Contemplfiy NonRequired Practice - Quarantine Edition #2
Contemplify NonRequired Practice | Quarantine Edition #2
Contemplative Friend,
Has it really only been a week since I last touched base? The hands of time have slowed and revealed itself to be a two bit construct. The present moment has loosened his belt, put his soiled boots on the coffee table, and called us in to watch the birds of air just outside the window. He even claims to have heard the brush strokes of God herself painting this evening's sunset. Beauty is being itself.
Society on the other hand is having a panic attack. He is so used to chasing novelty, wealth, and status that without the thrill of the chase he feels an emptiness trembling within. He tastes the staleness of his misdirected pursuits while hungering for the few remaining distractions within reach. Kicking and a little sweaty, society is speeding to a halt.
We live in both society and the present moment. The problem is we don't often see the depth of the moment nor the sickness plaguing society. We have a great opportunity to pay attention to the beauty and brokenness we are creating. We are being asked to show up in solidarity with reality right now and be a healing salve where we can. In my Christian tradition this is the out-of-fashion notion of picking up the cross and shouldering on. Walk the unknown path, bear the burdens, and light the hurricane lamp of the heart. Paradise is in our hearts, don't cut yourself off from yours. It can be a narrow and lonesome path. The question hanging alongside this path reads, can we be generous bearers of the light within a sick society? But now I see that the pandemic has popped this question upon all paths, wide or narrow. And I am inviting you to steep that question in your contemplative tea.
In the spirit of a slow steady steep, I am adding a page to the Contemplify website, called Quarantined Qontemplative. It will be updated daily with brief reflections, stories, poems, images, or songs that reflect a contemplative light back into the world. I don't want to bombard you with emails on a daily basis, so it will only be available at Contemplify.com. I hope it's life giving for you. I'll keep the weekly non required contemplative practice email going as long as it is useful.
As you sip from the cup of life in the sanctuary of your home, I offer a few more practices for a contemplative approach to quarantined life in uncertain times.
BIBO
My friend Cliff often reminds me of this essential practice always at the ready; Breathe In, Breathe Out (BIBO). This past week my baby boy had a high fever and labored breathing. As I sat on hold with the doctor's office, I felt the fear creep in that COVID19 had snuck into my baby. My hand started to shake as I waited for the nurse to return to the phone. I consciously reminded myself...breathe in, breathe out. On the out breath I prayed aloud that ancient call, Lord have mercy. Over and over again, I welcomed the fear (it apparently didn't have any other plans), and exhaled my prayer, Lord have mercy. It was then that I remembered what I tell my daughter when she has nightmares, love is stronger than fear. In the company of fear, I invited love and mercy to mingle about. Slowly my conversation with the present moment found new ground. I still felt the fear at the edges, but the moment was centered in love abiding. The nurse got back on the phone and told me to monitor him for 24 hours. So it continued. In the middle of the night while cradling my baby in his grandparents old rocking chair, his fever broke. A stillness arrived unannounced and swept the fear out. Breathing in and breathing out, I passed the blue eyed wonder to my wife and crawled back into bed with the same prayer sleepily spilling out from my lips, Lord have mercy.
(Happy to report that my baby boy has fully bounced back)
We Are All Monks Now
The Desert Father Abba Moses said "Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything." What can your home quarantine teach you? You can't hide from yourself or your limitations. Can you see Mystery renewed in the forgotten corners of your house? You come to the shedding of all that is not real. What can 'doing nothing' teach you? The confines of your cell expand the horizons of your attention. Hat tip to Brie for bringing up this saying from Abba Moses.
The Far Side
There is no concrete end date for social distancing and self quarantine. It is impossible to imagine the toll this will take on our collective well being. A few questions I've been reflecting on, who do I want to be on the other side of this pandemic? What do I need to practice now to cultivate that intention in a concrete way? These questions will sit at the top of my journal this week with responses to be lived into.
Be Joyful Though You Have Considered All The Facts
It is true that the facts, opinions, and graphs are all predicting a hot mess disaster. But it is also true that we have always been a fragile species making our way on a floating planet seated on the front porch of a vast universe. Pause and remember the joy of living. Doodle with Mo. Laugh with Tig Notaro. Sing-along with K'naan. Chase your kids around the house and fall into a fit of giggles. Avoid Sean Hannity. Throw your eyes to the night sky. Savor the hoppy pint. This life has always been a miracle to me. I hope the same is true for you too. And then perhaps we can meet each other as we are, funny faced miracles doing what we can to celebrate our shared moment in the universe story.
This was all written while laying on my back. The overuse of my back from carrying my son in his sickness and health has brought me to a stopping point. A wave of back pain has pinned me to the living room floor. The present moment is having its way with me. I am slowing down even further. I'm paying full attention to life from the hardwood floor. My daughter graciously brought me coffee and books on birds (I immediately spilled coffee on my shirt). She draped a blanket over me. My son nuzzled up next to me and pulled my cheeks. My wife filled a hot water bottle to soothe the pain. And so I am reminded yet again, that I can't do a damn thing alone, we need one another.
From the floor, in pain, and with a full heart,
Paul
P.S. If you were forwarded this NonRequired Practice List, first wash your hands, and if you want to sign up to receive the next one, sign up below.