Living in a time of uncertainty
14/08/16 05:24
Conversation among my friends frequently turns to politics today. There is a general sense that we don’t understand what is going on. It seems that the political parties have abandoned their traditional positions and values. It seems that the extremists have exerted their control and that the centrists are being nearly silent. We are all a bit anxious about the future, but feel as if the system is out of control and that there is little that we can do to change matters. Our conversations regularly drift to the fear that we sense both from political leaders and from the general population.
One thing that is confusing is that people seem to be so quick to vote against their own interests. Those who are frustrated with the widening gap between the rich and the poor and the shrinking of the middle class often show enthusiasm for politicians who have been part of that very problem and whose election seems to promise a worsening of conditions. Those who say they are looking for a political outsider will throw their support to a candidate who has been the consummate insider, funding teams of lobbyists and manipulating the political process over decades. Those concerned about the lack of jobs will often promote an increase in the kind of jobs that do not provide an adequate living. It seems that we humans often do not know how to obtain the results we need.
In this climate of fear, it seems that we need a renewal of courage, not more fearful actions. In this climate of anxiety, the people need to learn to relax and focus, not to be stirred up by inflammatory rhetoric.
For centuries, Christian mystics have taught their followers the spiritual and physical benefits of centering prayer. The practice has parallels in other spiritual traditions as well. At its core, centering prayer is a mental exercise, but it begins with becoming physically comfortable. The position, whether sitting, standing or kneeling, needs to be one that can be held calmly without excessive muscle strain. Centering prayer often begins with simply becoming aware of one’s body and making tiny adjustments. If there is tension, it can be released. It may require flexing and releasing a muscle, or shifting one’s position, but with focus, you can make yourself more relaxed and comfortable.
Once external distractions have been dealt with, the person at prayer can focus on releasing internal distractions. We spend much of our time trying to remember various lists and problems that need to be solved. Centering involves spending a few seconds with each distracting thought and then releasing it so that one’s mind is freed to focus on God.
Once focused, centering prayer is a process of listening. The sensation isn’t quite the same as having an external sound travel through the air and the sound waves vibrating the ears drum, but it is a process of receiving, rather than one of producing.
Centering prayer requires practice. It doesn’t occur naturally for many people the first time it is attempted. When I am teaching centering prayer, we often begin with short amounts of silence, gradually building up to significant moments after practitioners have had a time to learn to be comfortable with their own thoughts and prayers.
We live in a world where silence and passivity are rarely encouraged or nurtured. We convince ourselves that action is required in response to every circumstance. But immediate action isn’t always the best course to pursue.
I have learned a bit by watching the deer in my back yard. I was taught that the deer’s instinct provides for only two reactions to danger: flight or fright. The deer in our yard rarely fight. There may be some showy front hoof pawing around another deer. There is an occasional head butt between two bucks. But more often than fight, a whitetail deer will raise the tail and run from the situation that seems threatening. Fight or flight, however are neither the most common reaction for these animals. When startled or confronted, the most common response of the animal is to freeze in place. They will stand perfectly still. This technique works extremely well for fawns. Their spotted coats are great natural camouflage. When they freeze in the tall grass, I can’t see them even if I know exactly where they are.
We need to teach that there are at least three options in reaction to danger: fight, flight and freeze. And often the third is the option that produces the best outcome.
I suppose that a debate in which the participants pause to meditate and think before making their responses would be a bit boring for observers and make for poor television, but I would love to witness a debate in which participants actually listened to their opponents and then paused as they sorted out the most effective response. From my perspective a political who takes time to think before reacting would be an extremely valuable contributor to the common good.
My personal life seems to require a lot of time for quiet reflection. I am not always confident that I know the best option when difficult choices are presented. I become confused between what I want and what would truly be in the best interests of all involved. Sometimes I fail to consider the impact of my decisions on others. It seems that I am best at discerning God’s will when I am not the only one praying and listening to God.
I’m tired of the language of winners and losers in our society. Our political conventions are filled with lots of talk about who can or will win and very short on conversations about leadership and the qualities that provide for the common good. The phrase “common good” seems to be a rare commodity in political speech in our country today. Attention to the common good, however, is exactly what is most needed.
We sense a lot of fear in politics and witness very little courage. Lashing out and reacting with violent rhetoric does not display courage.
The bravest thing for a candidate might be to take time to think and consult with other careful thinkers before responding.
One thing that is confusing is that people seem to be so quick to vote against their own interests. Those who are frustrated with the widening gap between the rich and the poor and the shrinking of the middle class often show enthusiasm for politicians who have been part of that very problem and whose election seems to promise a worsening of conditions. Those who say they are looking for a political outsider will throw their support to a candidate who has been the consummate insider, funding teams of lobbyists and manipulating the political process over decades. Those concerned about the lack of jobs will often promote an increase in the kind of jobs that do not provide an adequate living. It seems that we humans often do not know how to obtain the results we need.
In this climate of fear, it seems that we need a renewal of courage, not more fearful actions. In this climate of anxiety, the people need to learn to relax and focus, not to be stirred up by inflammatory rhetoric.
For centuries, Christian mystics have taught their followers the spiritual and physical benefits of centering prayer. The practice has parallels in other spiritual traditions as well. At its core, centering prayer is a mental exercise, but it begins with becoming physically comfortable. The position, whether sitting, standing or kneeling, needs to be one that can be held calmly without excessive muscle strain. Centering prayer often begins with simply becoming aware of one’s body and making tiny adjustments. If there is tension, it can be released. It may require flexing and releasing a muscle, or shifting one’s position, but with focus, you can make yourself more relaxed and comfortable.
Once external distractions have been dealt with, the person at prayer can focus on releasing internal distractions. We spend much of our time trying to remember various lists and problems that need to be solved. Centering involves spending a few seconds with each distracting thought and then releasing it so that one’s mind is freed to focus on God.
Once focused, centering prayer is a process of listening. The sensation isn’t quite the same as having an external sound travel through the air and the sound waves vibrating the ears drum, but it is a process of receiving, rather than one of producing.
Centering prayer requires practice. It doesn’t occur naturally for many people the first time it is attempted. When I am teaching centering prayer, we often begin with short amounts of silence, gradually building up to significant moments after practitioners have had a time to learn to be comfortable with their own thoughts and prayers.
We live in a world where silence and passivity are rarely encouraged or nurtured. We convince ourselves that action is required in response to every circumstance. But immediate action isn’t always the best course to pursue.
I have learned a bit by watching the deer in my back yard. I was taught that the deer’s instinct provides for only two reactions to danger: flight or fright. The deer in our yard rarely fight. There may be some showy front hoof pawing around another deer. There is an occasional head butt between two bucks. But more often than fight, a whitetail deer will raise the tail and run from the situation that seems threatening. Fight or flight, however are neither the most common reaction for these animals. When startled or confronted, the most common response of the animal is to freeze in place. They will stand perfectly still. This technique works extremely well for fawns. Their spotted coats are great natural camouflage. When they freeze in the tall grass, I can’t see them even if I know exactly where they are.
We need to teach that there are at least three options in reaction to danger: fight, flight and freeze. And often the third is the option that produces the best outcome.
I suppose that a debate in which the participants pause to meditate and think before making their responses would be a bit boring for observers and make for poor television, but I would love to witness a debate in which participants actually listened to their opponents and then paused as they sorted out the most effective response. From my perspective a political who takes time to think before reacting would be an extremely valuable contributor to the common good.
My personal life seems to require a lot of time for quiet reflection. I am not always confident that I know the best option when difficult choices are presented. I become confused between what I want and what would truly be in the best interests of all involved. Sometimes I fail to consider the impact of my decisions on others. It seems that I am best at discerning God’s will when I am not the only one praying and listening to God.
I’m tired of the language of winners and losers in our society. Our political conventions are filled with lots of talk about who can or will win and very short on conversations about leadership and the qualities that provide for the common good. The phrase “common good” seems to be a rare commodity in political speech in our country today. Attention to the common good, however, is exactly what is most needed.
We sense a lot of fear in politics and witness very little courage. Lashing out and reacting with violent rhetoric does not display courage.
The bravest thing for a candidate might be to take time to think and consult with other careful thinkers before responding.