Hanging with Eeyore or Desmond Tutu?

I'm feeling brave today, to address a way of being -- Reactive Positivity. The desire for this way of being came out of deep reflection on the Tedx Talk I gave in May 2021. I watched post-production following the event and was disappointed. The hope I thought I had conveyed was a smidge, barely scratching the surface.

The talk birthed a North Star within me ~ I wish, above all to be a positive and uplifting force in the face of the opioid crisis, a pandemic, stubbing my toe, whatever it may be ~ I want to react with positivity. Not fake-o, Polly-Anna stuff, but the tapped-in substance of a greater source. 

Part of my clarity came with Desmond Tutu's passing yesterday. I have always been inspired and touched by his joyful personality in the face of tremendous hardship, apartheid--it doesn't get much worse than that. The Dalai Lama, a very dear friend to Tutu, also falls into the joyful category. Even though the Dalai Lama has faced the tremendous pain of exile and the destruction of his people, he continues to exude peace, hope and love. The Dalai Lama and Tutu's capacities for positivity are strong and massive, unable to be contained, and the people feel it. Watch this video of Dalai Lama and Tutu and try not to smile--impossible!

How do we grow the capacity for unwavering, reactive positivity? Training the heart and mind seem key. We're talking-- reactive--so, rather than fear, or the past, or our habitual habits and traumas taking over--positivity takes over. That sounds subconscious to me, it sounds the stuff of consumption--what music am I listening to? What am I reading? What am I viewing? What am I speaking? Who is my company? Am I hanging out with Eeyore or Desmond Tutu? 

And...if I am with Eeyore, hello, dear Eeyore! In my practice of mindfulness, I will not turn away the donkey at my door...or get sucked in but rather, practice being a force of reactive positivity, uplifting and free. 

Like any good gardener, if I want positivity to grow, I must water and feed positivity. With water and food comes a growth in capacity and true healing. Reactive positivity is my 2022 New Year's Resolution! Who's on board with me? I want to grow lotuses in all the mud, ya'all! The giant, mammoth kind that grow 60 inches tall, pushing through all the muck. Dear Lotuses, drop me a line on Facebook or use #reactivepositivity for insights, thoughts and ideas to grow Reactive Positivity 2022! 

Hallelujah Moment!

 

As we enter the month of December a memory comes to mind that I can't shake. I was asked the question ~ tell me about a tradition that formed who you are today. In a flash my mind's eye saw--little me holding one of those skinny lit candles with the cardboard drip guard, belting out Hallelujah with a congregation thousands strong. 

I was born and raised Reformed Mennonite (yes, I had electricity, no I did not drive a horse and buggy). Reformed Mennonite folks are in general humble and pious people who never sing at the top of their lungs--except on Christmas Eve! On that one night a year heaven came down to earth, truly! Celebrating like that until I was well into my teens, was the truest expression of love, peace and goodwill to all that I was yet to know. On the altar was a lighted candle and from it, a flame was passed, one by one to our neighbor, perhaps a loved one or a total stranger. In a matter of minutes, lights multiplied and a community was born. Light of goodness within each person was acknowledged--no exception, no one left out or disparaged. We shone so bright, so beautifully. A Hallelujah moment was born! 

Now, bringing this Hallelujah moment down into the concrete...watching the news of late, I see division, looting, fear and violence. Inside I ask myself the question--where are the Hallelujah moments--moments of rejoicing in the love, peace and goodwill expressed in us? How are we acknowledging? Stoking? Lighting these flames? I don't recognize the streets of our cities. I've never seen such levels of violence, greed and despair. Our spiritual dimension seems void and lacking. 

I am committed in the month of December to pass the lighted candle, sing and rejoice in what is good and beautiful. If you are in need of a Hallelujah moment, please come visit with me. Shine the light of compassionate awareness on any situation that weighs upon your beautiful spirit. I am at The Studio Tuesdays and Thursdays and would enjoy a chance to pass flames, to shine and rejuvenate, to bring Tahoe heaven down to earth. Zoom is also an option if it suits you best. Please contact me for an appointment to care for your spirit or as a gift to a loved one. May your light shine bright this holiday season and may you pass that light to all you meet.

Related Blog Articles: Double Belonging 

Search for Wise Compassion

 

When dealing with supporting loved ones in recovery, wise compassion vs idiot compassion seems a constant contemplation. The above quote guides our practice. How do we know our actions toward our addicted loved one, or anyone for that matter, are ultimately helpful? Two North Stars seem key:  

1)  True compassion knows ~ it's not just about the addict - the fallout from addiction is massive. True compassion supports not only the addict but those impacted by the addiction ~ especially vulnerable populations such as elders and children. Can we see with a broad, compassionate gaze that provides equal care to all those on the journey, including ourselves? 

2) True compassionate action addresses roots - every action should seek to help identify and heal the roots of addiction, not cover up, put our heads in the sand or become a co-conspirator. The roots may even have to do with us. Getting more and more real with ourselves, takes honesty and courage. 

For wise compassion to arise, seeing our loved ones, our precious, "flowers," in recovery as not separate seems foremost:

The flower is made of non-flower elements. There is nothing that is not present in the flower. We see sunshine, rain, clouds, the earth, we also see time and space in the flower. A flower, like everything, is made entirely of non-flower elements. The whole cosmos has come together in order to help the flower manifest herself. The flower is full of everything except one thing: a separate self, a separate identity. The flower cannot be by herself alone. The flower has to inter-be with the sunshine, the cloud and everything in the cosmos. If we understand being in terms of inter-being, then we are much closer to the truth.

"No Death, No Fear" by Thich Nhat Hanh

We are non-flower elements--may we be wise, compassionate gardeners, practicing tending our loved ones and family members skillfully: extracting weeds, being sunshine, rain, clouds on this recovery journey. 

                                              Image: Life Finds a Way: 25 Plants That Won't Give Up!
 

 

Kindness In The Small

The other night working a packed mental health wing, I got to pondering....

Kindness In The Small

©2021 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Have you ever noticed, when walking down the road without sidewalks,

that cars naturally give space to avoid running over you?

When plate or cup is scalding hot, 

the waitress warns everyone.

If arms are carrying a full load, 

people step-in to open doors.

Something is dropped,

and everyone in vicinity bends to pick it up.

A person unburdens great heartache

and surrounding eyes go moist.

Someone smiles and suddenly 

the corners of our own mouths upturn.

Countless times a day

in countless ways,

“Please, you first... 

May I help you?

I feel your pain...I see your joy.” 

I can’t help but wonder

in this time of social distancing 

If we aren’t masking our beautiful, 

innate tendencies

to reach out.

Perhaps, it is the small,

seemingly insignificant, quiet kindness

that gives meaning to our lives.

Catching the Nature of Water

For those of us supporting loved ones in the cycle of addiction and recovery, there are often pain-staking moments. I'm in one of them right now, as I await confirmation that my loved one is safely in custody. I decided to do walking meditation during these tense moments, as my mind kept returning to the what-ifs and that thinking was not in any way helpful to myself, my family or my loved one.

While walking in the autumn garden, I was kept good company by streams of water trickling off the roof of my house after our first snowfall yesterday. The sun happily melted the snow into pure sparkling water ~ very precious in this time of drought. I was transported back in time to the day that I learned the depths of my loved ones addiction. I was sitting in my living room with bright sun and blue skies. It was springtime and snowmelt poured, actually gushed, from my rafters. I was on the phone, listening to my loved one and my breath was completely inaccessible. My sliding glass door was open and I could hear the melting snow, gurgling and splattering. So, every time my mind descended into panic, I returned to the sound of running water, sun and blue sky. Given my training and background, I know this comes very close to "disassociation." I call it saving my sanity--on that day, water, sun and sky became my breath, my anchors. Clear water, warm sunshine, and spacious sky, held me and my loved one in a fuller picture of reality. 

So today, during walking meditation, I notice a similar melt but it is a mere trickle. Yet, water seems to sing, "catch my precious, precious lifeforce." I slowly walk into the house and gather containers. I prop them carefully so as to catch the clear running streams. As I do, I pray for my family, all families and the amazing people who are by our loved ones sides: encouraging, feeding, sheltering, loving ~ gathering the seemingly impenetrable melt, the trickle of life that we have to work with.

Often in the cycles of use and recovery, we convince ourselves there is nothing left. I am here to say ~ life is always there. We, as compassionate care-takers must tend, gather, use and grow the precious drops. 

As I finish walking meditation and gathering the containers, I water my happy indoor plants. I sit down to write and move this energy. A message comes through. My loved one is safe, secure, protected. 

Breathing in, I offer immense gratitude;
Breathing out, may all remember their water nature,
the thaw that always comes in the light
of gentle and compassionate awareness.    

When Breath Triggers

 

Hello, Resilient Ones, who have survived pandemic, smoke-filled skies and evacuations! The impact of fire season goes beyond...so beyond the boundaries of the western states.

Fires near my local Lake Tahoe home town have been burning since June, with the latest and closest being the Caldor Fire, over 70% contained, yet still smoldering and affecting air quality ~ that’s over 4 months of smoke and altered light. Gratefully, homes were not lost in my community but the forests literally out our back doors have been greatly impacted.

For those in fire zones across the US—breath—the primary anchor when practicing mindfulness is often triggering. I speak from personal experience and listening to people again and again ask, “How can I focus on my breathing when it’s compromised?” 

Masks restricted our oxygen intake, now smoke—what can we do when breath becomes triggering? Here’s the good news, there are many anchors beside breath to help bring our mind back to our bodies, and they are only limited by imagination:

* Sounds - bird song, the sound of the bell, the fan in the air purifier (!), music

* Sights - petals of a flower, the face of a beloved one, moonlight, patterns of tree bark 

* Taste - sipping tea, chewing gum, a favorite meal, freshly tooth-brushed mouth 

* Smell - essential oils, a pot of soup, fresh squeezed lemon, wet earth

* Touch - soft fur of an animal companion, body-heat, souls of feet on the stable floor

Personally, my favorite go-to during the months of fire has been touch as a practice anchor, because it’s the only sense not overly impacted by fire conditions. Ears are assaulted by helicopters overhead dropping water and retardant and the eerie absence of forest creature sounds, smoke-haze fills sight, taste, smell, but smoke does not impact touch, so it seems an important key anchor when we are living mindfully in fire zones.

A friend recently shared in community that one day, when air quality was well over 1,000, her mind “just kind of snapped.” She gathered her dog, got in the car and started driving west on the highway. After an hour and a half, she realized she had not grabbed a single thing, no clothes, food, she had only taken her wallet and dog. “I felt like a wild animal, I just had to get away.” All of us listening understood. Our body wisdom knows—when breath is compromised it is not safe, we should leave, take flight and find clearer air to breathe. 

Fortunately, our blue sky moments this week were more than half the days as fires calm and cool with the start of Autumn. Breathing clean air is a true source of joy. Through applied practice of mindfulness during major fire, I’ve come to understand very deeply ~ clean air is an irreplaceable resource, deeply appreciated and respected as triggering when it is not plentiful. Working with other anchors besides breath expands sense perceptions and grows gratitude. Clean and unobstructed air is everything.  

Malala ~ She Who Hears the Cries of the World

In the Zen tradition there's a figure called Avalokiteshvara, described as the embodiment of compassion. This being is known by other names: Kwan Yin, Mother Mary, and is said to transcend the idea of gender, race or creed. A translations of her name is, "she who hears the cries of the world." One beloved image is her sitting in water/moon pose ~  a very relaxed posture with one foot pulled up comfortably, yet ready to propel her upward for action, and the other touching the earth, grounded in solidity. The first time I heard Malala Yousafzai speak, the image on the right ~ water/moon was what I envisioned. 

Malala was 14 years old at the time of her unfortunate introduction to the world, having been shot by the Taliban in Pakistan for going to school. The world seemed to wake up overnight as we watched her struggle for life. Malala was highlighted in my Freedom Series tab in the first blog post in 2012 commending her amazing spirit: "There is this quality in me--I'm ready in all situations." 

Since then, brave and fearless Malala Yousafzai has stepped out of her relaxed childhood identity with both feet touching the earth, responding to the cries of the world, specifically to the voices of women and girls in the Middle East. 

She reported a few weeks ago, "On August 9 in Boston, I woke up at 5:00 am to go to the hospital for my latest (6th) surgery and saw the news that the Taliban had taken Kunduz, the first major city to fall in Afghanistan," she writes. "Over the next few days, with ice packs and a bandage wrapped around my head, I watched as province after province fell to men with guns, loaded with bullets like the one that shot me."

In my first blog post, Malala spoke of a quality that is ready in any circumstance. What is this quality? It is a heart of great compassion. For many years, I've studied the quality of compassion and never has it been needed like right now. All around is epic suffering: pandemic, record drug overdoses, suicides, forest fires raging 15 miles away as I type this. What is this quality that is ready? A compassionate heart turned towards suffering, meeting it head on, rather than turning away. 

A heart of great compassion resides in those who hold a posture of open-hearted awareness, refusing to be hardened--knowing that to turn towards our pain is the most direct path to freedom and liberation. It does not work, obviously, to anesthetize, isolate, and separate.

Malala's response to what she sees going on around her, grows my own capacity to respond, "Nine years later, I am still recovering from just one bullet. The people of Afghanistan have taken millions of bullets over the last four decades," Yousafzai writes. "My heart breaks for those whose names we will forget or never even know, whose cries for help will go unanswered."

Malala, you enter the stream of spiritual and blood ancestors who embrace this walk of deep listening and responding with a heart of compassion. I am renaming you, "She Who Hears The Cries Of The World." 

Will we wake up alongside you? Will we allow our hearts to soften, open, grow and be moved? 

Artist: Seol Min, Korean nun

 

When Sunflowers Refuse to Open

When Sunflowers refuse to open, you know something is askew. For those of us living in Northern California (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado...), this summer has been particularly challenging as fires erupt in the four directions. Nature has a way of speaking wisdom, and on this particularly day, it came in the form of Sunflowers. As friends text pictures of dark, foreboding skies from yet another fire 19 miles away, I decided instead, to write a poem. Please enjoy...and...as of today (four days later), skies have cleared and it was the first blue sky we had in weeks ~ the sunflowers began to open....Ahhhh, impermanence!

When Sunflowers Refuse to Open

August 15, 2021

©2021 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

 

Dixie and Tamarack Fires, 

still burning 

and the newest, just yesterday, Caldor.

Days pass in wane-attempt of salmon sun—

unfamiliar neon ball, sometimes seen, sometimes unseen,

impossible for sunflowers to find, track and follow,

buds stay closed, in stunted, suspended states,

waiting….

 

Impossible to find, track and follow,

I, too, curl-in with barely my bright parts out,

turn from faraway sun, 

stay indoors as advised,

squint through smoke

and failing light.

 

Yet, everyday, at least once, 

I leave the closed up house,

visit the garden,

refill bird feeder,

refresh shallow pond.

 

Smokey in-breaths, smokey out-breaths, 

ash falls like snow  

as I water sunflowers, and,

insights come—

every material thing is replaceable.

But what of safety? Clean water? Fresh air? 
Healthy body and stable mind? 

We’ve got to change how we’re doing things.

Heart opens as I contemplate, how?

 

In mind’s eye, another flower appears—Fireweed— 
It pops up like a prophet: tall, slender, bright fuchsia.

It lives in colonies, is hardy and thrives in areas of burn.
“I wish it were called Fire-blossom,” says a dear friend,

“We mistakenly call the elegant weeds.”  

 

Internal Fire-blossom, show us the way.

How you have learned to survive, 

so beautifully.

 

Fires, Smoke, Poetry and Song

Hello, Dear Ones, as fire season begins, we're entering week 3 here in California. My spirits were a bit dampened yesterday as smoke 5x its toxic level hung heavy in the Tahoe basin.  I found myself wondering, is this how summers are going to be from now on? Then, beautiful lines from Hafiz interrupted the resistance and wove their nectar into heart and mind...

Even 

After

All this time

The Sun never says, "You owe me."

Look

What happens

With a love like that,

it lights the

whole 

sky. 

The sun, a star, the moon, never complains, never casts blame as it hangs in the sky, obscured behind a smoke screen, why must I? I'm caught in the idea that it shouldn't be this way and I'm caught in the idea that this might be the "new normal." Those ideas are the source of my suffering. Thank you, Hafiz. 

The second thing that happened to clear away the smoke blues was that the lovely lines of Hafiz generated a question--how can I loosen the resistance? Instead of focusing on what I can't do, what can I do? So, of course, I reached for the beautiful bell and got down my drum. It's probably not recommended to sing in smoke haze, but...well, you know my motto--sing it into submission. Please enjoy this offering of a total relaxation on the Five Mindfulness Trainings ~ Stay well, stay safe and stay connected....

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mBOErS45WIRGMK6-EKY0rP21pfX0WrOZ/view?usp=sharing

   

Summer Mindfulness Retreat: June 24, 2021

 

July 22, 2021 

Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community will be gathering this coming Saturday with happy hearts
to be together again! Our last retreat to deepen our practice was in January 2019, weeks
before the pandemic erupted. 

Our intention is to practice outdoors primarily. We will begin a morning sit at 8:00am beneath
the big Juniper outside our temple at The Studio Lake Tahoe, then, flow into walking meditation
at Paradise Park to enjoy Lake Baron, the shade of the gazebo and our elder, giant Juniper.

During this last year and a half, it’s been a blessing to have a concrete practice, orienting us
towards what matters most during the upheavals. We will dive deep into the 5 Mindfulness
Trainings and look at our personal study of the trainings and how they have studied us!

We will be enjoying a guided meditation to soak up the goodness of 1) Reverence for Life 2)
True Happiness 3) True Love 4) Loving Speech and Deep Listening and 5) True Nourishment
and Healing (More on the 5 MT here)

Please join us in a day of pure summer nourishment! 

A sweet little angel dropped this poem by Antonio Machado into my lap with perfect timing, not knowing (or knowing) that it was exactly what I needed to hear. I have spun the second stanza particularly through the honeycomb of my mind again and again and again....

Last Night As I Was Sleeping

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night as I slept,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drEeU7PMzsk

Tedx Experience!

The two days of rehearsal and final production were amazing! Definitely a few of the most rememberable days of my life. The nine in the speaking team interwove a magical day, none of us having met before. Talks all had at their foundations: resilience, common humanity and compassionate collective care of ourselves, each other and our beautiful Mama Earth. 

Having never spoken to such a large crowd, I had no idea how it would go—hoping to at least not do a “mic drop” as my dear sister joked! My Tedx topic was, “Can Mindfulness Solve the Opioid Epidemic?” Heavy topic, and during my month and a half of practice, I rode the fine balance of heart and mind. It’s an emotional topic for me, and I thought I had achieved a bit of insight—when I go back into my own small story, I suffer but in this present moment, my loved one is doing great: he’s giving back and taking big steps in recovery. When I keep the bigger story in mind—all the millions of people that opioid addiction affects,—I find stability and purpose ~ Not me, not mine. Then, “I” was up and out onto the stage I walked....

Words flowed, memorization held, heart opened, emotions stabilized as I mindfully worked with breath and brought Thich Nhat Hanh into those moments (Thank you, sweet Kathi:). It felt good, it felt solid. I lost count of the people who found me afterwards, wanting to share their stories—many who were 10, 20 plus years sober. Beautiful, inspiring souls, among those still experiencing addiction: homelessness, estrangement, enmeshment, and losses. There were acts unimaginable: selling a loved one to drug cartels, desperation resulting in hiding evidence, insurance fraud to get treatment, etc. I eventually went into the bathroom, sat on the toilet and cried. I can say—stage makeup indeed is waterproof! But, then, I very quickly pulled myself together knowing that even though the opioid epidemic ocean of suffering is wide and deep, the Tedx talk and the community it engenders are tiny ripples, going out....

When I arrived home, I was able to watch the live broadcast and renewed my great desire to grow my personal capacity to be with suffering and...to lighten hearts around me, including my own. Even before the Tedx event when I spoke of the topic of my talk, people shared so many stories and a few days before a colleague lost a child to overdose. I continually go back to the importance of community to hold and cradle suffering of this magnitude. Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh) very wisely understood and conveyed—the next Buddha is not a person but a community. I return to a metaphor often used and attributed to different ancient sages—a spoonful of salt in a cup is undrinkable, but poured into a lake, almost imperceptible. Alone, we are doomed, together, we are strong, resilient and resourceful. I’ve experienced again and again the vast capacity of community to be present with whatever arises. 

When the talk link is given, I will post in hopes it can be used in whatever ways benefit folks. We were warned it may take up to 6 months with pandemic delays. Thank you, everyone for your support, words of wisdom, insights and care. My heart is full of gratitude for all the Lake Tahoe Community College hosts that were tireless in their devotion to the exchange of ideas, inspiration and service. 

Indestructible Nature

 

I had a morning of technology mishaps, unable to print due to wifi coming and going. And of course it happened as I was preparing to walk out the door  for the treatment center, so I had no handouts to accompany my usual week’s practice. Rather than get pulled into the chaos, I used it as an opportunity to keep my eyes and ears open to new practice opportunities when I arrived for morning group. The day turned out to be magical. 

I arrived, observing the full house of clients (alcohol and drug use is up significantly since the pandemic—OD up 63%). Hope seemed at a low and this observation was confirmed by staff. It’s times like this I envision the practice as a mirror to reflect the indestructible nature inside each person. Indestructible nature untouched by addiction, poverty, tragedy and the pandemic. As we prepared for walking meditation, I consciously opened my heart for a way to explore this innate nature upon our return. 

We stepped beyond the property, into the forest, slowly walking out of the tree line and into a meadow surrounded by a huge mountain range, covered in snow and jutting up into the blue sky. We stopped and soaked in the view. A palatable peace pervaded the entire group. A young one, sat upon a fallen tree and began to hum as his eyes roamed the landscape. Then, he stopped and said to no one in particular, “The mountain is so pretty, so peaceful.”

His words opened up an insight into the reality of indestructible nature. The very same mountain that was pristine and indeed pretty and peaceful had been absolutely and completely devastated by a wildfire fifteen years earlier. The destruction had burned so hot it had exploded the tops off the trees and completely blackened the land. I had lived right down from the meadow and witnessed the destruction. After coming home from our evacuation, I was so heartsick over the charred earth, I couldn’t bring myself to run or bike in the woods near my house. It was just too painful, and I cried copious tears for the land. Now, so many years later the mountain had greened again.  

The group walked back slowly, thoughtfully and then laid down for total relaxation and a story about a beautiful mountain, scarred and devastated by a raging wildfire that appeared to destroy everything in its path. Sharing the words of our young friend, “It’s so pretty, so peaceful,” there were tears and the very felt sense that every living thing moves in the direction of life. Mindfully acknowledging our indestructible nature is paramount, so we can speak to it every day and grow our goodness. The greatest gift is that when we strengthen our good nature, we become capable of recognizing and speaking to that same life force in our families and friends and even those who we find difficult. Calming and cooling the fires we trust—new growth is there.    

“What if everything you need is inherent in you right now—profuse, abundant and perfectly sufficient” Inner Constellation Blog Motto

Death Trap Inside The Snow Globe!

 

I’m so thankful I practice mindfulness! Tahoe received about 3 foot of snow yesterday. and I went out late morning, prepared to move large quantities off my deck. I lifted the grate by my front door and began pushing the white stuff into the hole. After a few swipes, I rested by looking around at all the beauty, mesmerized by the snowflakes, and fully feeling the magic of being inside a snow globe. I pulled out my phone and began a little photo shoot. On one of the shots, I stepped back and literally felt space between my boot and where the deck should have been. Next thing I knew my torso exploded in pain as my arms flung straight out to keep me from falling all the way through the hole to the ground below! 

I didn’t scream, why I’m not sure, so my husband, although he heard the thud, didn’t realize I was in distress. I pulled myself up and out, crawled to the front door and was inside gasping like a crying fish, unable to take in air.  

We got me sat down, covered in a blanket, and I worked for the next several minutes to get my breathing cycle to a count of over 2 without pain. Once my body settled down, I began chastising myself—what a lame-brain move! Am I getting old or what!?! These thoughts were punctuated by the wisdom of my beloved who countered with, “You could have broken your back, your neck. Thank goodness you’re alive.” 

Safety...precious breath...warmth... absence of pain. These are things to be very grateful and aware. Although my first thought when I made impact was, “I ruptured an organ!” It appears as though I just bruised some ribs and fatigued the heck out of my upper body but beyond that, I’m very fortunate. Why, might you ask, are you glad you practice mindfulness? Um...you stepped into a hole that you created!

Firstly, staying with the breath to calm and soothe my pain was paramount. A dear mediation teacher once instructed that as long as we maintain the breath, we can find our way back to the body. Secondly, recognizing the insight of my beloved and the truth that he expressed has enabled me to be grateful beyond grateful for my strong body, arms to catch me when I fall, the support of my husband to turn around and go move massive snow without me and then, take care of my invalid self! 

There is another funny thing about the Death Trap Inside The Snow Globe that I’ve been playing around with. In Zen stories there are crazy events that lead to awakening—one falls off a cliff, gets struck by lightening....I indeed had such a moment! As I labored for air, trying to take a full breath, I just wanted the pain to go away, desperately. So desperately that I asked immediately for a Tylenol. Last time I took any kind of medicine for pain was when I broke my hand years ago. I don’t do pharmaceuticals, but in that moment, I did. The Death Trap event gave me empathy for those in Addiction Recovery where I work making the life choice to now face pain with the energy of mindfulness and gratitude rather than reaching for substances. Indeed, insight worth keeping. In the midst of a Death Trap there is a snow globe and in the midst of a snow globe, there is a death trap...OK, now I'm getting drunk on gratitude 🙏 Thank you, precious, precious breath!       

“Love Your Enemies,” MLK Jr Speech For Our Time

As I watched the events at the Capitol breech unfold, I honestly was not surprised. The division in our country is completely out of control and the events reflected these conditions. Perhaps it was the timing of Martin Luther King Jr’s remembrance in the weeks that followed, but a sermon came strongly to mind entitled, “Love Your Enemies.” As I listened to the speech, I felt MLK was speaking directly to our nation, directly to our government and to each citizen’s good heart. A few quotes stood out:  

Now first let us deal with this question, which is the practical question: How do you go about loving your enemies? I think the first thing is this: In order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing self. 

When there is hate within us that has not cared for, it will spill out onto everyone in its path, same goes for fear, and any other strong, unchecked emotion. MLK goes on to offer two more how-to’s and the next is perhaps my favorite:

A second thing that an individual must do in seeking to love his enemy is to discover the element of good in his enemy, and every time you begin to hate that person and think of hating that person, realize that there is some good there and look at those good points which will over-balance the bad points. 

I have been saddened by the criticizing, sneering and dehumanizing of the hurt people pouring their pain out onto the streets, into businesses and now into our nation’s capitol. Are we listening? Are we trying to understand their concerns? Or shutting them down due to intolerance? 

Another way that you love your enemy is this: When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it. 

Love does not mudd-sling, love does not kick when a person is down. MLK orates to perfection, building and infusing his words with moral integrity. In closing, he implores:

Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a descending spiral, ultimately ending in destruction for all and everybody. Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love.

On this day, dedicated to a heroic and beautiful man, please enjoy Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words and allow them to penetrate into your being, into your response and fortitude. His is the greatest call ~ to love one’s enemy in this time of division as we prepare for inauguration and changing of the guard.