Sisters and Brothers in Christ

Take a moment and think about your typical day. If your day is representative of most people in this area it is crammed full with your own activities and responsibilities and those of your spouse and children. Job, school, family, church, community all tug us with a desire for our time and attention. Once our schedules are overloaded then the tensions sets in that breeds anxiety. How shall you or I free ourselves from this trap? Can we?

Lalla, the 14th century poetess from Kashmir, wrote:

Meditate within eternity.
Don't stay in the mind.

Your thoughts are like a child fretting
near its mother's breast, restless
and afraid, who with a little guidance,
can find the path of courage.

Was your first thought, "Right! When am I going to find the time to meditate? Just one more thing to add to my overburdened schedule." Meditation and prayer aren't meant to be abusive or intrusive, rather they can become a natural part of the fabric that, weaved together, makes up your life and mine.

Meditation happens when idling at the traffic light. Meditation happens when sitting in the parking lot waiting to pick up child or spouse. Meditation happens in inconspicuous moments when the buffet of silence is opened to you. Will you fret or will you partake?

I needed to hear these words of Lalla. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin is entering a very intense time of self-study and proposals. When my mind frets near the mother's breast that appears to be overwhelming work and responsibility then fear has opportunity to whisper the damning and cowardly word, "Can't!" Just a taste of silence reveals another way - the path of courage. I know that path to be one filled with people who walk the way of Love. In that Presence obstacles become opportunity and burdens become light.

The buffet of silence is always open. Next time fretting overtakes you stop, take a deep breath, and discover the nourishment of courage that silence brings.

Joel t