THE ONE THING

THE ONE THING

We’ve been together for a number of months now...since shortly after Covid-19 began its rampage across the world. Throughout this time I’ve been sharing my thoughts here with a singular purpose: to encourage us to think about how we think. Why? Because nothing is more important. Nothing! (Case in point: If you are a religious person, it’s the basis of your religion. If you’re not, your thinking is the basis of that, too.) There are no exceptions on this one, no matter what we place on the continuum!

We’re doing it 24/7/365 from birth till death. How we do it is the one (and sometimes only) thing you and I have control over in the course of our day--or at least, it can feel this way. It’s the one thing that influences our emotions and our actions--and their consequences--more than anything else. It’s the one thing that you and I MUST take responsibility for before anything else, in order to live a life that is joyful, compassionate, generative and meaning-filled as opposed to one empowered by fear, greed, lust and ego. 

Oddly, it’s the one thing that we--in the blink of an eye--surrender unconditionally to the thinking, influences, forms and forces in and around us. (If we want proof of all this we need only to consider the devastating political climate we Americans are living in and how we got here--for which no one person’s thinking or actions is entirely responsible.) At the same time, our current world’s/humanity’s well being--or lack thereof--reveals that it’s more important than ever that we think about how we think. Finally, it begs us to remember that our thinking, which got us here in the first place, is the one thing--the only thing--that will get us out of here and onto high ground. 

While we're busy buying or making Christmas gifts for our loved ones these days, let’s give them the one gift that can and will genuinely improve their lives--as well as the life of this exquisitely unique, diverse and beautiful world. While we’re at it, let’s give it to our gnarly neighbors, our politically-possessed politicians, and those most different from us. And let’s not wait for Christmas. Let’s do it today. Beginning right now. It’s not expensive. It’s absolutely free. But its essence is essential, its availability is infinite and its value is priceless. 

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK

A LEAVENING OF LIGHT

Deep in an underground iron ore mine, 

we tourists stood quiet. Stood close.

Turning our helmet lamps off, we waited, 

pitched in a black so bleak

that our inky eyes, though wide, 

saw nothing.

The minutes seemed a forever,

until she, our guide, lit the match.

Just one little match!

It shattered the cavernous blackness,

tiny shards piercing the darkest of the deep.

Gasping in awe at its bitsy brilliance,

we sighed in collective relief, 

our surroundings secure, 

our bearings regained.

Who knew! 

Something so small yet so big,

so petite yet so powerful,

so diminutive yet so demanding,

as one little match.

Though we may wish 

the whole of our darkness dispelled,

it takes but a leavening of light

to see the path before us,

and to find a way through.

FAR SIDE

I’ve always loved the story of Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush (Exodus 3). During a recent reading I clued in on something I’d not noticed before: Moses had this experience on “the far side of the wilderness.” Where, exactly, is that?! And more importantly, why does it matter?

Both these questions matter because of what happened there--Moses encountered the holy in his life.

What if, metaphorically-speaking, ANY AND EVERY place or moment is actually a “far side of the wilderness” place and moment for us? Moses actually traveled to this story’s location. But, haven’t we been traveling all our lives to get to where we are? Doesn’t it feel like we’re in a wilderness? Many think one has to go to a physical location to best experience God...a church, synagogue or mosque...or at least some place special to us. But what if we don’t. What if today you and I are standing in exactly the same “place” as Moses was standing--on the far side of the wilderness?

Metaphorical or not, this story is archetypal of the human experience of the "holy" in our lives. It begs us to stop right where we are, to look around till we perceive the burning bushes that are all around us--and then look again--to see and hear the “holy” in them.  It implores us to “take off our shoes,” and dig our feet deep into the soil of our souls...to recognize that this very place is holy--and that this makes our entire lives holy--because God is present in and through them.

A few more what if’s: What if our creativity is our far side? What if whatever challenges we’re rising to, issues we’re dealing with or relationships we’re struggling with are our far side? What if wherever we encounter mystery, whatever causes us to ask, “Why?” or more, “Why is this happening to me?” is our far side?

And the biggest what-if of all: What if you and I are burning bushes? What if we’re the means through which God--the holy--is choosing to reveal itself in the wilderness of the world today?...inspiring it into life-giving mission and meaning?

Hello? 

TODAY.

LET’S GIFT THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

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

2020...BEST YEAR EVER?

For many, these are the worst of times,

but some say, “For me, they’re the best!” 

On what does it depend?

Seems to me,

the best of times we can ever have

will always be,

can only be,

these times

--whichever year it is--

because this year 

is the only one 

that is made of

this quarter, 

this month,

this week,

this day,

this hour,

this minute,

this second,

this moment.

And this moment

is the only moment

we ever have.

 

JOY MAKES EVERYTHING EASY

You name it. Joy makes it easy. 

We can call this joy an attitude or emotion, our disposition, an outlook or perspective. Doesn’t matter. Whatever we call it, joy is incredibly powerful! Utilizing its power can make whatever we consider “difficult” in our lives easy. And not just that. Reaching for our wildest dreams and highest aspirations becomes immeasurably easier and more inspiring. It’s amazing!  Such a tiny shift can shape this moment, this day--to say nothing of our lives--so profoundly.

If joy makes everything equally easy then “degree of difficulty” is off the table as a criterion in our decision making. This is as freeing as it is stress-reducing. Approaching our day--and every part of it--with this “joy” simplifies life instantly by focusing our mind, sending our immediate thoughts in much healthier, happier, and creative directions. We and the world both benefit.  

We can easily prove joy’s efficacy. Notice how much effort (time, energy, resources) we happily expend on the play/pleasure factor in our lives. And we hardly bat an eye! Now consider expending the same time, energy, resources, on whatever we consider to be “work.” (If you have trouble identifying these just ask someone who knows--and loves--you what things you usually complain about.) Big difference? BIG difference! Because we naturally approach our play/pleasure factor with positive thoughts and feelings. In short, joy.

 What’s the key to having this joy-makes-everything-easy perspective on life? Consciousness...choosing to be intentionally aware of our outlook at any given moment--putting our primary focus not on the task to be accomplished but on the spirit with which we approach it. 

Is this all just fluffy thinking? You’ll only think so if you don’t actually try it and experience its deep truth. You may think you can’t do this. Try it. If it’s a new idea you may think, “Well, maybe it’ll work some of the time, but nothing works all the time.” Please, try it. Even if it doesn’t always work for you, is 50% worth it? 25%? 10%?  

Make a short don’t-want-to-do list. Then ask yourself, “What if these things are actually easy but I’m just thinking they’re hard?” Then take one item and practice this joy approach on it. 

It’s so fun when we surprise ourselves. 

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

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

A MOST UNUSUAL THANKSGIVING

For this most unusual opportunity 

to take a rarified glimpse at what and how much

I have to be thankful for,

I give thanks.

For this most unusual moment in my history 

to stop and take stock of all I’ve received in the past, 

and all I’m being given now through the goodness of others,

I give thanks.

For this most unusual holy day in which to thank

all those nearest and dearest to me, 

who so often--without my offer of appreciation

or even notice of their gift--make my life good,

I give thanks.

For this most unusual chance to see and give thanks for things 

that under “usual” circumstances I take for granted,

I give thanks.

For this most unusual time of global struggle

that reveals to me how much we are all alike 

and how much we need each other's love and compassion,

I give thanks.

For this most unusual gift of grace or good fortune,

of not having lost a loved one to the pandemic’s horror

even as I mourn for and with those who have,

I give thanks.

For this most unusual Native American Heritage Day

which reminds me of the sanctity of sea, sky and earth,

and all that is in them,

I give thanks.

For this most unusual occasion to consider

all those around me whom I’ll never even meet, 

who are blessing my life in this moment because, 

on this very day and so many others,

they are choosing to give more than they will receive,

I give thanks.

For this most unusual lesson that is teaching me

to be live thankfully in any and all circumstances,

I give thanks.

I thank you, God, for this most unusual Thanksgiving.

WORTHY

WORTHY

It’s the hardest thing in the world to do! To love ourselves. 

So many reasons not to, right?

So many faults and fissures,

so many shortcomings, so much shame. 

We’ve solicited so many what-were-you-thinkings?

We’ve made so many bad decisions,

We’ve caused so many crash and burns.

We’ve even scorched the earth of our own loved ones.

How ‘bout our addictions that just won’t be addled?

And then there’s our guilt. 

And what would others think if we did?

If we loved ourselves so much that it showed.

They’d say, “You’re just ego with skin on it.” 

“You’re full of yourself! Don’t be so arrogant!”

And, of course, there is mother’s,

“Don’t think too highly of yourself.”

No, it’s so much safer to just stay the way we are, 

the way we’ve always been, will always be,

rather than risk raising our own ratings. 

But wait.

It’s the easiest thing in the world to do! To love ourselves.

No matter where we are, what we’re doing,

or who we’re with, we can love who we are.”

The choice is ours to make. No one else’s.

We can decide, “Yes, I am worthy of love.”

And more, “I’m worthy of loving--even me!”

And who knows our “me” better than we? 

Who knows better what can become of us

once we choose to deeply, audaciously love? Ourselves!

Oddly, it seems we have to give the OK. The permission.

I know. It’s all a bit bizarre, but here’s the good news of it:

We can choose to shut off the fire hose of self-criticism.

We can say, “Thus far and no further!” 

to our obstreperous mental scripts.

We don’t need anyone else’s sayso

to say, “I love you!” to ourselves.

Besides, if it’s the real thing, 

then when I choose to love me,

I’m also choosing to love you. 

In one fell swoop I free both of us.

Our hearts will bubble with passion and compassion, 

every cell in our bodies, our brains-our beings--will celebrate,

and our spirits will reclaim our skies.

“....and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Jesus/Matthew 22:39)