"Blessing the space between us"

                                                      "Kairos"

​“The Greeks believed that time had secret structure. There was the moment of Epiphany when time suddenly opened and something was revealed in luminous clarity. There was the moment of krisis when time got entangled and directions became confused and contradictory. There was also the moment of kairos; this was the propitious moment. Time opened up in kindness and promise. All the energies cohered to offer a fecund occasion of initiative, creativity, and promise. Part of the art of living wisely is to learn to recognize and attend to such profound openings in one’s life.”
― John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Invocations and Blessings

I'm praying and doing yoga this morning after a night of leftover Halloween candy and nail biting. 

I feel a bit untethered this morning and need to cultivate my calm. I scroll past the hatred online, get to a quiet place to get to the sanctuary in my head that is waiting for me to enter. Yoga helps me to get there more quickly, as my mind and body assist each other in slowing, breathing, becoming prayerful. 

The paradox is that as I breathe through my yoga practice, and let go of the frustration with my body's limits, my body gives space and calm back.  Not being pushed and cornered, itis able to relax it's limits, let go, and create more room for movement and strength.  It is the same with prayer.  As I come into God's presence,  my jumbled thoughts and anxieties begin to melt, as he gives me a peace in the midst of chaos, and space and light to find my path once more. 
 

We live in a world where we relentlessly crowd, frustrate and corner each other every day online,  Which never has the intended effect because it does not allow for the space we need to listen, learn and release our defenses.  Our automatic responses to upsetting, inflammatory words  causes at it's core- fear-, which in turn leads to tightening up, and closing down

Our anger truly only serves to close us down to each other and stop us from growing, reaching out and becoming who we know we can be individually and collectively. 

My hope and prayer for all of us no matter the outcome of this election is that we can become fearless in our love for one another, blessing the space between us and inside of us and remembering God's love for all. The One who gave us a rainbow of colors in the sky and in our skin, also gave us the ability to choose the light or darkness within each of us.

 Here's  to us all displaying our light, blessing one another and filling up the world with it. It has never been more important.
Love and gratitude- Gretchen