I was struck this morning by something I read, and now for the life of me, I can’t find where I read it. The interview I copied and saved is not it.
Here’s the gist of what I read:
Often, wrote my unknown author, in times of trouble people band together, but this hasn’t been the case with the Covid19 pandemic.
Why is that?
And then my brilliant author who shall remain nameless, came to a brilliant conclusion. Death frightens people, and this lockdown made the thought of death up close and personal. Usually we don’t think death will happen to us. But this virus experience jammed it in our faces.
Not only were we at risk of sickness or death, or but we had to protect everyone else.
The brilliant author’s conclusion was that the real presence of death causes people to circle the wagons. It causes them to find their own kind, and band with them. Then they fear outsiders.
That pretty much explains what happened this past year.
And then I moved to another author, Ryan Holiday, talking about his book “Stillness is The Key.”
“We’re trying to get to a place where, as crazy as things are on the outside, we can be calm and clear on the inside.”
Quiet, calm, meditation, stillness, these aren’t new age terms. Spiritual disciplines throughout the ages talked of quieting the mind. Buddha was determined to acquire enlightenment so he sat under a Bodhi tree for God knows how long. Jesus went to the wilderness for 40 days. The Muslims speak of it, the Greeks, the Bhagavad Gita speaks of “evenness of mind—a peace that is ever the same.”
Perhaps this pandemic was to teach us something—to slow down, to look out for our neighbors, to stay firm in times of trouble, to enjoy nature, to take care of it. Perhaps the lockdown was saying we should teach our own children instead of letting institutions do it. Maybe it’s time to know we are divine beings.
Maybe this year was to tell us: “Don’t let the rabble of the marketplace knock you off your steady and firm stillness.”
Yes, the marketplace “rabbled” a lot this past year—not only that, but our livelihood was in grave danger, as wages were cut and lay-offs occurred. We didn’t know where to turn.
Did we lose our stillness, our confidence that things would work out? Did we lose our own internal knowingness?
I have found that it’s easy to stay centered when things are going well. When trouble comes…well, that’s a different story.
How can we help each other?
I will keep reminding you that you are a divine being, that you have a strength within yourself stronger than you know, that thoughts are powerful and to watch what you are thinking and saying. I will try to be upbeat even when it appears that things aren’t working according to plan. I will remind you to follow your own guidance system, and to notice how something makes you feel. That is a barometer.
You know the old game of hot/cold. When you are getting close to your good, it feels better (hotter), when you go away from it your tummy tells you so. (colder).
I know, sometimes indecision can stir you up. I’ve had that-- knowing which way to turn.
Go back to the stillness, your quiet place, and let the divine speak to you.
Holding the baby and watching "All of Me," with Steve Martin and Lilli Tomlin--it's a kick. Watch it. You need a laugh, and maybe a baby chick.
