From The Center
My Dear People,
These ancient words of a Chinese poet speak wisdom that transcends any particular time, place, culture, or religion. Holy people, wise people, know, and have always known, that to live with the fullness of life that is possible (and intended) for humanity, one must live from the center.
From the center. And yet, is there a more inherently challenging, difficult endeavor?
(Uuuuuuh, no.)
Not only would the world uncenter us, but, all too often, we do quite a job of it ourselves. We uncenter, we decenter, ourselves, usually unconsciously, as we anxiously avoid the depths of a truly centered life, preferring instead to remain in the shallows of distraction; meanwhile missing out on true intimacy with ourselves, true intimacy with God, and, therefore, true intimacy with others.
And that distraction takes endless forms.
Tobacco (chewing, to be exact) was, in the (recent) past, a distraction to which I regularly resorted.
To some extent, another distraction for me has been television.
Well, as of Monday, no more! At least, not for the foreseeable future.
And I can already see results: more quiet, more conversation, more sleep, and, simply, better use of that nightly window between Nelson's bedtime and my bedtime.
In a word, I'm hoping that, instead of watching life, I will be living it.
More consciously.
And more from the center.
Your brother in Christ,
Wallace+
