The construction of miracles
I have previously written my thoughts about the miracles of healing and growth. This morning, following the second reminder healing and growth is a process, I thought I should revisit the subject.
The first reminder came as I was listening to the On Being Podcast of November 8, 2018 featuring the conservation between host Krista Tippett and brain surgeon Dr. James Doty. “Dr. Doty is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University and founding director of CCARE, The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. His book is Into the Magic Shop: A neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart.” (On Being web site).
Once again, I remind the readers of this blog that it is not my intention to duplicate the fascinating discussion between Ms. Tippett and Dr. Doty. Nor is it my intention to summarize Dr. Doty’s book. I highly recommend the podcast and the book.
While I am fascinated by the brain and how it functions (or does not function at times) my focus today is on the process of healing and growing. Dr. Doty’s spiritual growth was awakened when he was 12 years old and stopped at a magic shop to get an artificial thumb for one of his “tricks”. The mother of the owner happened to be visiting and was minding the shop. She introduced him to the magic of the mind via way of meditation. She explained to him that most people watching magic performances were preoccupied with thoughts of the past or future. Very few were present to what the magician was actually doing. Having grown up in a home with an alcoholic father, the young James Doty could relate to what she was doing and could appreciate the magic of using meditation techniques to be present. This “chance” encounter required this woman and James to show up to meet each other and his willingness to accept the six-week mentorship of this woman. This relationship became an important link to his work as a brain surgeon and a scientist who knows that healing involves both the brain and the emotional/spiritual part of the body.
The second reminder of the miracles of healing and growth arrived in my email box in the form of a Seth Godin blog. Seth’s blogs are, unlike mine, poignantly brief. His blog today includes the reminder that life is not a bucket but a process of “drip by drip” building things – a journey.
Too often we look down the road and want or expect giant steps in the healing process. We also want or expect guarantees of what will lead one from point A to B. This morning a very good young man who is, once again, beginning the process of healing from active drug addiction, texted me to say how bad he is feeling physically. He knows, from prior experience, that if he does not pick up a street drug and follows the direction of the medical team he will soon be physically feeling better. He also knows that thereafter there are a number of steps he will need to take to claim a life of recovery. Recovery is a minute by minute, step by step process.
All of us can, if we carefully examine our lives, identify events which step by step connected to bring us to this point in our life. If we continue seizing these opportunities, we will experience moments when magic happens. I often compare the process of emotional and spiritual growth to learning to play a musical instrument. One practices an instrument day after day after day, but all that one hears is disconnected notes. One day, however, one begins to play and there is music. To me this process always feels like magic. Up until the moment of magic it feels as if the notes will never play with each other to form music. The same is true with regards to building a building, learning a skill, building character, or building a purposeful life. If we are awake, persistent and consistent we will experience magic each time we reach a stage in that process.
Obviously, today I needed to “listen” to Ms. Tippett, Dr. Doty and Seth Godin. As the day progresses I will want to attend; to keep showing up and picking up each building block with which I am presented.
Written November 9, 2018
I have previously written my thoughts about the miracles of healing and growth. This morning, following the second reminder healing and growth is a process, I thought I should revisit the subject.
The first reminder came as I was listening to the On Being Podcast of November 8, 2018 featuring the conservation between host Krista Tippett and brain surgeon Dr. James Doty. “Dr. Doty is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University and founding director of CCARE, The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. His book is Into the Magic Shop: A neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart.” (On Being web site).
Once again, I remind the readers of this blog that it is not my intention to duplicate the fascinating discussion between Ms. Tippett and Dr. Doty. Nor is it my intention to summarize Dr. Doty’s book. I highly recommend the podcast and the book.
While I am fascinated by the brain and how it functions (or does not function at times) my focus today is on the process of healing and growing. Dr. Doty’s spiritual growth was awakened when he was 12 years old and stopped at a magic shop to get an artificial thumb for one of his “tricks”. The mother of the owner happened to be visiting and was minding the shop. She introduced him to the magic of the mind via way of meditation. She explained to him that most people watching magic performances were preoccupied with thoughts of the past or future. Very few were present to what the magician was actually doing. Having grown up in a home with an alcoholic father, the young James Doty could relate to what she was doing and could appreciate the magic of using meditation techniques to be present. This “chance” encounter required this woman and James to show up to meet each other and his willingness to accept the six-week mentorship of this woman. This relationship became an important link to his work as a brain surgeon and a scientist who knows that healing involves both the brain and the emotional/spiritual part of the body.
The second reminder of the miracles of healing and growth arrived in my email box in the form of a Seth Godin blog. Seth’s blogs are, unlike mine, poignantly brief. His blog today includes the reminder that life is not a bucket but a process of “drip by drip” building things – a journey.
Too often we look down the road and want or expect giant steps in the healing process. We also want or expect guarantees of what will lead one from point A to B. This morning a very good young man who is, once again, beginning the process of healing from active drug addiction, texted me to say how bad he is feeling physically. He knows, from prior experience, that if he does not pick up a street drug and follows the direction of the medical team he will soon be physically feeling better. He also knows that thereafter there are a number of steps he will need to take to claim a life of recovery. Recovery is a minute by minute, step by step process.
All of us can, if we carefully examine our lives, identify events which step by step connected to bring us to this point in our life. If we continue seizing these opportunities, we will experience moments when magic happens. I often compare the process of emotional and spiritual growth to learning to play a musical instrument. One practices an instrument day after day after day, but all that one hears is disconnected notes. One day, however, one begins to play and there is music. To me this process always feels like magic. Up until the moment of magic it feels as if the notes will never play with each other to form music. The same is true with regards to building a building, learning a skill, building character, or building a purposeful life. If we are awake, persistent and consistent we will experience magic each time we reach a stage in that process.
Obviously, today I needed to “listen” to Ms. Tippett, Dr. Doty and Seth Godin. As the day progresses I will want to attend; to keep showing up and picking up each building block with which I am presented.
Written November 9, 2018
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