Dear friends,
Isn't this amazing?
You are here.
In Ireland we have an expression which we use on special days.
We use it on occasions like birthdays and anniversaries and times when we get together to celebrate.
It translates into English as something like this.
May we be alive when this day comes around again.
Today is one of those days.
This is a day you hoped you would see and now here you are.
But life can get in the way of gratitude.
Activities can get in the way of awareness.
The days of our lives come to us so reliably that sometimes we don't even notice we have them.
And what a pity that is.
Haven't we all had the experience of looking back and thinking about people we have loved and lost?
We think if only I had one more day with that person,
One more hour,
Time for one more hug or even one more word.
There is a song by Luther Vandross,
The lyrics of which look back on early childhood and express a wish.
If I could steal one final glance,
One final step,
One final dance with him,
I'd play a song that would never ever end because I'd love,
Love,
Love to dance with my father again.
I think of my own father every time I hear that song.
And I wish for an opportunity to say things I hadn't said.
To ask questions that I hadn't asked and to hug him just one more time.
My father died when I was 13,
Before I had learned to listen or pay any attention.
It's not my intention that this would turn into a morbid type of reflection.
But isn't it true that a day will come when we will all wish that we had just one more day,
Even one more hour.
And right here and right now,
We have this gift.
How fortunate we are.
I'm going to add some background music now.
And I'll refer to some things that we might usefully reflect upon.
We'll do this in the 30 second or maybe 60 second interval between one thought and the next.
I hope you find some of these messages helpful,
That they might act as a type of trigger to remind you of all the possibilities that live within the gift of this new day.
But first of all,
I want to share some wishes for you.
That you will never lose your sense of amazement and awe.
That you will always be aware of the wonders that surround you.
That life's challenges will never be so difficult that you give up hope.
That you will approach each new day with a determination to spread love in a world that so badly needs it.
And now,
Please close your eyes,
Unless you feel that's uncomfortable.
Relax.
Become present.
Think of how wonderful it is to be here.
How amazing it is that anything at all is here.
Our gratitude should be without limit.
Can we look upon this day as a special gift?
A special opportunity to perform some act that will make some little difference to someone.
If you had only a day left,
A final day to do with as you will,
What would you do in that 24 hours?
Can you apply these ideas to this day?
Take time to look around and wonder.
And imagine what it must be like if you had just arrived on this planet.
Imagine what it must be like to experience this world of ours for the first time.
The skies,
The seas,
The mountains,
The trees.
The wonders of the natural world.
And our own amazing creations,
Unimaginable to people who have come before us.
Is there something in the past that you wish you could undo?
Some conversation that you would like to have had.
What would it be?
Can you relate those feelings into the present moment reality?
Can you relate those thoughts,
Those wishes into your existing relationships?
And do now for someone something you wish you had done for someone else.
Now admittedly it's not the same to give something to one person in place of another.
But what we're trying to do here is by learning the lessons of the acts of kindness left undone,
The words of encouragement left unsaid,
We can avoid repeating our mistakes of the past by applying more love and kindness in the present.
Why do we do this?
Why do we stop from time to time and try to redirect ourselves?
Maybe it's because we already know in our hearts the words that are given to us by the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama says,
We are visitors on this planet.
We are here for 100 years at the very most.
During that period we must try to do something good,
Something useful with our lives.
And he goes on,
If you contribute to other people's happiness,
You will find the true meaning of life.
Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to this reflection.
I hope these thoughts or some of them have opened some opportunities for you.
These are the days of our lives.
Each today is a day filled with possibility.
Now we all know we cannot expect to go through life in a state of constant awareness and gratitude.
What a joy it would be if we could do that.
But let's settle for a little less perfectionism.
As has been frequently said,
The best can be the enemy of the good.
So let's settle for simply the good.
If we can manage to pull ourselves back into such a state of awareness,
Once or twice or maybe even three times each day.
If we can remind ourselves of the extraordinary possibilities attached to this life,
An existence which somehow or another we have managed to come into,
What a difference that would make.
We can be sure that every mindful pause leading to some kind action will make a difference.
We all send out ripples.
They move out from each and every one of us.
People are affected by what we do and say.
Who knows where these small acts of goodness and kindness will lead.
Just as a small stone falling,
Tumbling down a cliff can cause an avalanche,
Simple everyday actions performed by you and by me can bring about an avalanche of love that can change the world.
Namaste.
