Last Sunday at Mass we heard the Gospel regarding seeing life through a child's eyes. Of course, there was more to the gospel than just that, but that was the part that pressed on my heart. My husband and I have just finished gaining custody of our 2 1/2 year old niece Brianna. It has been a long journey and a difficult, emotional one at times, but it all worked out. The day after our court hearing, we traveled back from New York where the baby was, home here to California. On our flight, Brianna was not afraid of the turbulence. Instead, she was excited at the "bumpy clouds" and wanted "more bumpy clouds". This child-like view of life is one I think worthy of writing about.
How many times have we had fear in our lives because we see things through our "experienced" eyes? Our perceptions become so based on our past experiences that we can't see the present moment of the experience. Our perceptions and interpretations become clouded through our positive and negative experiences, to the point that, we can't see the actual moment for what it is. Eckhart Tolle, the author of The Power of Now and A New Earth calls this "presence". He describes it as being in the present moment such that you can see the thoughts of your past experience playing through in your mind. One of the things I always try to pay close attention to is the song of the birds outside. I am often keenly aware of when I don't even hear the birds, yet they are singing their song regardless.
Questions to Ponder:
Consider how child-like or adult-like we are in reaction to present moments in our own lives. What would it take for you to be child-like again, to hear the birds as they sing their song of life?
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Being present is challenging. One thing that I find useful is to pay attention to my body, my breath and to bring awareness to the subtle body, the pulse. So much of the day is in reaction to some situation that is presenting itself. That reaction is often child-like in that tantrum energy occurs. Not getting what I want and reacting from a memory of the past. When I react from this place, I am becoming more skilled at stopping and connecting to what it feels like in my body; the pressure in my chest, the heat and something akin to panic. Stopping actual stops the reaction and perspective arises. For me, that wisdom is adult-like.
ReplyDeleteThat is very adult-like wisdom Lisa - and extremely sound advice. The "stopping" to stop seems contradictory yet it's a perfect way to be more present. In stopping, we become present, less reactive, and more capable of seeing the situation as it is, versus what we make it up to be. Thanks for the comment!!
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