The Alarm

simplicity // 5
the Alarm

“The alarm sounds and we climb out of bed and begin to trudge through another day,” writes Andrew Bienowski, the Polish psychologist who, as a five-year-old, was exiled to Siberia with his family, and who knows the meaning of suffering. “But think, for a moment, about a day in which we wake and remember what we already have, the blessings that we have already been given, the things that we have already earned, the love that we have already found.”

We are more prone, he observes, to focus usually on our “wants” instead of our “haves”. But we could, alternatively, awake thinking, “I have breath! I have life! I have shelter! I am here...”

These things are to be celebrated, of course – not taken for granted. And if we do take anything for granted, let us remember, today, a few very simple words of wisdom from the man who started life by losing the little he had, including his grandfather, who starved himself so that his grandson could eat his meagre rations:

“If you are in a position to take things for granted, you are already blessed beyond your needs.”


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action point

Spend five minutes today sitting very still, and very quietly, repeating, thankfully, the sentence:
“I have breath. I have life. I have shelter. I am here...”

To find out more about Andrew Bienowski, and his recent book One Life to Give, visit http://www.onelifetogive.net

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rsvp

“On Saturday your reflection was about simplicity not being a pain-free life. Recently I have been unwell, which has necessitated cutting my commitments - a painful experience. Perhaps, for me, this is one interpretation of what cutting the melon could represent. I thought to myself, “If I had a melon I would give this symbolism a go.” Within a few hours I’d received a gift of a basket of fruit. In the basket was a splendid melon. Extraordinary. God provides.” Paul

“I myself have never really ‘subscribed’ to Lent, never thought much about it , but as I sit and read through these daily thoughts and insights and rsvps, the passion of the people involved really does resonate. So what will I do? I don’t know... I will make space this Lent by... going to bed earlier, watch less TV into the small hours and thus feel less tired more of the time. I am moving towards... becoming a better person - nicer, kinder, more tolerant, less dismissive, less selfish - better. I will become more fully present as I go by trying to enjoy/appreciate every second of every minute of every hour of each day. Are these just clichés? I'm not sure. To be continued...” Gary

“I lined up for the marathon, good intentions... blinding me to the reality of my lack of fitness... Everyone else seemed to set off at a cracking pace while I was still at the starting line adjusting my shoelaces. On the evening of day 3, I found myself having to do all the first three days again to catch up. I placed a vase of flowers from my garden in the yellow glow of the table lamp beside me and relaxed and gazed at their beauty for a while. And God, graciously forgiving (yet again) my distracted behaviour, spoke to me, softly, gently, lovingly. At the end of which he just said, "Smile." And I did.” Chris

“I will makes space by... giving up breaking the speed limit (and slowing down in general) thus relinquishing the attitude and behaviour that my time is more important than everyone else’s; I am moving towards... living a less busied, frantic life for these 40 days and still my soul towards a greater God awareness; I will become more fully present as I go by trying to fully listen when others (including God) are speaking to me.” Paul

“’The Melon and the knife brings to mind two quotes: Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler’ (Albert Einstein) and ‘Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana’ (Groucho Marx)”. Tim

“After reading 'The Plan', John Lennon's line came to mind: ‘Life is what happens to you, while you're busy making other plans.’” Paula

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May you remember that you have breath, you have life, you have shelter and you are here, today.
Go well!

Brian