Last Saturday afternoon I needed to run a minor errand at a nearby shopping center. My old belt was falling apart and I needed to pick up a new one. What in the world was I thinking? As we got closer, traffic slowed to a hobble. The parking lot was packed. Once in the store (one of the big chain stores), traffic was little better. I had fallen cluelessly into the frenzy of holiday shopping.
However, by this time I had committed enough time and resources that I was darned well going to see the project through. I found the belt rack. The belts, of course, were almost completely randomly distributed. What order there may have been at one time had fallen victim to the second law of thermodynamics (order decreasing over time in any closed system). I stuck with it. I am now the proud owner of an inexpensive reversible belt. I will always prize this belt the way a hunter prizes a great trophy. (Maybe I should have it mounted when it wears out.)
I know that some people love shopping and love crowds. I have to wonder, though, what the cumulative effect has to be of the stress of the holiday season. I wonder about the debt so many will incur during this season, especially during this time of deep economic recession. I think of the poor kids I saw being dragged along. It was a nice day outside. They could have been playing.
"Celestial Impasto" 12-8-11
I have a practice, perhaps it even qualifies as a spiritual practice, that helps put everything in perspective. On my computer I have made the “Astronomy Picture of the Day” my home page. It sounds silly, I know. This is a website that features stunning photographs, many from the Hubble telescope and other major telescopes.
The photo changes every day. They are usually beautiful and often breathtaking. For me, they put my daily worries into a cosmic perspective. Check out the archive. I am especially fond of the ultra deep field image of galaxies that show us the early universe. Also, as the pace and the stress heightens in the weeks ahead, you may also want to take advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope Advent Calendar.
What is your practice that centers you and helps you put things into perspective? Prayer? A quiet cup of tea? Meditation? Writing in a journal? Walking in a special place? Whatever it is, I urge us all to do what we need to do to bring us tranquility.
Deep peace to you.
4 comments
Maria PB says:
December 8, 2011 at 1:00 pm (UTC -4 )
Thank you Rev. Morales, for the perspective and the humor (I’m still smiling over the mental picture of the “mounted” trophy belt). Thank you for sharing your daily centering practice, the Astronomy pic of the day, and the amazing Hubble Advent Calendar. These are wonderful. My practice is very simple too. I sit quietly and meditate for 5 minutes each night before going to bed. Thank you for the inspiration. Namaste.
Michael Miller says:
December 8, 2011 at 4:09 pm (UTC -4 )
Very nice way to center Rev!
After years of not being able to center, I discovered peace within myself. Happily, I can “almost” immediately find the space within, through anything. If circumstances come and begin to negatively impact me, I am usually able to see this, accept it and let go. Any object, even a road sign or a tree, can help me center and become aware of the gift that is my being.
Of course, chocolate helps too!
Love and Light,
Michael
UU up and down the East Coast
Shawn says:
December 9, 2011 at 8:36 am (UTC -4 )
so many things center me and yet they are the very things that get pushed to the bottom of the to do list … thanks for this gentle reminder.
May says:
December 14, 2011 at 11:01 am (UTC -4 )
One year my daughter wanted to find out what “black Friday” was all about. She was 9. The idea of getting up at 4am to go shopping was so novel (especially as we are not “shoppers”). We first agreed we would start out well fed, dress and travel “light” so as not to be hot and burdened, be generous in our smiles and patience to other shoppers, express our gratitude to the clerks and other workers, and stop for refreshment earlier rather than later to keep an attitude of gratitude. It was pre-emptive centering I think. It worked, and has worked now for 5 years – and makes a joyful tradition for us.