Tomorrow is Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community's Spring Retreat! I'm looking most forward to the day and spending time together with the theme of "grace."
I'm remembering a talk by Thich Nhat Hanh in which he mentioned grace being compared to insight--the direct result of what happens when we use our mindfulness to become still and concentrated. The quote on the left seems to capture this idea.
In the last few weeks, I've pondered ideas and definitions of grace. One concept was spoken by a friend in the practice who had recently lost a child. This friend mentioned deep appreciation for "being held" by community. In the midst of suffering there was comfort, love and understanding--ie, grace. Support was loaned by those stable in the practice and they were truly present in the midst of her suffering.
The comparison to life as a constant, moving river is a common one. What if grace might be the ability to be carried by the river without resistance, or, when resistance is felt, working with dissolving our resistances rather than adding to them. I'm presently practicing this application of grace. Grace is like the nudge reorienting us to our North Stars--love, compassion, peace--to remember and get in touch with the reality of what matters most. I feel a poem snippet coming on....
Grace Poured
or...when rock or log pops up,breath, become water--continue flowing,
and go around.
©2016 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com
Tomorrow is a morning of springtime grace, poured out by Momma Earth and all the bright stars of LTMC. We hope you can join us. Feel free to visit our Facebook page for more information. Love and gratitude to all of you as we are mindfully go as a river through this beautiful life together.
In the last few weeks, I've pondered ideas and definitions of grace. One concept was spoken by a friend in the practice who had recently lost a child. This friend mentioned deep appreciation for "being held" by community. In the midst of suffering there was comfort, love and understanding--ie, grace. Support was loaned by those stable in the practice and they were truly present in the midst of her suffering.
The comparison to life as a constant, moving river is a common one. What if grace might be the ability to be carried by the river without resistance, or, when resistance is felt, working with dissolving our resistances rather than adding to them. I'm presently practicing this application of grace. Grace is like the nudge reorienting us to our North Stars--love, compassion, peace--to remember and get in touch with the reality of what matters most. I feel a poem snippet coming on....
Grace Poured
What if grace is--
being carried by the river of life without resistance, or...when rock or log pops up,breath, become water--continue flowing,
and go around.
©2016 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com
Tomorrow is a morning of springtime grace, poured out by Momma Earth and all the bright stars of LTMC. We hope you can join us. Feel free to visit our Facebook page for more information. Love and gratitude to all of you as we are mindfully go as a river through this beautiful life together.
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