There are so many things that happen each day that are interconnected and synchronistic, it has been hard to decide where to begin. I watched this documentary the other night called 2012: Time for Change and Sting was interviewed in the film, so I think I will start by stating that I truly believe ‘we are spirits in a material world”. Most of what I am going to discuss stems from the challenges inherent in being in the world but not entirely of it. Van Morrison also put it beautifully when he said: “I’m nothing but a stranger in this world, I’ve got a home on high”.
Still, while a core part of us is spirit (limitless and eternal), we are bound to this planet by our physical bodies. As much as we might feel they are not who we are, in a way, they are: they express something about us, and we are changed on a spiritual level by the form and function of the human body we are residing in. The way we care for and adorn our bodies says something about who we are and what we believe at a deep level. Our bodies present challenges and limitations that our spirits need to grow. And we have chosen these bodies to work through specific lessons.
Our bodies provide us opportunities to practice. Practice has been on my mind a lot. Anything we do over and over is a practice, and how we practice really does define our character. Whether we practice diligently or lazily, compassionately or judgmentally, gently or aggressively, with bravery or cowardice: the action of our practice in the world demonstrates the quality of our thoughts, belief and all the hidden things within our hearts. Yoga has perhaps, popularized the term, but it was always present. It has long been said that doctors practice medicine, a dentist has a practice, lawyers practice the law. These are traditional uses of the word, but truly we all practice the things we do in this life.
The effort I make to be compassionate toward difficult people is a daily practice, as is walking: some days practice comes easily and other days it takes great effort. I was talking to my brother who is working on cultivating a perfect morel mushroom and he said: “it is all about practice, you have to put in the work and the time, Sis”. If someone is cooking or baking they are always practicing: adding a little of this or that. A writer practices, constantly tweaking things, changing a word, or a phrase. Raising children is possibly the most challenging practice there is, some days you get to go to bed with joy in your heart while others you know you could have been more patient or explained something better. We humans don’t really ever get it right in this life, definitively and consistently, so we practice. We are ever working at achieving and maintaining a sense of balance in these silly bodies. It is what makes us compelling. There is endless possibility as long as we are alive. Every moment we are taking breath is an opportunity to create balance and peace. We keep practicing, knowing that no state of being, pleasant or unpleasant, will ever last for very long. Change will come and throw us off balance as soon as we feel secure. There are times when we make mistakes over and over, the same ones in different guises for weeks or years, until we learn their lessons. Other times we graduate from our challenges to new, more difficult ones, at astounding speed and enjoy periods of relative peace and stability in between. All we can do is keep on practicing at expressing what is best within us in the outside world. The more we calm ourselves and behave in ways that demonstrate what we truly intend to demonstrate in the world, the easier the practice becomes and the more balance we can have.
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