“Let me take some time each day to look within the self and experience the beauty of my inner qualities,” is the thought for the day that accompanied this photo:
This photo and the words were such a timely message, as I had just spent yesterday in a silent meditation retreat with a small group of others. In some unspoken (yet understood) way, each of us—including our retreat facilitator—was there to do just that: Make friends with yourself.
Even before I left the house, the content for my process was showing up. A friend who was supposed to attend sent an email message: “Too little sleep. Too much driving. Not coming today, have a blessed day.”
Then, as I was shutting down my phone, ready to give my attention to the inner world, a text from my sister saying she would not be coming to the Holistic Alliance reunion the following day. Her stated reason, “Looks like most of the people I would like to see are not going.”
The fertile soil of my soul searching had been planted, and my unshed tears watered the ground. Stinking thinking was the manure of rapid growth. The warmth of love in the room gave energy to the hell-of-my-own-making as I translated my sister’s message to “nobody I am interested in seeing.”
Monkey mind was off and running wildy.Would I give it the keys to my heart?
In the sacred (and safe) container of the days meditation, I had the gift of choice to hold my inner being with compassion rather than to play the role of abuser and neglector my ego had already assigned to my friend and to my beloved sister. I had the opportunity to feel my own disappointment at not having the blessing of sharing time and experience with those I loved.
The door was open to self freedom, and it also offered grace to the others in my life.
Thank you, Lisa Zucker, for being such a wonderful teacher/learner. It is a humbling role we each play each and every day….
