A Change in Attitude

Before I begin, please let me explain the choice of graphic. I mean no disrespect to the initial content of this Post but I did feel it offered a humorous illustration of the point I was hoping to make. Sometimes it is only humor which eases the course of our days.

I recently came across a line in one of my readings that called to mind a twist on a lesson that I was particularly fond of when I was teaching full-time. It involved the Sermon on the Mount and the directives that Jesus gave to guide us in the behaviours that would allow for a more compassionate understanding as to how we should ideally relate in all our social encounters. In the traditional form these were called The Beatitudes but I chose a slightly different emphasis on the word and called them The Be-Attitudes. By examining the scripture and looking at it with a more current "take" I hoped my students would see how we could adapt Jesus' words in our day to day lives. It proved quite successful and I was always most impressed with the insight that these young people were able to bring to lessons in such a way that the "attitudes" were doable in their own lives.

That said, the twist that caused me to stop and ponder, offered this:" Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape". Now, there is one to emulate. So much of the conflict and chaos that we encounter or create comes about because we are so set in our ways.I cannot think of any area in our lives that would not benefit from increased flexibility. That is all I wish to say. I am going to ask that if you can think of any other" attitude" that we could "be" that would result in a happier and more open approach to others, please leave it as a comment. I will wait meekly with a mercifully pure and peaceful heart for your response. Thank-you.

A Revolution in our Resolution

Ernest Hemingway once said, "Not everything that appears to be broken needs to be fixed. In fact, some of us are strong at the broken places!" We strive so hard to BE or to APPEAR perfect when, in reality, our human weaknesses and foibles are what allows us to feel compassion and connection to all the souls we encounter. We try so hard to smooth over the cracks that we perceive in our physical and spiritual beings that we fail to consider or realize that it is through the cracks that light, and maybe life-giving water, emanates.

A character( Grandma Rose) whom I encountered in a recent novel used a wonderful analogy to clarify this concept. The farm area in which the story was set was undergoing a rather severe drought and the soil was extremely dry. There were the usual assortment of tins and buckets outside the house. There was a really beautiful painted container that had been a valued gift, and then there were the usual dented and broken pots, most with an assortment of little holes. When the rain finally arrived, Grandma Rose took her two granddaughters out behind the farmhouse and asked them to look at the pots and the area around them. The beautiful container still looked good from a distance but the soil around it was dry and lifeless. Now, the broken and dented pots also looked the same BUT the soil around the was sprouting new life, thanks to the accumulated water that had seeped though the holes! Leave the striving for perfection. It's a waste of time and energy. Look at our cracks and let the light and water through.

As we begin a new year with its regulation resolutions to lose weight, exercise, stop spending foolishly, clean our abodes (and our commodes) with greater diligence, why not resolve to simply Be Kind to ourselves and everyone we encounter on this journey we call Life. Embrace the holes and recognize how truly "holy" they maybe. What do you think?