may already be doing it. 

If you pray, then you are already part way there. Contemplative prayer--which is another name for it--is simply the third phase of what many of us have been taught about prayer. It comes after the “asking” and  “thanking” phases where we just listen--really listen. (On that subject, if you already happen to believe you’re a good listener, then meditation is a great place to test that theory. (Be prepared to be surprised...just saying.) On the other hand, if you want to improve your listening skills I don’t think there’s a better place to do so than here.

One of the best metaphors for meditation--at least the kind that comes most naturally to me--is the idea of taking dictation. When we take dictation, we focus on taking in/writing down (for me, on my laptop) everything we hear--word for word, phrase for phrase, image for image--and that’s all! In a sense, we don’t even think. We bypass the part of our brain we usually use--so we don’t come with any agenda or preconceived notions or desired outcomes. We don’t come expecting any takeaways, quick fixes or deep revelations--only to listen as purely as possible even if what we’re hearing/feeling/sensing seems like gibberish! And it will...sometimes. 

What we’re “hearing,” if anything, may seem awkward or disjointed. Doesn’t matter! Resist all urges to unpack--or worse--correct it. No editing. No interpreting. No critiquing. No finessing. No judging. (I save all that for later.) At times it’ll come so fast you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a blizzard of euphoria. At other times nothing. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You may even be disappointed...

...until later. Sometimes much later.

What I’m sharing with you today is simply my own practice and experience. Your’s will likely be different. Next Monday I’ll write about who’s “talking” to us, that is, whose voice or voices are we hearing (“God’s,” others, the Universe’s, our own?) and to what extent can we trust them. 

In the meantime, give it a try. If you’re new to this, try 10-15 minutes a day, more if possible. (And yes, you do have time.) Questions? Please ask. I’m not an expert but I know what works for me. I may answer your question directly or incorporate it into a future post. However it happens, I hope to offer some guidance, encouragement and inspiration to the remarkable but oft misunderstood experience of meditation. 

As always, I look forward to our time together, especially these days.

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK.

SO MUCH!

I look back on last year

(it feels so good to say “last”)

and in spite of all the turmoil 

and uncertainty, and rancor,

I see so much to appreciate,

so much to celebrate,

so much to remember,

so much to cherish,

so much to savor,

so much to share.

I look around me and I see. . . .

so much sadness, 

so much gladness, 

so much polarity, 

so much hilarity, 

so much suffering, 

so much sacred, 

so much violence, 

so much victory,

so much chaos,

so much creativity, 

so much pain,

so much perseverance,

so much languish,

so much laughter. 

I look ahead and I see. . . . 

so much to learn,  

so much to love, 

so much to affirm. 

so much to accomplish,

so much to advocate, 

There is so much more, of course.

But right here, right now,

This is as much so muchness as I can take.