Shining Spirit

Do yourself a favor: investigate a book titled “The Book of Awakening” by Mark Nepo. It is simple, profound, and beautiful. Each page is a thought for the day, a thought and reflection from the poetic, spiritual heart of Nepo. Amazing.

For this day: “Much of our anxiety and inner turmoil comes from living in a global culture whose values drive us from the essence of what matters. At the heart of this is the conflict between the outer definition of success and the inner value of peace. Unfortunately, we are encouraged, even trained, to get attention when the renewing secret of life is to give attention.”

“The longer we try to get attention instead of giving it, the deeper our unhappiness. It leads us to move through the world dreaming of greatness, needing to be verified at every turn, when feelings of oneness grace us only when we verify the life around us. It makes us desperate to be loved, when we sorely need the medicine of being loving.”

This reality leaves us with these choices: “fame or peace, be a celebrity or celebrate being, work all our days to be seen or devote ourselves to seeing, build our identity on the attention we can get or find our place in the beauty of things by the attention we can give.”

I offer Nepo’s wonderful thought in the spirit of The One who taught this same approach to life centuries ago, who pointed out that this is the pathway to God and the deepest joy of life. Press on; don’t give up. Don’t give in. Just give.

The world I see through my window is dark.

I cannot see little ground animals scurry from bush to bush, nor the delicate limbs of the mesquite tree wave in the wind. Darkness covers the world that I experience at this moment. But, in my house, in the place where I sit at this moment, one lamp shines from the corner of my desk. It is not a powerful light, not spotlight or lighthouse for the world’s benefit. In my house…

And I think of the words of Jesus: You are the light of the world…you Tom and Marilyn and Paul and Patty; all of you…all of us…We are the light of the world. He tells us who we are, and then He tells us what to do. Shine. The little lamp on the corner of my desk shines, and I can see. Shine, isn’t that who we are; isn’t that what we said we would do?

Beginning today, try this: Remind yourself every morning in your waking up routine…I am light. I am meant to shine. Today I will consciously and intentionally shine. Then, as you prepare to sleep in the night, sit on the edge of your bed and ask yourself: where and how was I light today? Where and how did light shine through me today? Don’t settle for “I had a nice thought or I was courteous to the sales clerk or I waved at my neighbor.” Shine. Make a difference. Don’t be content with casual light. Enter the day with the intention to shine and then name it when you sit on the edge of your bed and reflect on the day.

If we don’t shine with courageous intention, we are imposters. If we refuse to shine because of possible consequences or because we are afraid, we perpetuate darkness.

We are the light of the world, to the world, in the world. Darkness grows stronger, but we are stronger yet…if we shine. Don’t leave it to someone else. Justice and Truth and Mercy and Self-giving Love can be hidden by darkness, and darkness thrives where there is no Light.

Be Light. Shine.

Follow your path today. Step carefully. Admire the beauty as you walk, but don’t lose sight of the miracle ahead. Walk gratefully, for others have gone before you. They blazed the trail upon which you walk; they call us forward. The gifts of God surround you. Walk in trust. Press on in faith. The blessing is in the journey.

If you were the 15th star from the left, the little white dot, or if you were so far back in the picture that you can’t be seen, or if you felt like you could never be recognized because there are so many…you would still be known and loved by God, unique and special.

That’s just how it works. Look in the mirror. There’s not another you. Maybe your critics would say: “One’s enough!” Don’t believe them. The place wouldn’t be the same without you. You’re the 15th star from the left. You are seen and known and loved. Truly.

It’s a paradox, but I think that getting older gives you special opportunities to see the world with wonder, imagination, and a unique clarity. Nothing wrong with becoming “child-like.” That’s not the same as being “child-ish.” Wasn’t it Jesus who said that becoming child-like is the best way to grasp the meaning of “the fullness of life”? So today, why don’t we do this: See instead of just looking. Hear instead of paying partial attention. Feel instead of simply touching. Think before you speak. Engage instead of merely encountering. Now, wouldn’t that make today extra special.

Speaking of extra special, would you like to hear about a book that I’m reading. Of course you would. The title is Spiritual Literacy and it was written by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. The sub-title reveals more about this important book: “Reading The Sacred In Everyday Life.” Between the covers is a collection of 650 brief excerpts from contemporary books and movies, illustrations of spirituality in everyday life. I find it to be a wonderful doorway into seeing the world with new eyes; connecting the common to the sacred. Just thought you might like to know about it.

And speaking of extra special. I know a couple who today mark 65 years of marriage. That’s a long time, but a wonder-filled time. Extra special!

May this good day be extra special for you, too. Press on.