How Open Is My Heart?

 Hearts, flowers, chocolates and hallmark cards; Valentines Day reminders have been everywhere the past few weeks!  It is the day when we express our love to those we care about and maybe spend a few quiet moments thinking about our hearts. The heart is the center of our being, the seat of our emotions and as such, is integral to the healthy expression of the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace and kindness. 

So this holiday is a good time to ask ourselves: "Is my heart open, fully able to express love to others, or is it closed off by painful experiences, loneliness, unforgiveness, shame or regret?"  "What do I need to let go of in order to be able to love freely and unconditionally?"

According to Brenda Wade, PhD, "past and present hurts can cause us to shut down and miss out on the joy that life has to offer....we learn to hide in plain sight.  Sadly, when we feel too hurt or afraid to let ourselves out, it becomes impossible to let others in.  We also feel cut off from the freedom and love that are ours by right, as spiritual beings, as children of God."

Even if we're not aware of areas where our heart is harboring some pain or resentment, it is a good practice to sit in stillness and ask "how open is my heart?" and "what do I need to release today?" 

Dr. Wade offers a heart opening meditation that we can add to our spiritual practice:

Breathe in Love

I breathe deeply and send
light and love to my heart.
I relax as its closed places
begin to open.

I shine the healing light of
acceptance in the darkened
corners of my soul.

I release all feelings of shame
and the heavy burden of pain.

I set myself free

My love flows through me

in my community, country,
and world.

We are all blessed children
of universal light and love.

Amen 

 

Do a New Thing

 It's easy to get into a mid-winter rut in early February, when the thermometer reads 9 degrees and all we want to do is crawl back into bed.  We are already socially isolating due to the pandemic and the sameness of everyday life can seem daunting.  This is exactly the time when we need to shake up our routine, do things a little differently and get our neurons firing again to kick-start our bodies and brains.

Sure, it's cold outside, but we can still bundle up and go for a walk.  A winter walk in the woods can be very lovely and fresh air coupled with sun is good for the body and soul.  Practice being present, in the moment, noticing the movements of birds and the patterns in the snow. Cross-country skiing, a favorite activity of mine, is another great way to experience the beauty of nature while gliding through the woods.
Even a short ten minute excursion can do wonders for the spirit.

If outdoors isn't your thing, here are some other suggestions:

• Find an online exercise or yoga class to practice at home.  
• Look for a meditation app to still your mind
•  Sign up for an online class to learn something new
• Take a different driving route to the store or to work; explore a new area
• Go for a drive to the lake and take in the winter scene
• Set up a family or friends Zoom meeting and have a get together 
• Reach out, call someone who's lonely
• Write a card of encouragement or appreciation

I'm sure we can all think of ideas to add to this list.  The point is, do a new thing, vary your routine and above all, be thankful that today is a new day full of promise!

Renew and Refresh

Today is February 1st....a mid-winter morning of no special consequence.  The snow is six inches deep on the ground, with a storm in the forecast, so the hope of spring seems far in the distance  Yet I step outside with a small stirring of something that might be called joy- the biting cold in my lungs and the snowflakes falling gently on my face remind me to be thankful for this gift called life, but also convict me of something that lies just below the surface of my conscious awareness. 

In this moment, I am intensely aware of the hidden anger and unkindness in my heart and my need to release these seems urgent, as if I cannot continue with the day until I have cleansed my spirit. The words of Psalm 51 float into my awareness: "wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness...create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

David wrote this psalm after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and he was filled with remorse. For most of us, the things that plague our spirit are small by comparison. We may not even be consciously aware of  the ways in which we "miss the mark": unkind, hurtful words that sting, an angry outburst, a judgmental thought or action, an unforgiving heart or a resentment held against someone who has wronged us. Maybe it is a spirit of self-condemnation or self-pity, since we are to "love our neighbors as ourselves".

This morning, as I release those small dark things that hide from me and trick me into thinking that I am a "good" person, I feel cleansed, renewed and refreshed.  I am, perhaps for this day, released from self-pity and hypocrisy. I let go, ask for help and sense that small stirring of joy telling me that today is a new day. I embrace its promise.