For this Sunday, September 4th, the focus for our meditation will be on Progress. As we continue to slowly emerge from the pandemic it is becoming clear that we may need a new yardstick with which to measure what we consider to be Progress. A woman I know whose son was enrolled in “gifted” classes pre-pandemic struggled with online learning and now feels he has let everyone down because he is not making the same Progress he made before the world was turned topsy turvy. However, with the reopening of schools he is back in the classroom and able to once again participate in group activities such as clubs and sports. Perhaps this is a new benchmark of Progress. As I get older, I find it takes more effort to remain fit. There are days when I have to trick myself into going to the gym for a workout by compromising and telling myself I will only do one set of repetitions in my strength training routine. On some of those days I actually find myself feeling better with the exercise and go on to do more. Other days, I barely get through the first set. No longer do I measure how I am doing based on how much weight I lift or how many repetitions I complete. Instead, I pat myself on the back for having even made it to the gym. Another new index of Progress. Experiences such as these make us realize that perhaps our previous method of measuring Progress was unsustainable or even unrealistic. Although it is admirable to always seek to achieve our very best, there are times when we need to be more forgiving or lenient with ourselves. In those instances, instead of considering ourselves to have failed we might want to redefine what we call Progress and give ourselves credit for just trying. This month in our prayer and meditation let us consider how we measure our Progress in life. What are the benchmarks we have set for ourselves, and are they perhaps no longer serving us well? Let us ask to be guided to recognize when we are making even subtle Progress and be willing to occasionally accept what was our best effort for that day.
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 make Progress toward a goal in a new or different way from how I performed before? How does it feel in my body when I can give myself credit for my best effort even if the results fall a bit short of what I previously labeled Progress? 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
