I’m a person of routine. It forms my life with ritual and meaning. I walk as many mornings each week that I can to keep my heart healthy. I eat oatmeal with 1 T ground flaxseed, two spoons of brown sugar, ¼ c Silk and ¼ c Milk added. Each morning making my oatmeal is a task in mindfulness.
But this morning my mind was located other places, in prayer for friends in ministry who are really struggling this week instead of mindfully paying attention to a little detail, the timer on the microwave. The routine requires the correct bowl, the exact measurements and the correct time and power level. 4 minutes 30 seconds at 40%. But today I mindlessly set the bowl (discovered to be the best after several unsuccessful trials) into the microwave, set the time and pushed start.
The unintended results are wasted oatmeal, a dirty microwave and a meditation on the need for mindfulness in daily activity.
Mindfulness requires attention to self and surroundings. It is applied as a deep meditation practice in Zen Buddhism and therapeutic settings. I’ve not practiced mindfulness in that capacity, only in the rituality of daily life.
Being Mindful in social settings is a must in a small town. Too often words can come out of our mouths that are heard as an attack against another person either present in the room or not. Even a blog, well especially a blog entry, can cause unintended consequences. So I weigh my thoughts and ask, who will read this and what will they think about it.
So, just to set it on the record, blogs should be read mindfully also. Civil disagreement is always welcome. Petty attacks are not appropriate. Your comments are always welcomed. Just know that this blogger intends only to uplift others and expose my own self in the interest of spiritual growth for those who wander onto this blog.
Shalom,
Pastor Barbara
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