For this Sunday, February 16th, the focus for
our meditation will be on Observation.
I’ve been reading a book on pilgrimage and was reminded by the author’s description
of childhood road trips with his family that our mode of vacation travel has
changed significantly. When I was
growing up my family would pile into the car for the long drive to visit family
in other states. Along the way we would
play the license plate game, take in the scenery, and probably pester my
parents. Traveling by automobile allowed
us to Observe more of the surroundings.
I would watch the passing environment and wonder to myself about the
lives of the occupants of those homes or workplaces. Who were they? What did they do? Who were their families or coworkers? Details about the surroundings captivated my attention
as we passed through different towns. It
wasn’t until I was heading off to basic training that I took my first airplane
trip. Today it seems family travel by
plane is much more common probably owing to it being more affordable and the time-saving
it generates. The downside is you don’t
receive the exposure to your surroundings as the metal tube hurtles through the
air at 30,000 feet above the earth. In
the blink of an eye you are suddenly at your destination but have had little
opportunity to take in much along the way other than stale airplane snacks. Even in routine or local travel we can easily
find ourselves on autopilot as we commute to or from work. Our mind is occupied with the mental chatter
that fills our day, and we don’t always pay attention to what we might
otherwise be Observing in our surroundings. How many times have you experienced such a drive
and surprisingly found yourself pulling into your neighborhood realizing you
have no recollection of much of the trip along the way? We are missing out on so much that might
otherwise enrich our daily experience when we fail to take notice of our
surroundings. In a training program I
regularly present we show a video that demonstrates a concept known as “inattentional
blindness.” It shows how powerfully our
brain works to filter out information we think is unimportant but can sometimes
work too well and block out salient details we might otherwise want to Observe. It takes conscious practice to become a
better Observer, but the benefits are worth the effort. Perhaps we will notice for the first time the
ordinary people we obliviously pass by each day. In taking the time to Observe our
surroundings more closely we might see a person who is struggling, a child
being bullied, or an animal in need of care.
This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how
to be better Observers as we navigate through each day. Let us ask to be assisted in having our attention
directed to what would be most valuable for us to Observe in that
moment, and through an increased power of Observation may we come to
feel more connected to others in our environment.
In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy
of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation. As we perform our meditation this week let us
begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create. Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated
ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.
Raise this sphere of light up high over
the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable
dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country. From shore to shore and border to border let
the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve
to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live
across its vast lands.
Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your
body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us and connect
to the circle of others participating in this project.
Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I am able to
clearly Observe all that is going on in my surroundings? How does
it feel in my body when I sharpen my powers of Observation and take
notice of all in my environment that enriches my life? Then send the
energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.
Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express
thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.
If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share
please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com
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