Love in the woods on a snowy May morn!
Presence is a state of inner happiness. Eckhart Tolle
Devotion simply means connectivity. It’s an unquestionable connection. And it depends only on you. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Noticing that my thoughts were scattered amidst several threads for today’s post, Muse suggested an earlier than usual morning walk. I readily agreed.
Sun hitting the snowy peaks created stunning, whispery waves of vaporous beauty. Yes! The Sangres were blessed with snow this week! Though there was a chill in the air, the morning was spring-like. Birds singing, sun warming, Zadie Byrd sniffing, all with the pageantry of wintry mountain vistas as the backdrop. Ahh … Walk and breakfast done, I invite Muse to engage …
Today and a bit too frequently recently, I’m present to scattered thoughts racing in my mind as I engage in the tasks of daily life. More often than I’d like, the thoughts are scrambled, repetitive, about ‘this’ or ‘that’ or ‘the other’ rather than having a particular or productive focus. Gratefully however they exist mostly on the positive end of the energy spectrum rather than plugging in to the pervasive negativity and fear that seem all too present in our world today. Hmm…
I pause, wondering what Muse has in mind with this thread I didn’t expect. How does it relate to the ideas and experiences that have surfaced this past week? Does it?
Muse chuckles. Energy. Everything is energy.
I pause again, letting Muse’ reminder sink in. Ah, yes, I’m beginning to glimpse a connection to the idea of distinguishing ‘doing’ from ‘devoting’ that I’d been musing about for several days. My exploration grew from a something a dear friend and wise woman shared in an email communication. “One hour a day I devote (literally) to sorting and eliminating …”.
I recognized a distinction at once – doing or devoting - and noticed how engaging from the perspective of doing for the sake of getting something done drains energy, opening the door to distracting thoughts. Scattered thoughts about ‘stuff’ steal me and my energy from being in the present moment fully, attentively, devotedly. Past or future oriented, these thoughts likewise are robbers of happiness and contentment. They disconnect me from me and from whatever task is at hand.
In finding a new depth to Tolle’s ‘Power of Now’ I’m present to how frequently I’m not present in the moment that is. Ouch! And wow!
My wise woman friend’s words offered immediate inspiration to begin to engage in my own long set aside sorting, rehoming, eliminating that which I no longer need or choose to care for along with clarity about the presence and perspective I can bring to the process, no longer a massive, overwhelming list of to dos. Rather I can hold the clearing as a sacred process of care for self and for others. A process that I devote myself, my time, my energy, and my presence to. This devotion connects me. To me. To care. To happiness.
As I write, I glance up and out into the woods, observing robin hopping on the moist ground, fully present to their search for whatever nutritious goodies lurk in the dampness. What new beginnings are ahead as I shift course from simply doing to devoting?
Mountain Morning Majesty