For this Sunday, August 7th, the focus for our meditation will be on Openmindedness. There are very few political pundits whose work I bother reading. Most come across to me as too strident, too angry, and too convinced they are right about complex, multifaceted issues that they often are trying to oversimplify into a binary black-and-whiteness. A year or so ago I discovered one writer whose work I actually look forward to reading. I won’t identify him by name as I’m not keen on promoting political writers (email me directly if you want to know who it is), but there are a number of things I enjoy about his emailed newsletters. He carries a real sense of optimism about our country, which I share, but what I really appreciate is his Openmindedness. He reads all comments his readers send to him and truly listens to those who dispute his opinions. Even more impressive, he is willing to change his mind. If a reader can intelligently articulate where his reasoning has fallen short, he takes it in, researches the topic further, and then updates readers with his new thinking about the matter. Such a refreshing quality, particularly in someone who writes about political issues! Jane Goodall, the famous scientist, once wrote, “I think what’s the most important about a scientific study is to keep an open mind. Not having a narrow viewpoint you see more and you can get these aha moments which may lead to a completely new way of thinking about something.” I like to think her remarks extend beyond just scientific studies but serve us well in life overall. When we become convinced we are right about something we shut ourselves off from those “aha moments” that can bring us greater clarity and awareness. We do ourselves a disservice when we stubbornly refuse to let go of a viewpoint or conclusion we believe in all our righteousness makes us correct. Because sometimes we are far from correct in that thinking. How many of us look back with chagrin on our adolescent selves when we reached that stage where we thought we were right about so many things but now realize how wrong we actually were? Even this backward-looking perspective takes on a rightness-wrongness valence it probably doesn’t deserve. We may have initially had the best intentions in our thinking, and there may have been aspects to our beliefs that we still find compelling, but the picture as a whole has shifted over time. This month in our prayer and meditation time let us seek to Open our minds more and be willing to change our opinions by taking in new information. Let us ask to be graced with those “aha moments” that life can bring if we only remain Open to receiving them.
In our efforts this month 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 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 remain Openminded and take in new information that shifts my thinking? How does it feel in my body when I am willing to change my thinking on a topic and stay Openminded rather than stubborn about my opinions? 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
