Spiritual intention
I begin each day asking myself what my spiritual intention is for that day.. My goal is to keep it as simple and attainable as possible. I remind myself not to indulge in such delusional thoughts that it is my responsibility to bring together the spiritual power necessary to bring about world peace by 8:00 a.m., to write a Nobel prizing blog which touches the heart of millions, or even to convince everyone I meet that, if we are to survive, we must change our relationships with the universe(s). All of those are lofty goals, but I am not sure that they have anything to do with being spiritually intentional.
My memory - not always accurate – tells me that the Buddist nun, Pema Chodron once suggested that a spiritual goal could be as simple as enjoying a cup of coffee – to be fully present with that cup of coffee. That in turn might lead one to be fully present to oneself and to others whose path intersects on any given day or in any given moment.
I know that when I am present with myself I can be quietly present with another person. Then I mah just sit on the porch devoid of any lofty thoughts or desires ready to receive whatever comes my way.
A famous folks singer, Arlo Gutherie recorded Alice’s Restaurant. Again, memory tells me that at one point he was just strumming the guitar while patiently waiting for what was to come next. That is my spiritual intention – to be open to what comes next and to refrain from labeling it as good or bad, right or wrong, welcomed or unwelcomed, ugly or pretty.
Sounds pretty simple. It is. Yet, my habit is to complicate it. I may start by taking my own inventory which is fine if I am just noticing. I am more likely indulging in self talk which is designed to puff myself up – for a moment – or to tear myself down. I know, of course, that the goal is to just notice, breathe, and hold myself in the cradle of loving kindness.
Some might think that surely by this stage of my life I would have practiced this enough for it to be a habit. Yet, the truth is that I still get off course and worry about all manner of things which are not that important spiritually. I must be gently and lovingly vigilant.
I smile. For this moment, I will do my best to be lovingly present without judging or labeling. Breathe. Let go. Breathe. Let go. Breath out negativity and the “need to control”. Breath in loving energy.
Written May 10, 2018
I begin each day asking myself what my spiritual intention is for that day.. My goal is to keep it as simple and attainable as possible. I remind myself not to indulge in such delusional thoughts that it is my responsibility to bring together the spiritual power necessary to bring about world peace by 8:00 a.m., to write a Nobel prizing blog which touches the heart of millions, or even to convince everyone I meet that, if we are to survive, we must change our relationships with the universe(s). All of those are lofty goals, but I am not sure that they have anything to do with being spiritually intentional.
My memory - not always accurate – tells me that the Buddist nun, Pema Chodron once suggested that a spiritual goal could be as simple as enjoying a cup of coffee – to be fully present with that cup of coffee. That in turn might lead one to be fully present to oneself and to others whose path intersects on any given day or in any given moment.
I know that when I am present with myself I can be quietly present with another person. Then I mah just sit on the porch devoid of any lofty thoughts or desires ready to receive whatever comes my way.
A famous folks singer, Arlo Gutherie recorded Alice’s Restaurant. Again, memory tells me that at one point he was just strumming the guitar while patiently waiting for what was to come next. That is my spiritual intention – to be open to what comes next and to refrain from labeling it as good or bad, right or wrong, welcomed or unwelcomed, ugly or pretty.
Sounds pretty simple. It is. Yet, my habit is to complicate it. I may start by taking my own inventory which is fine if I am just noticing. I am more likely indulging in self talk which is designed to puff myself up – for a moment – or to tear myself down. I know, of course, that the goal is to just notice, breathe, and hold myself in the cradle of loving kindness.
Some might think that surely by this stage of my life I would have practiced this enough for it to be a habit. Yet, the truth is that I still get off course and worry about all manner of things which are not that important spiritually. I must be gently and lovingly vigilant.
I smile. For this moment, I will do my best to be lovingly present without judging or labeling. Breathe. Let go. Breathe. Let go. Breath out negativity and the “need to control”. Breath in loving energy.
Written May 10, 2018
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