Courage

The Inescapable Draw.

It started with a small patch behind the house, barely large enough to hold few assorted plants and herbs. Breaking through the hardened clay was no small task, particularly given the state of my garden tools – worn and rusted with sharpened splinters at the ‘mast’. I spent hours drenched in the sweat of the summer heat, my muscles stinging with the pain of pride and overuse. And yet, something still compelled its birth – on that godawful stretch of day when there seemed nothing better to do.

In time, the garden grew. At first some vegetables along the back of the fence and a ground cover my mother gifted me from home. One year, the hummingbirds came to perch behind the bearded irises. They were intent on staying, seeing before them the promise of potential – even though there was still much work yet to be done. Perhaps they understood what others failed to see – with patience, love and nurturing all things must thrive. Even this muddied mess…in its own way, was evidence of a much greater wholeness.

It’s the inescapable draw of the universe; from wishes to hopes and finally onto fruition. What we believe shapes the course of our lives – embracing us within the soft light of possibility. What we do and how we choose to engage, helps redefine our direction. Like a sail raised in the darkest pitch of night, it will always find its source in the time and the manner it was intended to be…

As if it had always been known…our destiny.

The garden now serves as a source of inspiration. Neighbors, friends and passing stranger all stopping to pause…to reflect on the feat of its creation.

In peace my sweet friends…

Namaste ❣

You Are Not So Small, Afterall.

There are moments when we may feel disconnected from this world – that our actions are of no real consequence or value. But, the truth is, even they smallest of drops helps to make the ocean whole.

And, while in its stead, forming great waves to reshape these boundaries within our own mind – as old habits and past judgements are effortlessly whisked away.

What matters more is not how we feel, but rather how we choose to engage the subtleties of our circumstances. Is it possible to remain open as we navigate our fear? The wounded may cry, ‘certainly not’ as the wise man welcomes the lesson within the journey.

Staying conscious of our choices – knowing that we are ultimately empowered to forge to new paths where the former have failed – marks the beginning of our letting go. Our first step towards peace – and, our realization that we are more than just one.

In this way, even the seemingly innocuous becomes relevant. Just as the drop to the ocean, every step we make encourages our growth.

In peace, sweet friends…

Namaste ❣

Through These Amplitudes of Light and Courage.

How often do we contemplate the essence of our being? Do we take the time to truly know? To acknowledge, to give…to find clarity within our own light?

We are our weakness and our strength. The duality of their motion continuously reminding that we are human. Some might remark, ‘a delicate balance’. And, whereas there is some truth – that balance likewise secures an unmitigable assurance.

Brute strength alone cannot win this ‘race’. Rather, it is through these amplitudes of light and courage that we ultimately find our way.

In peace, my sweet friends…

Namaste ❣

As Witness to Awakening.

There is an aspect of spirituality that is often overlooked; one so fundamentally paramount that it must be engaged before the heart’s silence can ever be secured. That is, truthfulness and integrity in our observations – particularly as it pertains to inward reflection.

We are, by our nature, curious truthseekers. Whether gazing thoughtfully towards the heavens, or, rather more simply, enjoying the ‘warmth’ of tea between friends – we want so desperately to know. To embrace our truth and gain from the experience.

And yet, so often our engagement is limited. The legacy of our moments offers its wisdom freely – though, to what end? Do we carry the lesson or cling to our story?

Life continuously seeks to invite our presence – to engage the sensory experience without reaction. Whether through sight, sound or touch – our breath serves as a function of truth. If only, at first, in fleeting glimpses – finally, we begin to see. We begin to see through the illusion and prejudice of ego.

We become ‘as one’ – as witness to our own awakening.

In peace, my sweet friends…

Namaste ❣️

The Warrior Within.

“You are a warrior when you have the bravery to face who you are, without fear, embarassment, or denial,” writes Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. “This warriorship is the basis of the spiritual path.”

I remember the first time reading his words. Chaos gripped the world around me – my marriage, my job, my failing health. I wanted to effect a sense of freedom, but every choice I made led me deeper into the well.

When I was younger, the world seemed tailor made to my whimsy. In those days, ‘mistakes’ we’re merely an aspect of discovery,

‘Mistakes’ quickly displaced by discovery and no problem greater than the next Saturday morning. If only I could travel back, returning to a simpler time.

When we are younger, we understand our role as an agent in our own happiness: we see a tree, we climb a tree. Though we may experience fear, nothing is ever truly beyond our reach.

Sadly as the years pass, we feel less in control – our happiness derived not by choice, but rather by circumstance. And, believing it to be a phenomenon external to self – we begin our chase. In time, losing track of ‘the basic harmony of being human.’

Just a child racing through a field, our joy is realized through this part of doing. In being honest with ourselves, and brave enough to face the true heart of the matter – we begin to disentangle decades worth of inner dialogue. Apprehension, fear, hesitation – no longer our sole consideration.

“Sometimes it is very frightening,” he shares. “But on the other hand, when you take this step, the whole situation, the whole journey, makes sense. You have to actually do it, and then you will understand.”

In every single passing moment, we both are *and* we become.

In peace, sweet friends…

Namaste ❣️

Engaging Our Inward Counsel.

Someone once shared with me that the purpose of this life is too encourage our gratitude. And, to that end, remove whatever it is that keeps is from being whole.

I was just 25 at the time, newly married and intent on creating the ‘perfect home.’ I took great care to ensure the simple things – a well-appointed home, notes in his lunch, and always a hug upon his return.

And, when the children were born I embraced my new role with great care and dedication, placing each need ‘rightfully’ before my own.

But, as the years passed my marriage fell apart. I felt empty on most days and lonely on the better ones. In all my attempts to create a warm and loving environment, I had failed to take the necessary steps for me – to feel whole, to feel complete, to feel of value.

I began to long for the freedom of my former self. I wanted peace and simplicity…a renewal of purpose. Though ironically what I wanted was already there – yet sadly obscured.

It was me; my choices, my faith and my willingness to be made whole.

“You can’t give from an empty well,” my mother would say. Whereas, certainly this is true – there is another aspect often disregarded. That is the allowance of self while in service to others.

“Be, don’t try to become,” Osho reminds. “You are already a masterpiece.” It is the ‘softer acceptance’, so to speak; our capacity to understand that our life is never without meaning.

That we are that meaning.

And what we seek is not to be discovered, rather realized. Waiting for our inward counsel.

A little something to consider, my friends.

In peace…

Namaste ❣️

This Balance of Courage.

The ritual of our mindfulness practice teaches us patience. Though, even more so, it demonstrate the need for a ‘balanced hand’ – fairness within a building turmoil, equanimity where injustice refuses to bend.

As practitioners, we are encouraged to cultivate peace within our hearts; to lend softness against formerly immutable edges. Though, how do we accomplish when our path is uncertain? How do we offer light as our own diminishes?

Do we abandon the entirety of our principles for the one that feels threatened? Can you imagine our world had ideology conceded to gentle wavering?

There’d be no Rosa Parks, nor Mahatma Ghandi – the legacy of their journey forever lost, rescinded under the weight of a looming doubt. How might we be enriched were it not for their struggle?

If anything, our insights and our actions must go together. We must strive to create our bonds through shared understanding. And knowing, in the end, that “we are all just walking each other home.”

A lasting peace can not be realized through the absence of pain. Rather, it must be forged by way of opportunity and courage.

In peace…

Namaste ❣️

The Roots of Home.

I’ve always believed that an attitude of contemplation helps us to remain open to the wonders of this world. Likewise, it helps to alleviate that constrictive pull and paradigm of fear.

A seed grows not by metered care, rather by breaking through the static boundaries of its former shell. And, casting aside all worries to wind – allows its roots to venture deeper still.

As it rejoins this Earth, it becomes – a sapling to tree to forest cover. Does the seed know its fate as it begins? No, yet it trusts the journey in spite of the season.

Just as we, too, cultivate a willing heart and a trust that permeates this silent beauty. To feel more at home, we must force our roots; knowing, that even the most desolate of soils shall share its nourishment.

In peace, my sweet friends…

Namaste ❣️

Where Do We Choose to Take Our Rest?

There was a story recently in our local newspaper. A man who had lost his son was asked to speak at the trial of the man accused of killing him.

Everyone following had expected to hear words of condemnation and hate. They assumed the grief far too great for any one man to bear.

And yet, when the time came for the man to address the court he looked directly into the eyes of the accused and said, “I forgive so that someday you may forgive yourself.” He then hugged him and whispered, ‘Do good things.’

Imagine the strength of this beautiful soul honoring the love of a child through his own debilitating pain. Through the blurred veil of tears, he recognized the wounds of another. In this moment, he wished only to console.

Could you or I effect the same?

Just as the wave crashes, it also recedes. And, asking nothing in return – it washes away all traces of impact. As we stand at its edges, we find peace in its roar.

Forgiveness is, I believe, within the nature of all living creatures. It binds itself to a continuity of peace, opening our wounds to the furthest reaches of a newfound hope. Is it faith? Is it belief?

In the end, we must ask ourselves – where do we wish to take our rest?

In the company and service of others? Or locked within the calcifications of pain?

It is not only our choice, my friends – it is our humanity.

Namaste ❤️

This Warmth of Home.

The winters in Ohio were brutal, at best; over thirty inches of ‘lake effect’ snow and a cold that could drive you to tears.

Those who ventured out were awarded a badge of courage upon their return. With wind-whipped cheeks, they’d relay their stories, “Honest to God, I couldn’t see a thing,” they’d begin.

It was always warmer within our home. Even as Old Man Winter howled and whipped his icy protest, somehow these conditions drew everyone nearer – with a place at the fire, a piping hot mug and far more stories to tell.

No matter what we do, we can not avoid adversity. Though, we can choose to navigate mindfully, with a willingness to accept the benefit of our course. It is precisely this openness that forms the foundation of our peace.

An intricate design begins to emerge. Stepping back, we begin to appreciate the magnitude of our efforts. Even threads worn thin offer a certain unimaginable beauty. They are delicate, yes – but critical to the pattern of our joyous being. Our radiance defines through the prism of our imperfect souls.

When we resist, we feel stuck. Though from the vantage of this space inside, we are never without the warmth of home.

In peace, my sweet friends…

Namaste ❤️