The Dichotomy and the Question
Around the world, millions of individuals are celebrating Passover, Easter, and the rebirth of the spring season – a time of wonder, of miracles, and of possibility. And yet at the same moment, we find ourselves in a world-wide Pandemic. A time filled with fear, uncertainty, and so many unknowns. I feel these days the glaring dichotomy that is our life here on this planet. Never have moments of joy and comfort been so clearly contrasted against pain and suffering for so many at the same time. My daughter wrote a text to me last night, “I just really am having such a hard time processing all of this pain in the world. I just don’t understand it.”
I do not understand it either. What I do believe is that inside of Jesse’s question is a demand for us to notice the suffering while being present to who we are in every moment. I think it is our call to wake up each day, use the tools of self-awareness, and do our very best to not be the creators of more pain; that we notice our own emotions, fears, our thoughts, and our actions to contribute to all that is good in our humanity.
The Practice
The tools of living mindfully, the practices of mindful meditation, help us to cultivate self-awareness and support us to let go of what we BELIEVE SHOULD BE and accept what is with grace and faith.
I shared the below poem last Friday during our morning online Uniting in Mindfulness session. The poem shares such a beautiful and genuine sentiment that continues to support me through this time.
Take a moment today to read this poem and then sit quietly with yourself.
SO HUM
There is a wonderful mantra meditation, “SO HUM.” As you inhale, speak softly to yourself, “SO,” and as you exhale, speak softly to yourself, “HUM.”
The mantra “SO” connects us to our essence, to “I am.” “HUM” joins us to “all that is” or universal consciousness.
This meditation is an opportunity to reflect on the mystery of our individual being amid the absolute interdependent nature of all beings.
Take a moment today to just ALLOW, to just be, observe, contemplate the wonder, and find a moment of grace.
Namaste
ALLOW, A poem by Danna Faulds
There is no controlling life.
Try corralling a lightning bolt,
containing a tornado. Dam a
stream and it will create a new
channel. Resist, and the tide
will sweep you off your feet.
Allow, and grace will carry
you to higher ground. The only
safety lies in letting it all in –
the wild and the weak; fear,
fantasies, failures, and success.
When loss rips off the doors of
the heart, or sadness veils your
vision with despair, practice
becomes simply bearing the truth.
In the choice to let go of your
known way of being, the whole
world is revealed to your new eyes.