Contemplative Moments

This morning I was reading some selections from the writings of Thomas Merton. One entry described a walk in the woods and a moment of contemplation that he experienced. Contemplation is part of the human experience that is overlooked by many as they rush through life. We all need to have moments in our lives where we can breathe and sit in the wonder of life. This is not complicated or so esoteric that it is beyond the average person. We all have the ability to be contemplative. It can be as simple as taking a few minutes to gaze at the full moon we have been experiencing this week. To be contemplative the only basic requirements are to be awake and aware. Many of us think winter is never going to end but for those who are aware spring is in the air. When I walk outside every morning to get my newspaper I always notice the weather and gaze at the stars in the sky. When my life is not too hectic or demanding I try to just be. Part of being contemplative is having a sense of wonder. It is also having a sense of gratitude for all that is good. It is the quiet moments of life that give us what we need to deal with all the other moments that may test us or make us crazy. Although many of us do not have the luxury of going on an extended retreat, or even having a weekend to ourselves, we all have moments in our day when we can take a few minutes for the pause that refreshes. I encourage all of you to be on lookout for such moments and to take advantage of them. If you do I believe you will begin to experience a sense of calm in your life that you may not have now. Since it is Easter, let me share a Christian prayer that may help you to find this calm.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Many Paths

We are all on a journey. I know this sounds like a cliché but it is true nevertheless. Often in our lives we feel like we are standing still but we are not. Journeys and life involve movement. If we are not moving ourselves, life will move us. Movement is part of life and there are no journeys that allow you to stand still. The journey of life is hopefully a long journey with lots of interesting side trips. Our movement through life may not always be pleasant but if we are lucky it is interesting. All journeys give us experience and many journeys fill us with wisdom. The first time we go down a path we may be lost and not know our way. With each additional trip the path becomes more familiar and we may work the path multiple time just because we enjoy it. Other paths may be treacherous and if we survive them we make every effort to never go down that path again. Some paths are rocky or slippery and we must be careful with every step. Other paths are like a super highway where we can turn on the cruise control and enjoy the scenery. We often end up on many paths where we have no idea where they will end. Occasionally they are dead ends but sometimes they take us to the places of our dreams. The next movie I am going to see with my granddaughter is called “The Croods”. It the story of a prehistoric family who dwell in a cave. The father is always reminding the children of his cardinal rule. The rule is “Never leave the cave”. Of course, he has a daughter who wants to leave the cave more than anything. Circumstances finally force the entire family to leave the cave and by doing so, they discover a world full of wonder. So get out of your cave and begin your journey.

My Granddaughter and Peace

This past Saturday my wife and I took our granddaughter to see Oz…The Great and Powerful. Visually it was a beautiful movie. I think I visited the Land of Oz in 1969 or was it Wonderland? I can’t remember. It was a wild time in my life. As we were walking to the car after the movie my granddaughter said, “l don't like movies with war and people fighting”. I thought that was a profound reflection from an eight year old. I told her that I agreed and that I preferred happy movies. When we got home she wanted to watch a “My Little Pony” movie. I assumed that would be a pretty happy movie but even in this cartoon there was fighting and war because some evil witches were after the Little Ponies. It seems that war and fighting are everywhere. The battle between good and evil, right and wrong, or simple differences in opinion, seem to surround us. It’s in our families, our workplaces, our communities, and our world. Most of the world seems to be pursuing happiness and peace while a minority seem dedicated to destroying the happiness and peace of others. This morning I read from the Buddha that “You are what you think”. There is also a teaching from the Laws of Attraction” that says you experience what you think. If our minds are full of negativity or hatred, if we constantly expect the worst to happen, then we will be people who make others crazy and unhappy while also bringing negativity and discord into our own lives. I told a co-worker earlier this week that the secret to inner peace is controlling your emotions. We cannot control in most cases what happens around us but we can control our emotional reactions. If your spouse or your boss or your children do something that upsets you, don’t react in anger or some other negative way. Maintain your cool and simply respond. Controlling one’s emotions does help us maintain our inner peace and when we are living in peace, we will not want to make war with others.

Birthday Thoughts

Today is my birthday. I am 62 years old. I have lived through the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and now I am 13 years into a new century. When I was born, my 83 year old mother was a 21 year old girl, Harry Truman was president, and there was no television in most homes. I lived as a child through the cold war when Americans lived in fear of Russians, communism, and nuclear attacks.  I came of age by living through the many societal changes of the 60’s like the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the Vietnam war, and the hippie peace movement.  I am still a hippie at heart.  I got married in the 70’s, raised my children in the 80’s and 90’s, and became a grandfather in 2004. I have lived through much and survived much. Most of what people take for granted in today’s world didn’t exist for much of my life. If you want to make me mad, you can do so by telling me I don't adapt to change. Recently a co-worker asked me if I wanted to be young again. My answer was no. I admit that I wish I had some of my youthful energy and strength but the truth is that I really like who I am and who I have become. What I lack in physical strength I believe I now have in strength of character. I am a better person now even if I am moving a little slower. I am wiser and more tolerant. Like all older people I do often feel like a young person trapped in an old person’s body. I am 25 years old in my mind and I still love to rock and roll. However, I also love the fact that my life is slowing down. I like my quiet evenings and having few demands made on me. I am happy to have more time to be reflective about life and to spend less time chasing my tail. If I had wanted to forget my birthday today it would have been impossible at work. As soon as I turned the corner onto my floor I could see the balloons. My co-workers had also made me a wonderful breakfast which I throughly enjoyed.  Throughout the day I received many birthday greetings from co-workers, friends, and even strangers who only know me through my writing.  Life is good.

Doing Laundry

I know I will get some requests after I make the following statement. I love to do laundry. I spend most Sunday afternoons doing the family laundry. I love it because it is uncomplicated. Admittedly it is easier because my laundry room is just a few feet from my man cave and not in a dark corner of an unfinished basement. In today’s world this is not much left that is uncomplicated. Laundry is simple, the process is clear, and the results are obvious. Yesterday I had several baskets of dirty clothes. I sorted them by color and type, threw a load in the washing machine, added a little detergent, and I read a book while the washing machine did its thing. When it was done, I threw the clothes in the dryer and added another load to the washing machine. I may have dozed off in my chair at this point until the buzzer on the dryer awakened me. I took the dry clothes out, added another load to dry, and then began another load to wash. When all of that was going I folded and separated all the clean clothes. I did this all afternoon until all the clothes were clean and folded. When I was done I felt a great sense of accomplishment. There can be great joy in simple tasks.

Purpose

Last night I was reading the local Catholic newspaper when I saw an announcement about “The Reverend Nicholas J. Brown”. I was like, “Wow! That’s my son”! The little boy that used to beat me up and jump on me, the little boy I took to wrestling matches, the teen-ager I took to rock concerts, the nervous young man I drove to the seminary six years ago has grown up. It is always a proud moment when your children turn out to be decent human beings. I am fortunate that both of my sons have turned out well. They could not be more different but each has become a good man. Sometimes the dreams and hopes of a parent find fruition in their children. Sometimes when we wonder about the purpose and meaning of our own lives we realize our purpose may be to be someone’s parent. Yesterday I talked a little about purpose. Although we all hope to find our gift, we may never completely understand our purpose. Purpose is sometimes a mystery that we never completely solve. We can live our lives and never fully see or understand how we touch and influence others. We may never know how the way we act, the things we say, or the actions we perform influence others. Hopefully, our lives make a positive difference. I don’t really know what impact I have had on my sons. I take no credit for anything but I hope I have been a positive influence. I am reminded of an article I read earlier in the week that was titled “Be The Kind of Leader That People Are Sad To See Go”. I would take this one step further and say “be the kind of person that people are sad to see go”. Wherever you are, leave it a better place.

Most Creative Award

Yesterday I became aware that I won the “Most Creative” Buzz Award for my daily thoughts. "Buzz" is the name of my company's internal social media site.This is the second year in a row that I have won this award and I am truly humbled. The timing is excellent since I’m not feeling all that creative these days. As much as I enjoy writing, it is work. Some days it comes easily to me and the words flow. Other days I have writer’s block and I struggle to find any words. It is affirming to receive any kind of recognition. Most of us go through our daily tasks and responsibilities with a great deal of effort. There are days we don’t feel appreciated. Some days we wonder why we do what we do and we question if anyone really cares. If we are lucky, and I am occasionally lucky, we get an award or some other form of recognition, and we suddenly have a sense that there’s wind in our sails. We feel renewed, refreshed, and affirmed. As I have said many times, I believe we all have a gift. It may take years to reveal itself but it is there. I was in my fifties before I published any of my writing for public consumption. When you find your muse, follow it. Do what you do and give what you have to give. For every gift and talent, there is an audience or person who needs what you have to give. I am not so arrogant to think that the whole world waits in great anticipation for every word I write but I know some people do. Besides the occasional public recognition I routinely receive emails from individuals who tell me that my words have touched their life in a meaningful way. When you find your gift, use it in a way that makes you and other people happy.  Hopefully, you will receive your own “Most Creative” Award.  None of us are here without a purpose.