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Today's Walk 2-25-2020
Photos are from today’s walk - February 25, 2020
I feel the pressure. The pressure to be better, to be different, to be more, and to change my numerous flaws. I tend to think the solution is to push myself to fix all of these things when in reality the solution is to just be.
I just participated in a quiet day with some of my contemplative friends and one of the exercises that I encouraged them to do among a couple of others in order to practice silence was to compassionately be with whatever surfaced. I was a little surprised at how this practice really resonated with people and became one of the themes of the day.
It’s been my experience that one of the ways to healing our pain is to be open to it, feel it, and simply be with it. It’s a gift of non- judgmental presence.
I tell the following story often because it was a powerful demonstration of the power of simply being with. During my spiritual direction training, one of the most powerful exercises we did was to take turns simply being with someone as they spoke and shared what was surfacing for them. We listened and shared for 15 minutes each. It seemed daunting to be on either side of this scenario.
As listeners, we were told to be aware of what it felt like to just listen and not interrupt, offer advice, or ask any questions. As the person talking we were invited to share something that we might share during a spiritual direction session. It was such a powerful experience to just be listened to like this.
We can do this - be with - for ourselves. When you become aware of the judge, pain, or other feelings simply be with them. Be with your happy thoughts and feelings too!
Being with is a form of compassion. It’s a way of caring for ourselves. As you do this it will become your natural way of being with yourself and a compassionate and healing way to be with others.
Take good care,
~ Rod
The meditation I created is called Experiencing Oneness in a Divided World. In it, we explore a deep and comforting truth: that everything is connected.
As I venture out this morning, I'm thinking about the Mary Oliver poem, wild Geese, where she says, “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
I just want to bow 🙇♂️ in gratitude (also laugh because there’s a 🙇 bowing emoji)
For a period in my life I used to go to a particular place in a park not far from my house to meditate and pray. It was the beginning of a practice that I continue to practice to this very day, although this post is about a time when I took a break.
Our guest today is author Eric Janzen. Eric is probably best known for his high fantasy fiction books. He's written a trilogy called The Dreamtrekker Journals Trilogy, and more recently released a new series entitled The Essence Tales. In Eric's bio, he says he will continue writing until he can't anymore.
Our daughter Jess gifted me with a poem today. She says... Wrapping up my last few days on the coast for now… it’s been so amazing to get so much “normal” time with my family, and one of my favorite things is morning walks with dad. His practice of noticing and of being quiet enough in spirit to notice the minute details is always a gift.
Our new little bundle of joy - August (Gus) Matthew Toews - has reminded us all how powerful and incredible love is.
I am contemplating emptiness this morning which I know sends cautionary shivers down the spines of some Christians. I was warned about this by a "well-meaning" Christian on the weekend when I used the word emptiness at a retreat I was co-leading.
snowy days (meditation) Hints of Gladness
Are sounds like this (birdsong, babbling brooks) meant to touch our souls? I think they are.