The Movement

simplicity // 32
the Movement

“I’d join the movement if there was one I could believe in” (Bono, U2, ‘The Acrobat’)

Wouldn’t we all? Sometimes, we find ourselves becalmed, because we feel let down, by our organisation, or our church, or our friends, or even God. We check out of the movement, if you like. We reach inertia.

Now, that’s not to say that we should always keep moving simply for the sake of looking busy (surely the worst of reasons). But there does come a point when we must take responsibility for our own pilgrim’s progress through life. Others will inevitably let us down, as we, inevitably, let others down, from time to time. And that’s when we need to know - for our self - the reason for keeping on going. Your parents can’t make you believe in God. Your boss can’t make you believe in the work. An e-mail series can’t make you believe you should travel a particular path.

It’s your call(ing).

So, what does ‘movement’ look like to you, this lent? Perhaps, very simply, it means starting to move, again, after a long time of sitting the journey out. Perhaps it means choosing to live deliberately, moving proactively (instead of reactively) through each day, which is a microcosm of your life. Gesture by gesture. Perhaps it means implementing a daily rhythm to your life. Perhaps it means deciding to move towards something – a goal, a dream, a calling – that until now you’ve considered too far out of reach. Perhaps it means moving on, or away from a situation.

Above all, surely it means becoming the movement you can believe in, the one that will make all the difference to the world around you. We must “be the change”, as Gandhi said.

One last thought, then: I wonder how the way you move – whether you’re walking, driving, working, surfing, dancing, running... - helps determine where you wish to get to, in the end? Look out for it, today, as you move on.


* * *

action point:

What is your reason to keep going?

Review your original goal, “I am moving towards...” How much movement have you experienced? What does the way you move through life (frenetically? elegantly? empathetically? ignorantly? compassionately?) tell you about where you want to get to, in the end?

Draw a treasure map of your life. Where are you now? How can you represent that visually? Where do you want to get to? What’s in the way? Where might you find hidden treasure? What’s the terrain like? Who else is ‘on the map’?

If there’s always been something you’d like to do with your life – especially in terms of making the world a better place, and living your faith or beliefs or philosophy more creatively and courageously – then why not do something about it, today? Often it just takes a start; from there, you gather momentum.

Please let us know how you get on – it’s great to hear from you!

* * *

rsvp:

“Today, I wasn’t well, and stayed at home in bed. An unexpected space opened around me. The day took on a completely different quality, as, freed from the constraints of time, I simply lay there and ‘was’. I’d have preferred not to have been poorly, obviously – but it was fascinating to observe the way the day ‘felt’ in the light of your observation about space.” Jonathan

“Amazing! When I got up this morning before I read this I decided to make myself conscious and aware as I travelled through the day. My PA says I already failed! However... As I read your thought it reminded me of the story of filling the jar. A friend stood in front of a group and filled a large glass jar with large stones right to the top. He asked if it it full and the attendees said yes. He then put smaller stones into the jar which fell between the larger stones and asked was it full - the others said yes. He then put tiny pebbles into the jar which fell between the smaller stones and asked was it full - the attendees said yes. He then put sand into the jar which fell between the pebbles and asked was it full - yes. He then poured water into the jar which fell between the sand and silence fell on the room. It made me think that our view on space is relative to how we perceive it. There is plenty of space out there daily to explore and it depends on our mind set whether we fill the gaps with frustration or positive energy. It’s so important that we let our positive energy flow through the jar so we can fill all the space, whether it is with silence or activity, and do it in a way which builds rather than sucks our energy away. Namaste!” Ciaran

“The barefoot experience. What joy! Walking on the hard surfaces of the garden path, not nearly as troublesome as I had expected, indeed more comfortable than shoes. Perhaps to me a reminder that the hard times and experiences we fear are rarely as bad as we expected. But then the grass. Oh, the joy of it. Childlike delight, and understanding perhaps what a cat feels like when it’s ‘making dough’. And a determination and a desire to enjoy this more often - not just back to nature, but back to my creator and my true nature, born to enjoy what he has created with all my heart, my soul, my mind...

“And what of sound, or rather silence? Hard to find in a back garden two miles from Heathrow! I was reminded of what a strange experience it was this time last year when volcanic ash silenced the metal beasts of the air. But yet, even here I can find silence - almost despite my expectations - that still small voice of calm, the peace that passes all understanding... I closed my eyes, and really listened - in a way perhaps I rarely do or have. I could sense direction far better than radar; I could hear one bird which I could place in one tree to my left, and another to my right - I was ‘guided’ to where they sang. These experiences have been such a revelation. I still don’t know exactly where God is guiding me - how can I best serve him at this stage in my life, to the max? But I know, again, that he loves me, is pleased with me, and will never let me go.” Mark

“Oh “the ‘wild place’ - I missed you today. Place of beauty and peace. Place of summer days and winter storms. Place of renewing springs and leave-behind autumns. Place of real earth where God whispers. I missed you today.” Sandra

“I am still managing to use the internet much less and focus on the now, spending more time with my fmaily, especially my children. I have used some of the time to learn to crochet and have made them both bed throws... However, I still struggle with the 'moving towards' as my future is still not certain. Sounds daft when I write it as no-one’s future is, really, but I know my workplace will shut in two year's time and I am still looking for where to go next. I still struggle with the 'waiting' rather than the 'searching' and the 'trusting' insterad of the 'seeking'. This is my goal in the next few days. My soul is quieter but not quietened.” Paula


* * *

May you find direction, today.
Go well!

Brian