The family was working quite hard. Mom and Dad were stretching
themselves to look beyond their preteen’s opposition to recognize and encourage
his growing ability to reason and articulate. The son was moving beneath his
sense of unfairness to discover why he felt as he did and to translate strong emotion
into words that communicated effectively.
What had begun as conflict opened into something fresh and
productive. As each family member looked more deeply, the felt sense of the
interaction shifted entirely. It was a beautiful example of what we can all do
in each moment. Whether an experience is to our liking or not, we can move past
our surface assumptions and knee~jerk responses to perceive a deeper reality.
Looking into the heart of things is a venerable spiritual
practice. In fact, it could be seen as the only one, the one that lies at the
core of every sacred text and each technique passed down through the ages, with
applications aplenty.
The critical boss who rejects your every idea. A spouse
whose wants and needs differ from your own. The telemarketer who interrupts the
dinner hour, and the cashier who’s a wee bit cranky. All are sparks of the
divine, here to learn valuable lessons.
As are you and I. Pausing to look deeply, we can discover
learning and growth in any situation. And as we act from that deeper awareness,
a harmonious interchange is more likely. Yet even if nothing seems to shift
within the interaction, attending to the highest good is never wasted.
Of course, this practice isn’t only for difficult times. We
can be just as alert when all is well, fully receiving the gift rather than
merely skimming the surface. Whether in joy or sorrow, anger or contentment,
fear or delight, we can develop eyes to see, ears to hear, and an ability to
touch the divine in all things. We can reach behind the mask to the spark that
lies within.
In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus is quoted as comparing the kingdom
of heaven to a woman who “took a little leaven, concealed it in some dough, and
made it into large loaves.” Whether we like a particular loaf or not, we can attune
to the leaven in each thing, that living essence that finds its expression in a
multitude of forms.
This morning, as I sat on the moist earth beside a swiftly flowing
stream, I was reminded of the beautifully filmed and wonderfully named movie, A River Runs Through It. A river, indeed,
runs through it all. We can learn to see and to hear its living waters, be they
turbulent or calm.
And as we are ready, we can leave the apparent safety of the
known riverbank and drench ourselves in that vibrancy. And we can do it again
and again and again.
Leia Marie
