Mindfulness

Mindfulness
Image: Yuya Tamai

What I find so very amazing is our capacity to live in tension. When we are intentional and mindful to the Now, even when we know our own stuff, it is humbling, mind-boggling at times when we let something new happen, even when we may have assumed what an outcome might be!

Okay … maybe I need to back-up …

This week I have had more than one opportunity to experience gatherings of Sisters and Brothers. These gatherings, some being meetings, were agenda driven and had outcomes and goals attached to them. In such situations, I often ask those with whom I sit at Table, whether that was a good use of their time. This feels like a helpful gauge or metric of someone offering their time …

So: Point 1 -> I have had or have been somehow involved in important meetings this week.

OMG

OMG
Photo: moedusa

The other interesting thing that has threaded through this week is I have had more than one person say aloud ‘I like meetings.’ Now, whether that was a visiting family member or someone connected with church, there was silence and a smirk or two from some of the others who were present with such a pronunciation.

For me – I always look for these threads for a musing – I was excited! I too like … maybe even love … meetings! It’s where the work of faith gets done, it’s where intention meets actuality, it’s one of the places where practicing mindfulness is most important as men and women endeavour to hear one another and often help nurture dreams into the tangible! But when we are not mindful, our own stuff can get in the way, our own agenda can dominate and too often such meetings end with exhaustion and a definite sense that time was not well spent …

So: Point 2 -> Meetings need to be grounded in mindful intention.

Here comes the culmination of this blog that started somewhat convolutedly … in Christian-ese when something new happens (which may be quite contrary to what we had presumed, assumed or intended to happen) this occurrence is sometimes referred to as ‘the Spirit moving’ or ‘Grace’s movement.’ In other contexts, some may call it serendipity, the Universe unfolding, or being open to change. I don’t want to imply that these words are actually different, as the reality (for me) is their intention highlights what happens when we let go. And that’s one of the phenomenal things I have seen happen more than once this week.

So: Conclusion -> This week, though assumptions, concern, perhaps apathy or even cynicism may have been present in more than one meeting this week, those present were mindful enough, self-aware to an extent that they did not get stuck there. In fact – my spin I admit it – knowing themselves, Sisters and Brothers were able to let that go and some amazing things happened. Things undreamt, choices unimagined and when I connect with them – even a few days later – there’s a discernible ‘glow’ and evident ‘passion’ of having done something new, surprising and potential filled.

It’s been, ultimately, a great week … so I’ll leave you Dear Reader with an invitation upon which to reflect and – as life and time permit – to share here, through social media or email:

• Where have you been surprised this week?
• Of what did you let go recently that ultimately led to something new?
• What’s it felt like for you
when you have created something new with others
that was not planned?