Mindfully

There is a certain kind of special peace and contentment that comes from giving, from sharing what is meaningful, from setting the conditions up for others to access peace and stillness.

There is a certain kind of joy in being asked questions full of curiosity about meditation, in seeing the layers drop, in observing smiles softening and faces relaxing, in a whole group of people experiencing mindfulness and meditation for the first time and leaving the session floating as if they were made of clouds or cotton candy.

There is a certain kind of rightness in having emotionally meaningful discussions, in acknowledging that there is dark and not only light in this world, in being with people who are eager and willing to learn new ways of promoting their well-being.

Leading meditation and mindfulness activities at Hospice Malta today, I realised that I got from it as much as the participants did.

I move in circles where these conversations are commonplace. So it is almost a bit surprising when I come across people who are totally new to the practice. And yet, I was reminded of two very beautiful truths.

The first is that coming to meditation with beginner's mind is like opening a window onto awe and wonder for the first time. Indeed, awe and wonder was expressed so enthusiastically at every stage. It was joyful to witness and contagious to experience!

The second is that people bring their own beautiful practices with them, practices of peace and well-being that they have cultivated their whole life. This indicates, very clearly to me, that there are many paths to depth, meaning and self-care, and that, like flowers turning towards the sun, humans are wired towards such growth.

I am humbled, overjoyed, and grateful 🙏 😊

As Storm Harry battered Malta with winds of 104km per hour, we stood beneath this majestic tree and, fuelled by the raging storm around us, we envisaged only one outcome. A toppling over. An uprooting. A demise of a tree decades in growing.

Three months later, the tree is still standing strong, rooted and earthed, stable and serene.

This made me reflect this morning. When fear is what fuels our emotions, only more fear and dread can result. The lense of fear, when chronic and left to work within us unhindered, colours our outlook, dims life's possibilities, and begets a life of misery.

Fear is an important emotion. We are capable of it for a reason. It can show us what needs changing, spur us on to find alternatives.

But operating solely from fear is neither natural nor desirable. Hope, joy and love cannot flourish when the dominant driver is fear.

I share this this morning because it is a truth that keeps on strengthening within me. The path unfolds beautifully, miraculously I dare say. I cannot see the end of the road, nor do I wish to. What would be the fun in that? But I trust wholeheartedly as each step of my journey has been unfolding for me in a strong sense of rightness. At times I step into the unknown, the path is not clearly defined, but my foot never falls into an abyss. It finds solid ground which feels of certainty, of promise, and of healing. But without having taken those first few uncertain, hesitant and tentative steps 10 years ago, I would not have found myself on this journey. The path has brought with it both darkness and light, and nowadays I welcome both as teachers and as guides I can trust.

My message is simple, start walking, the path will appear.