Infinite Openess

Waking up this morning I smile

Twenty-four brand new hours are before me

I vow to live fully in each moment

And to look at all beings with eyes of compassion

                                                Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching, p. 102

___________________________________________

Waking up this morning I groan

Twenty-four hours are before me

That I must struggle through

I will somehow make it through this day

This will be my day to achieve

Perhaps to triumph

I will manipulate things to my advantage

After all

What I make is mine

What I have is mine

And I must make sure I take care of me

I must protect myself from whatever

From whomever

I cannot let “them” get what is “mine”

I will look at all being with the eyes of distrust

                                                Way too many Americans

                                                (You don’t believe me?  Why is Trump doing so well?)

Forgive me Lord

for waking up to the beauty of your universe

and failing to see it

forgive me for not recognizing the gift of this brand new day

forgive me for being so caught up in past regrets

and future fears,

that I am not awake to the present moment

Forgive me, for not only do not see those in front of me with compassion,

but do not see them at all.

help me O Sacred One

to have ‘infinite openness”¹

awaken me to this moment

to the Spirit within me

to the gift of creation

to the presence of others

that I might fully be

and

smile

1.         Paul Kittner, Without Buddha I Could not Be A Christian, pp 159-160.  As quoted by Richard Rohr in his daily meditation, Sept. 9, 2015