Living in coronavirusworld 156: Emptiness or love

9/2

Mister Rogers shares the pool

The hat is simply the regular Wednesday hat worn by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Apparently to "honor the military” with its subtle black camouflage and olive. As for me, I just like the color combination. And today it goes with my real focus, the image on my t shirt. It recalls an episode of the Mister Rogers television show. There was a time of controversy of Black people being allowed to swim in public pools. In response, Mister Rogers simply invited his weary Black police officer friend to share a wading pool with him. That was the quiet power and strength of Mister Rogers. 

The shootings around the country have our attention. The “militia” are welcomed with “appreciation” by the Kenosha police. People are shot in Portland. Camo dressed “volunteers” roam the US-Mexico border in SUVs with assault weapons to protect the border. And a 17 year old with an AR15 who drove 20 miles to Kenosha and shot two protestors to death is hailed as a “hero” by the President and “her President” by media provocateur Ann Coulter. Simply watching Fox News for 15-20 minutes makes me realize that the country is living in two very different realities where each side has an apocalyptic view of the other. There is no conceivable middle ground. The Cold Civil War seems to be sparking, And we are all anxious.  The election fills us with as much fear as hope as does the feeling that something will happen.

Meanwhile we continue  our conversation about contemplation and meditation. I see them as different but others feel  they are close enough to be almost identical. Steve P talks of contemplative prayer through centering prayer.  A practice of concentration, as with your breath, as opposed of relaxing and letting go, allowing whatever happens to happen. In any event, there is a feeling that the practice, over time, changes who you are. 

I recall our Taize services at West Park, the candles, the repeated phrases, chants with harmony. The quiet feeling of peace that entered in. Ted Phelps has written about “natural meditation,”  that we have a built in meditative function to access. In our body. To slow our “busy brain.”  I know  that meditation for me is the necessity of just stopping, just freeing my head of thoughts. Just allowing it to be. 

There also seems to be a divergence with the Western contemplative tradition seeking a “fullness of God” while the Eastern seeks emptiness. Rosary beads and Buddhist prayer beads. Emptiness or love. 

Jesus seems to go to “quiet places” to listen, prayer for him being more listening than talking.  In Luke, the story of the Good Samaritan precedes the story of Martha and Mary where Jesus praises Mary for choosing the better part, (Luke 10: 25-42) Though Jesus’ point would have been better made had he gotten up to help Martha with the dishes.  (I myself always found dishwashing and lawn mowing meditative.). The two stories go together…the active love of neighbor  partnered with study and refection. Both needed. 

Liturgy, especially long established rituals as in Anglican or Roman Catholic serve the same function of opening the door to another space. Freeing from the analytic work of the mind  to the quietness of contemplation. Finding value in the God of Unknowing. 

one white pigeon

There is one all white pigeon among the birds in Morningside Park.

The police, aware of angry neighbors, made 12 drug busts -for sales and buys- no list of how many of each, on the Upper West Side between 77th and 83rd. The Lucerne Hotel right in the middle on 79th. They got marijuana, cocaine, heroin and a BMW.

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