Dear friends,
Welcome to this meditation which is to help us reflect on how the inevitability of change can remind us to exercise compassion in everyday life.
So to begin,
Can I invite you to take a few moments to become centered,
A few seconds to relax and become aware of your presence here and now.
You might decide to close your eyes,
That's fine,
But if it suits you to keep your eyes open that's fine too.
Just see if you can become aware of your breath.
Notice your breathing in and your breathing out.
That's always a help in bringing us back to the present moment.
Notice any tension which you might feel anywhere in your body.
Any tension or worries troubling your mind just now.
And for the next little while as you breathe in can you decide to breathe in peace and as you breathe out can you decide to breathe out tension.
Take a short break to see if you can bring about an experience of relaxation and peace here and now.
An opening thought.
May I have the courage to be thankful for change,
To be thankful for the unexpected.
May I have the patience not to freak out when change happens.
Make me realize that it always will happen and to trust that change will lead me in a direction that I can accept.
When life feels like it's falling apart may I be reminded that it might be time for me to move on,
To move out of my cosy safe life and be brave.
Change is something which many people find difficult and that is understandable.
We are creatures of habit and we feel secure when life rolls on without presenting us with surprises.
We coped yesterday and if tomorrow is like yesterday we know we can cope tomorrow.
It's all very reassuring.
But that is not the way the world is.
Let's just spend a little while looking back over your own life.
Take a snapshot of how things were for you,
Say five years ago,
Ten years ago even,
Anytime you wish and just compare how you are now with how you were then and see how you have changed.
Welcome back.
In that last exercise you will have seen how your life has changed,
In some ways and hopefully most ways for the better.
But even if the change has appeared to be for the worse still you are here now engaged in the process of making things better and learning how to better cope with change.
Next I'd like you to think of some person you know,
Perhaps someone suffering from some physical or mental disability or incapacity.
It might just be the effects of old age.
It could be the after effects of a stroke,
Dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
Hold that person in your mind and in your loving thoughts for a few moments.
Next see if you can remember that person as he or she was.
You might imagine that person in the full flush of youth and in good health with life stretching out ahead and the person feeling invincible.
It may not apply to the person you've been thinking of but notice how in youth we can be confident,
Cocky,
Overbearing,
Demanding.
We can be like this when we are young and in the whole of our health.
So next call to mind someone whom you find difficult or even obnoxious right now.
Visualize that person suffering at some time the effects of illness or old age.
Notice how we are all vulnerable and how we need to care for one another.
If we happen to be in dispute with someone just ask yourself what will be the purpose or point of that dispute in 50 years,
25 years,
Even in 10 years or less.
This reminds us to try now for reconciliation or at least peaceful coexistence.
Life is short and bodies are vulnerable.
In the light of the fragility of life let's pause to see if we can bring about feelings of compassion for the difficult person.
Remembering that we all face the common challenge presented by illness,
Old age and death.
Welcome back.
Finally it's important and useful to reflect on how change is not a bad thing.
During the next pause you might like to bring to mind some events of your life which you hoped would change for the better and they did.
Maybe something which worried you and was resolved.
Notice how you changed by growing in experience,
Wisdom and love even though that appeared to be something that you wouldn't have chosen.
Remember that change makes everything possible.
A closing thought.
May I come to understand that blessings are everywhere.
That my attitude will affect outcomes.
That challenges are often gifts in disguise.
May I come to see that I have many skills and talents that I can use.
That I am a positive influence on many people.
That there are many people around me who wish me well.
May I come to value that today is a blessing to be enjoyed.
That each person is unique and important.
That each moment of my life has meaning.
May I have the courage to face changes as they arise.
May I remember to address each challenge by its true name.
Opportunity.
Namaste.
