Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Spirit of these Days

As the week begins, so does the rush rush rush go go go of over-sccheduling and ASAP imperatives. Already, my artist's brain begins to languish, as I spent last evening just staring at a screen just trying to make order of my Church History Research. That is, I spent the later part of the evening doing this (after working all day, making dinner, doing homework with Camille, and driving to and from Montgomery for an Adult Programs Planning Committee Meeting). The need to "make order" sits alongside a need to let go and experience chaos. It is out of chaos that creativity arises, and yet unbridled creativity meets no deliverable ends. So, I am wary of overscheduling and desire instead to find a way to discipline withhout control, to balance in spirit.

Balance is not simply a matter of watching the calendar. It is rather a matter of remaining human-- and keeping at the center of all activity that human spirit. At work and committee meetings, it may mean putting aside the "TO DO" list in order to focus on the human beings I am interacting with. Two occasions yesterday elisted that spirit-- a friend at work reminds me with glimpses of her inspiring photography and paintings of the Hudson River. If we are both enchanted by the spirit of Muheakkanuk, but do not celebrate this in the details of our work, than what are we doing with our days? Why are we where we are at all? We cannot be "here-- and nowhere" and be alive.

Another reminder came to me during last night's meeting... it is not all about finding bodies to do the work, it is more importantly about honoring bodies--whether they are in need of rest, of care, or of the desire to be of service. If one member of the committee needs to take a break due to health reasons, then a pause in our meeting reminds us why we do this work to begin with. That we are here to celebrate our place in the sacred web of existence. And to support one another in our lives.

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