May 7: Day 127

STONE SIX
 
Be: Letting go of past hurts, disappointments, and abuses and letting go of future plans and expectations, I resolve to live in the present moment and simply be. Be present; be open; be available; be with Higher Self.

Instruction: Be in the moment.

Sometimes when I pause to consider Stone Six, I get the image of someone sitting around meditating for hours in a quiet place, perhaps in a wooded area with no one else around. Sitting there, enjoying nature and the sounds of serenity, sounds like a wonderful way to be in the moment, to simply “be.” At times, it also seems like the only way to be in the moment. When I’m stuck in rush hour traffic wishing I were anywhere else and thinking about the deadlines that loom before me, I find it challenging to be at peace with myself and the universe. Stone Six doesn’t necessarily mean we will be without struggles, conflicts, or challenges, but it does suggest that we can find a measure of serenity no matter where we are or what we are doing. Stone Six is about being involved with the life that is unfolding now versus the life that is past or the life that is in the future. It is about finding ways of releasing the past and letting go of our concerns over the future.

Stone Six is also about being with our Higher Self, or the spirit within us that is connected to our Higher Power and has the ability to communicate with us, guide us, and direct us. While we are sitting in rush hour traffic, we might not experience the sounds and smells of nature that can bring peace to our hearts and minds. In fact, we might find the sounds and smells offensive to us. Someone might be hoking their horn while another might be making obscene gestures and shouting expletives out their window. What does being in the moment look like when we are dealing with situations where our peace seems shattered? This is a mild example of the difficulty we can have of being in the moment. What about when serious sickness or injury invades our lives? What about when there is betrayal and failure? Are we to paint a smile on our faces and pretend that all is well with our private worlds when, obviously, we are not feeling that anything is well with the world? Stone Six is not about suppressing our emotions, but about acknowledging them, feeling them, and releasing them as we will see in Stones Seven and Eight. For now, however, we need to understand and practice what it means to simply “be.”

Today’s Assignment is to contemplate that finding a measure of serenity and peace in the catastrophic moments in life can be achieved by practicing living in the “now” or in this present moment. You might find your peace disturbed today by some of the small, seemingly trivial moments of life such as being stuck in traffic or waiting too long for your order at a fast-food restaurant. Feel the frustration, breathe deeply, and look for a way to release the irritations and let your mind relax.