Write Here Write Now

You feel it as soon as you wake up. Everything is changing, it is happening all around you, and it is happening too fast. The first reaction to this new situation is to panic, and then that moment leads to resistance and fear. How do we know when the pulsating of the universe is a threat or a dance?

Stillness and Awareness

Find some stillness and see clearly whether what is in front of you requires learning new skills, adapting to new circumstances or surrendering to a new reality. As you look at the ways of encountering that situation, do you see the movement of life as a threat or an opportunity? Do you resist and fight change? Do you embrace transformations so they teach you how to be open and love more?

Take a moment to reflect:

Everything is always changing.

Transformation is all around you.

Do you resist it and create suffering?

Do you adapt and embrace the new possibilities?

The universe is teaching you how to dance,

in the direction of freedom, openness and love.

Juan

I was teaching a class on life writing when we stumbled upon the idea of writing our lives as a spiritual journey. The students were interested. They cared about living a meaningful life that connected with the discovery of their gifts and vocation. But the main challenge came when I encouraged them to see the sacredness of their journey. There was a sense of disbelief. “We are not important enough,” they replied. They dismissed their lives as not worthy or interesting enough to be “sacred.”

How do we recognize the holiness of our experience? How do we reclaim the sacredness of our lives? Do you have moments of awareness throughout the day when you touch the sacredness of your journey? What kind of small rituals you bring into your life so the preciousness of your experience is clear to you?  Take a moment to reflect:

By being fully present, by reconnecting

with the holy in the present moment,

you can see clearly, you can taste

and touch the preciousness of your experience.

Find your breath and the rituals,

the mirrors to show you the sacred journey

of your true self.

Juan Velasco

I was walking the path to the temple in the middle of the winter. The old barn, painted deep red, was now a warm meditation center. After I arrived to the meditation hall, I approached the Zen teacher and I asked the question that had been bothering me for years. “What is love?” I whispered. He looked at me straight in the eye. “What are you doing right now?” he said with a smile. I wasn’t sure what he meant. I swallowed. “Is that it?” I tried again. “Keep a heart clear and open like the sky,” he kindly insisted.

I realized, years later, that love is not that complicated. It is not a touchy feeling either. There is love everywhere, and it manifests, moment by moment, through every one of your actions. The road of mindfulness allows you to see the open space within your heart as you embrace every moment. By paying attention, you learn to become intimate with all things, you can manifest that love. And the more you remove your prejudice, the more your heart will resemble the clear and open sky.

Take a moment to reflect:

Moment by moment love is action.

Moment by moment the heart opens

to all things and becomes

the clear and open sky

Juan Velasco

A friend who recently recovered from a life threatening illness consulted with me about starting a new, challenging project at work. I tried to reassure her: “You are coming back after months of hard physical and spiritual work. Are you sure this is what you need right now?”

As we pay more attention to our spiritual journey, let also remember the sacredness of our body. How many times do you deny yourself the rest, refreshment and nurturing that your body needs before entering a new project?  Remembering the sacred connection between mind, body and soul restores our balance and help us to see our lives as a whole. Do you regard yourself as a whole person? Do you pay attention to the body, the temple of your soul?

Take a moment to reflect:

Honoring the body

means remembering the sacred connection,

the bond uniting

body, mind and soul.

Honor the sacred connection,

honor yourself as whole.

Juan Velasco

At work or at school, perhaps even at home, there may be someone who you have a misunderstanding with. Things get a bit awkward, to say the least, when you are around one another. There isn’t much to talk about. You both may feel a little nervous.

The next time you communicate with this person, try to open the dialogue with love at the forefront of thought. Understand that love wants nothing in return except to receive love. You can ask a neutral question such as “Do you have any plans this weekend?” or utilize one of the languages of appreciation to jump-start ideas: https://blogs.scu.edu/writeherewritenow/2016/02/06/appreciation-is-a-human-need/.

When I think about communicating with love, I am reminded of Romans 13:10: “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Set the example yourself. Practice love even if you are not receiving it from others.

Perhaps your dialogue this week will be to speak kindly to yourself (internal dialogue) and to others. If the other person responds violently (verbally or physically) consider taking a break from speaking. Remember: you must love and take care of yourself, too.

With peace,

Lindsey

You have been working hard all week. The weekend arrives and you see it as an opportunity to keep on working, a way of getting ahead of yourself, already anticipating next week’s tasks.

How often do you stop to honor your body, to rest and refresh the temple of your soul? When do you take time to contemplate, to refresh yourself and nurture your mind and body? Do you ever acknowledge the organs that give you life—your heart, your lungs, your nervous system? Do you ever honor the life that runs through you?

Today, touch the joy of being healthy and alive. Nurture the life that runs through your body into the mind and the soul. Take a moment to reflect:

A life runs through you.

Honor the organs of your body,

the miracle of your senses,

the steady rhythm of your heart.

Nurture the miracle that you are.

Juan Velasco