Staying With It

Don't surrender your loneliness 

So quickly.

Let it cut more deep.

Let it ferment and season you

As few human

Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight

Has made my eyes so soft,

My voice

So tender,

My need of God

Absolutely

Clear.

Hafiz

Once you have committed to being lived, to being moved, to being surrendered, you must stay with it, you just must. I'm not sure there is a choice anyway. We all honestly know when we are in a mental spin and obsessing over trivia, and when a truly painful transformation is taking place within us. You can't unknow your Self and the promptings of Spirit. A greater emptying out is going on inside. Even more letting go is possible, infinitely possible. All holding and hiding spaces become illuminated. It is no longer possible to hold or to hide anything, or to operate with such sustained effort. Effortlessness and Surrender demand everything of you and from you. You know they're right! The absolute scent of Truth and Presence confirm this.

To soothe those throbbing painful places, is to stay with it. To resist figuring it all out, is staying with it. To allow yourself to admit this current awfulness is happening, that this turmoil is all-consuming, yet somehow necessary, is bravely staying with it. It is beyond bravery. It is an accepting of our failure, our unknowing, our inadequacy, our innocence, our humanity.


Where to from here? Keep staying with it. Then, stay with it some more:
Pick some easy steps from the list of Contemplative Practices.
Locate your breath. Find the physical throb in the body. Breathe.
Softly tap the chest and heart.
Go for a gentle walk.
Pray. A Heart Without Words is heard.
Talk to a spiritual adviser.
Get some flower essence remedies to soothe the emotions. I find the Australian Bush flower essences excellent.
Allow a moment of lightness - Envelop yourself in re-runs of The Waltons, and Little House on the Prairie (Feel free to substitute!). My own version of this includes a warm blanket and home-made Rice Pudding (don't overdo it!).
Be your own comforter - sometimes, absolutely no-one will understand.
Follow the reassurance of routine. Go about the daily duties and demands, as normal. Keep going.
Go Beyond the Shadows.
See The Highest Good.
Remember, This Too Shall Pass.


Stay With It. You will emerge - even less that you are now, even lighter, and ever more graced. Our need of God, is met.

I Am With You Always

Matthew 28:20

The Highest Good

The highest good is like water,

nourishing life effortlessly,

flowing without prejudice

to the lowliest places.

It springs from all 

who nourish their community

with a benevolent heart as deep as an abyss,

who are incapable of lies and injustices,

who are rooted in the earth,

and whose natural rhythms of action

play midwife to the highest good 

of each joyful moment.

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

We don't always know what's good for us. We don't always flow with our circumstances. The flow of life can feel like a raging torrent, or a calm sea, oscillating in pace and intensity. At times we are exhilarated, at others we hang on for dear life. It is what it is, and it is constantly moving and changing. We can find ourselves resisting the movement, unable to accept situations, or becoming impatient and forceful in our efforts.

Our lowliest places do best when allowed to exist, when allowed to voice their imbalances and prejudices, their efforts and injustices, their hopes and dreams, their disappointments and joys, their difficulties with being. This is what it means to be ordinary, to be human. We cannot nourish and balance these places until we understand them.

We have all met people whose actions come from goodness and we see the results in our communities and families. When we catch ourselves out of sync with Life's rhythm, it is often these people who help bring us back into balance. They make us laugh when we get too serious, they comfort us when we're struggling, they demand integrity and honesty when we are unwittingly lying to ourselves. They live Life, and are the best version of us.

Contemplation confirms that there is a goodness and benevolence underlying everything. Our experience shows us that Life is moving in the direction of balance, harmony and equanimity. It is not subject to negotiation, cajoling, or force. It has an all-embracing wisdom. It is effortless, yet active. Divine work is taking place. Our job is to stay in the river, and keep swimming. We are a necessary part of the flow.