BREATHE

This week I was looking for a guided meditation on Youtube and I found some videos by the Australian Buddhist monk, Ajahn Brahm.  I was pleasantly surprised by what this funny monk had to say.  And I loved his meditation.  His talks I found to be unusual, helpful, and worth sharing.  Especially for those who may have suffered loss and trauma.  I'm also thinking how the Catholic American monk, Thomas Merton, was drawn to Buddhism later in life.  Merton's books are still some of my favourite spiritual reading.

But back to Ajahn Brahm.  Listening to him speak sparked an insight for me around my long-standing question on whether trauma (my own or anyone elses) can be completely healed?  Ajahn Brahm was discussing exhaustion and social workers.  Interestingly, I am a former social worker.  I was completely taken with his talk and his "care vs cure" offering.

I know people who have been cured of cancer who live in constant fear of it coming back.  I know people who live in fear of nightmares returning when traumatic events have been resolved. 

Cure does not always cure fear.

I have also noticed that when we feel deeply cared about then fear seems to almost disappear.

Maybe care IS better than cure?

For example:
I can't cure politics, but I can care for politics.

I can't change people, but I can care about them.

I can't cure unfairness in the workplace, but I can care about fairness.

I can't cure injustice in the world, but I can care about justice. 

I can't always please the people I care about, but I can always care about them. 

I can't cure climate change, but I can care about God's Creation.

I can't fix and make everything better, but I can care "betterly"!

I can make up new words that make me smile! (Thank you Ajahn Brahm)

I can take a deep breath--

And...


Image Credit Unsplash


 


Popular posts from this blog

STOPPED IN MY TRACKS

Image
SANTA SUBITO. Deep breath. Yesterday I learned in the best and gentlest way possible that my friend Gabbie passed away on January 12, 2025. It was Gabbie who encouraged me to start blogging during Covid-19 lockdowns in Toronto. I want to say more about my friend Gabbie and our connection through the Sisters of Life, but not right now. My heart is too full of love and joy and grief, and honestly just awe. I'm stopped in my tracks for now... I heard a song today during  Canada Day  celebrations that made me think of Gabbie. It's  I Believe in You , by Amanda Marshall:  Bing Videos . Gabbie believed in me and she loved Jesus so much-- both of which I benefitted from so much. Thanks Gabs💕 I don't know whether Gabbie will be put forward as a potential Catholic saint, I hope so. Gabbie and I actually never met in person but we shared the same taste in boots and hats. Our friendship began through an extraordinary snail mail adventure in the middle of covid lockdowns, it de...
Read more

MAKINGS OF A GOOD PRODIGAL DAUGHTER STORY

As I continue to sit with the question of whether or not to wrap up my blog at the end of the summer, I sit also with the story of the Prodigal Son . And like in the Prodigal Son , my blog  Stranded on the Mainland has it's roots in the loss of and longing for, home. Below are some mid-August thoughts on this: WHAT IF the daughter didn't want to leave home like the prodigal son did, what if she was sent to the city? What if she doesn't squander her "inheritance" at all, but is (unbeknownst to most, including herself) is amassing a treasure, a fortune, and spiritual inheritance, "one that protects her from nothing and sustains her in everything."--Jim Finley. WHAT IF it's the daughter who through therapy and grace brings back a new robe for her traumatized self to put on, a ring for her finger, and sandals for her feet? WHAT IF it's the daughter who's preparing the roast beef dinner? And the daughter rushing down the road to meet her true sel...
Read more

OPPOSING VALUES AND ADVENT HOPE

Image
Today I'm realizing something I never considered before: "How I as a straight, white, Christian woman-- being treated with fairness can feel like oppression." Wow. And flipping this over-- how oppression and mistreatment can feel like fairness and love. Wow. With that said, the prophetic talk below is not one I would typically think of as an Advent talk, but it is-- especially in 2025 in this world full of people who oppose each other's values. American democracy is bleeding out; now Canadian environmental guardrails are sadly beginning to fail. For those of us with e yes to see and ears to hear , this is a time of clashing and crashing values-- if our values were being traded on the stock market it would be 1920. We don't know where all this worldly chaos is heading, it's true. But we have the Prophet's Candle (old and new). And we have Hope. And we have this prophetic Advent challenge in a podcast episode from The Center for Action and Contemplation, Le...
Read more