Love is our gardener, pruning away what is no longer of use to us and attending with great skill to our talents and gifts that we may become even more skilled, effective, useful, wise and joyful in our work. Trust and appreciate this divine process.
In the book of John, it says, "Every branch that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."
Love is our gardener, pruning away what is no longer of use to us and attending with great skill to our talents and gifts that we may become even more skilled, effective, useful, wise and joyful in our work. Trust and appreciate this divine process.
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Today, if joy arrives, accept it graciously and willingly and openheartedly, as you would gift.
Even though there is so much suffering in the world, accept joy. Even though there is so much work to be done, accept joy. Even though you are not yet perfect, accept joy. Joy is not something to be earned, to be awarded later, like a prize. Joy can exist at the same time as seriousness, sadness, confusion. Accept joy. Don't punish yourself. Sometimes, when we are unhappy with ourselves, we punish ourselves by indulging in behaviors we know will hurt us - whether that is eating poorly, provoking a fight, or speaking unkindly of ourselves. On the other hand, sometimes we punish ourselves by being overly rigid and self-denying in our efforts to follow our newest self-improvement plan.
But self-punishment never works. Love does. This is the harder, easier, more effective way to be the people we want to be. Ask yourself how Love itself would treat you right now. If that is too abstract, ask yourself how a spiritual or wise person you admire would treat you, how a beloved friend would treat you, or how you would treat a beloved friend. Then treat yourself that way. Maybe right now you need rest, soothing words or actions, a connection with someone, or the chance to make an apology. Take actions that are kind to your future self, such as untangling a problem or taking the first steps toward a long term goal. Take these steps with gentleness, in a spirit of loving care. If this is difficult for you, be gentle about that, too. Most of us have not been trained in self-kindness, and it takes practice! When someone we trust hugs us for a long time, we often begin feeling a bit tight and stiff, but gradually release into the hug, into its comfort, letting go of our tension and yielding to the moment. We accept the hug. We let go of our busyness and beliefs that we aren't worthy of rest, attention, affection, slowing down. Today, let Love hold you that way.
You are embraced in the love of Love. Any direction you turn, that Love is awaiting you. Therefore, we don't have to be so fearful about decisions.
In The Five Invitations, Buddhist teacher Frank Ostaseski, who is a scuba diver, tells about taking a gorgeous night dive in Indonesia. The coral reef, with its bright life, is breathtaking. He turns off his light and experiences the deepest blackness he has know. He sinks to the bottom and rests there. "I felt an indescribable sense of peacefulness as spacious as the night sky." When he finally rises to the surface, he's surprised a wild storm is raging. But his peacefulness stays with him and he is safe.
For him, this is a metaphor. We all have a place of deep stillness inside us, even as turbulence ruffles the surface of our lives. Don't think the turbulence is your life or being. Be aware of the stillness--and its depth. Find ways to touch it during the day. Instead of thinking you are a separate entity, locked instead yourself, trying desperately to improve yourself and understand a mysterious universe, what if the source of your being is in Love? What if Love is the source of energy, knowing, identity, feeling, sensation? Think of a holographic projector. Love is the source. You are the projection.
Today, be deeply tender and patient with all that you can't yet know or understand. Instead of agitating over all that confuses you, feel the comforting presence of Love holding you, attending to this moment. And this moment. And this moment. You do not have to scramble after knowledge or wisdom with your limited human brain. Instead, understand that wisdom is Love's unfolding within your being.
Often without realizing it, we drift toward defining our worth and identity by our knowledge, skills, and talents. Then, when someone else has what we think are similar or superior gifts, we can feel defensive or less worthy. This shuts us off from learning and contributing and makes us think and act small. Christ says to his disciples that they should "Rejoice not that I have given you authority, but that your names are written in heaven." Today, recognize that all good comes from Love as a gift - and it doesn't matter if that good flows through you or someone else - just that it flows. Your knowledge and skills are a gift to you, but your worth comes in Love's unconditional embrace of you, just as you are.
The Bible says in the ten commandments, "Honor thy father and mother."
Here is a twist on that command: Honor your inner father and mother. We each have a part of us that, like an ideal parent, knows what we most need to take good care of ourselves: when we need rest or healthy food or exercise or time with friends; when we need to stop being so hard on ourselves and when we need to work harder. Our inner parent loves us unconditionally and also does not let us get away with excuses, self-justifications half-truths, or selling ourselves short. Our inner parent has great tenderness and high standards for us. Today, listen to the wisdom of your inner excellent parent. |
AuthorTarn Wilson is the author of the memoir The Slow Farm and numerous essays. You may read more of her work at tarnwilson.com. Archives
September 2020
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