As the 4th of July parades, parties, and fireworks wind down, and the smoke clears (on various levels), today, and all week long, is a good time to renew a sense of calm. The traditional idea of Sunday as a day of rest is perhaps best upgraded to a day of calm. Even in the excitement of the World Cup, the world stage, and whatever political or personal surprises are in store for us this week, we can set our personal response at "cultivating calm", rather than setting it for drama. Summer is here. The world of Nature awaits our participation, and that too can bring calm. A walk, the work and satisfaction of gardening, the shared shelter of shade, bird song, wild rabbits and squirrels darting across lawns, frogs and fish ponds, are all offering their calming gifts.
I confess that yesterday my initial plunge into calm faltered. After the morning rush to the local parade, the rest of the day was unplanned, but my grandchildren were pushing to see the new Minion movie--not a Nature Walk! A series of events and a sudden change of plans, put me in the chaperone/driver's seat with very excited children. In a last minute rush to the nearest theater, (across holiday L.A., traffic) I turned to Siri for directions. Our usual movie spot wasn't far, but time was short, traffic was heavy, and the kids conveyed a sense of urgency. The directions warned of street closures and road work, but I just followed Siri along, until I realized we were way passed the theater area. Siri had "chosen" a different movie!
The urgency escalated in the back seat, until I could pull out of traffic, regroup and re-direct. We dodged the construction, found our usual place, and amazingly, a parking spot. There were a few more glitches with tickets, sodas, popcorn. Even though we did slip in a bit late, the kids were immediately absorbed in the story. And I had time to think about this post. I realized how tense I was--how the pressured drive, the pressured morning, was far from calm. So for me, the cushioned seat in the dark theater was the place to feed the calm and allow the body to let go. This is the way of spiritual intent. I had barely outlined this post, when I was presented with the perfect opportunity to practice it, and then, I find myself in a theater, slowly, slowly unwinding to calm.
Consider also collective calm. That may sound strange or impossible, but humanity is jointly woven, not just to Nature, but to one another. Calm is contagious. The world is large. If you cannot find contagious calm physically where you are, expand your reach. As I write now, there are between 8.3 and 8.4 billion people on the planet. I guarantee you, across the planet, there are times of calm, minds of calm, stretches of peace. Yes, there is suffering and tragedy, and yes, there is celebration and revelry. But today, I am invoking calm. And I encourage you, wherever the week leads you, to cultivate that calm space within you. (Susan Nettleton) for poetry: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=874 https://poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/T/ThomasRS/Butsilencein/index.html https://www.graceguts.com/poems-by-others/why-i-am-happy