Each Moment

 The early morning sky is soft and muted...blue-tinged clouds surrounded by gentle rosy light.  As I watch the sky gradually fill with light, I listen to the woodland birds and the low, cooing call of a mourning dove. The air is damp and fragrant after last night's rain and I am struck by how beautiful everything is, taken in all at once. This day, and each day, really, is unique unto itself, just as each moment of our lives is.

Each moment is precious and new, even though to our conscious minds life may seem ordinary and routine. It's all about perception, really...opening our eyes, ears and heart to all that is around us and seeing as if for the first time.

I think that's why I love teaching young children-everything is fascinating to them: a bug, a worm, a dandelion, a duck wandering through the schoolyard. They have the gift of enthusiasm for life that we so often lose when we are going through the sometimes mind-numbing sameness  of day-to-day life or when we are experiencing struggles and challenges that sap our energy.

We can usher in that child-like enthusiasm, whether or not we have a young person in our lives to inspire us. It is a simple habit of mind to notice, to use all of our senses and really be present in the moment. The catch-word these days is mindfulness; to be attentive and aware as you move through your day. 

The practice of mindfulness can begin with the first conscious breath of the morning:

• Breathe deeply and slowly
• Be fully aware and fully present in your body
• Release thoughts of the past or future and just "be"
• Step outside: notice the sights, sounds and smells
• Fully immerse yourself in the experience of eating and drinking, noticing the smell and taste of juice, coffee and breakfast
• Take this mindset into the day, fully focusing on each new moment as it presents itself
• When your mind wanders, simply bring it back, without judgment

Be thankful for the life within you and all around you...breathe it in and enjoy the gift of the day!

In the Morning Flow

I am reposting a blog from 2021 that I believe expresses the message of this morning:

 I step out into the morning and the breeze is stirring the leaves of the trees as flower petals drift to the ground in a lovely dance. For a moment, I enter into the space between time and see the flow of everything...interconnected and luminous and, as I step back into the pattern of thought, wonder why we find it so hard to live in this flow.

 

Of course, I know the answer as soon as I ask the question. Our world is so vastly different from what I experienced in that moment of flow. Our days are ordered and scheduled; hours divided into minutes and seconds. We live by rules and laws, we have commitments and obligations; bills to pay and people to feed.  Unlike nature, which has its own sequence and order within the flow of  the Master Designer, we feel the need to control every aspect of our lives, to micro-manage, judge and evaluate everything, including and especially ourselves. We humans try to manage our lives like mini-gods and when something unexpected comes our way, we can fall apart if it doesn't fit into our carefully orchestrated world order.  

So how do we pattern ourselves after nature, letting go of the control and entering into the Divine flow while still maintaining a sense of rhythm and order?

I think it starts with staying in the present moment, not wasting precious energy planning the future or ruminating on the past. The bible tells us to stay alert and watchful, letting go of fear and moving through life, embracing each moment and focusing on what is excellent and praiseworthy.  I believe we need to take some time each day to be still, to connect to the Divine flow of life, to release anything in our lives that doesn't feel authentic.  

To start, just go outside and breathe; notice the movements of nature, the beauty of creation. Use all of your senses: what do you see?...  what do you hear?... what do you smell?  Then step into the flow of life, become immersed in it, let all thought go and just be. Who are you in this moment, without thought, judgment or ego?  This may be a little scary, I know, but it can reveal truths about areas that need to be excavated and released.  If you ask, you will receive answers and open up new doors of experience.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you".
-Jesus,   Matthew 7:7 

 

The Pursuit of Happiness

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...."  These familiar words from the Declaration of Independence remind us that life itself and liberty as the ability to make our own choices in the pursuit of happiness, are gifts from God. 

These are such beautiful words, yet when I meditate on this quote for a few moments, I am somewhat confused by the phrase "the pursuit of happiness", which makes it sound as if happiness is an elusive quality that we are always seeking yet never finding. When I look up the dictionary definition of "pursuit" however, I see that I've forgotten it has two meanings: to follow and try to catch something or to engage in something, as an activity.  

I'm not sure which meaning the founding fathers had in mind, but I'm going to choose the second definition, because it makes more sense. If we apply it to the concept of happiness, it sounds as though it is something we can choose to engage in, to enter into. So, happiness, defined as "an emotional state, characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment and fulfillment", can be a choice we make on a daily basis.

We can wake up on a gray and rainy morning such as this and instead of complaining, say "thank you God, for the beautiful rain, which cleans our smoky air and nourishes our flowers and grass". We can look in the mirror, and instead of cursing our age lines and gray hairs, begin to see ourselves as beloved beings who've been on earth for a while and have a wealth of wisdom and creativity to share with others. We can step outside and really connect with the earth, feeling the wet grass beneath our feet and breathing deeply of the freshly washed air.

I believe that when we practice gratitude daily, when we look for the ray of light and hope even in the midst of challenging circumstances, we will stop seeking happiness and will begin to realize that it was here in our hearts all along.