I started my day with the thought, “I have nothing to write today.” Well, that wasn’t the true start. The true start was some bleary-eyed sitting with my first cup of coffee. But once I got to the point of rational thought, “I have nothing to write today” was my first conclusion.

With that, I began my routines that precede writing: some stretching, light movement, sitting quietly (on purpose), and reading a few pages in my current morning book. As I sat quietly, I observed without really observing.

My mind got stirred up with the thought, “I have to come up with something.” Then my mind settled into the moment of quiet. Then it got stirred up again, “Still nothing!” Then it settled again. This repeated over several minutes.

muddy waterI gave a demonstration to my class one day to illustrate the importance of visual metaphors. I held up a jar of muddy water. “I’m going to wait until the mud has settled to the bottom and the water is clear.” I waited a few seconds, then shook the jar saying, “Come on, settle!” I held it still for a few seconds, then shook it again. “Come on, settle!” After a few more times of waiting, then shaking, I asked, “How could you use a demonstration like this in a presentation?” The class generated a host of ideas for stress management, meditation and relaxation, managing conflict, study skills, etc.

I rarely wait long enough to get clear. My mind gets stirred up about something and I typically react to the stir. How much better it would be if I could allow my mind to settle and then respond to the need rather than reacting to whatever stirred me up.

Pema Chodron wrote, “Things fall apart, and then they come back together. Then they fall apart again, and come back together.” The moment, and life in general, works better if I am patient and don’t immediately react to the falling apart. To me, that is what Lent is all about.