How to Love God

     We all know assumptions are dangerous things. None the less, it is my assumption that anyone checking out a blog titled Faith on the Mat has a hope in God existing if not a firm belief. And hoping or believing in a Supreme Being is probably paired with wanting to be in the good graces of this Deity. Really, I cannot imagine the person wishing to be in trouble with a vengeful God, but then this is probably not because they don't exist but rather a lack of imagination on my part. But I digress.So we believe and we wish to live in harmony with God, how does this happen?

     If I want to express love to my husband I can take the easy way out and use my language or perhaps a physical touch. But if I really really want to express true love I will honor and respect him, expecting the best and always working to build him up. You know, the love God describes to us in
 I Corinthians 12. Love is a verb not a heart shaped box of chocolates. But again I digress, this is a post about loving God not whispering sweet nothings to your significant other. So how do we love God? Shouting to the sky and releasing love poems in helium balloons  is not the answer!

     Luckily we don't have to ponder the answer too long. God tells us if we want to love Him then we have to love His children. We have to care for His creation. This amazing planet He placed us on deserves the best treatment we can give it. We have always had dogs and we have always walked them regularly. For the first few years of walking I would notice a piece of litter and sigh and shake my head at the grossness of people who litter. A few years of that judgement and God showed me, if I want to love Him don't judge the litterer just pick up the litter.

     Taking care of the animals and the planet are definitely love actions towards God, but if we really really want to love God we have to love His people. yes, that means the manic who cut you off on the highway. But what does that even mean? Do you chase him down and say through gritted teeth "I love you jerk?" Well, no, that's not love. But maybe you don't allow yourself to project murderous thoughts towards Mr. Highwayman. Maybe you take a deep breath, send a loving thought and drive on. Love is patient, love is kind...Love applies to every single human being on earth....yup everyone. Hating terrorists creates a hateful environment in which terror thrives. Hating the "other side" in politics creates an atmosphere in which a country could implode. Even hating someone who has personally harmed you is not pleasing to God or helpful to yourself. So, if you want to please God you have to love His people every single irritating, beautiful crazy person!  You don't have to like them all but if you want to live in harmony with our Creator you have to at least attempt harmony with His created.  We have to let go of the idea of "them and us" and remember we all share this earth, we all share a Creator and imagine if we all shared the intention to love one another ....we could create heaven right here on earth!

Three Breaths

     When does the desire for self improvement cross over into self bullying? When will we deem ourselves "good enough"? A continual striving to be a better version of ourselves is kinda like telling God that His masterpiece (you) is alright but you could do better. This is not a call to ignore our faults or to give in to our darkness....this is just a call for today to "just be".

     Just for one day can we accept the make and model that God gave us? Just for one day can we rest in the fact that we are wonderfully uniquely knit together? Just for one day can we breath in and out Gods love. Nothing more nothing less....Just breath and just be.
This is also not a call to sit still and do nothing. The stillness of self acceptance can and should come in the midst of our daily tasks. Dare I say the self acceptance of who we are now can come in the midst of refining who we are? It is a fine line only clearly negotiated with prayer, meditation, contemplation, stillness...
If we only meditate on the mat then we are severely limited in our capacity for awareness, self and otherwise.

     So on the highway, in the grocery store, at work and play today JUST BE. Be with your breath, be with yourself as you are not as you wish you were. Be in this moment because it is all we really have, so let's not waste it wishing we were something we're not. Rather today let's just be with our beautiful perfect flawed selves with an attitude of self acceptance and love....Nothing more nothing less...

     A challenge to you and to me today: at least three times during the day just stop what we're doing and take three deep slow breaths. Baby stepping our way to greatness...

Not Good Enough

      A classic quality found in both yogis and Christians is the striving to grow. We have this yearning to get closer to God, closer to a wall free hand stand, closer to that well of inner peace we just know is there somewhere inside us. To break out of the "upper echelons on mediocrity" (thanks Indigo Girls) and to soar is the desire of many of our hearts. We want to shine, to serve to stand on top of that proverbial mountain and shout "We made it". Well, what is it that we have made? Where are we going? What's wrong with where we are at? And does this blogger only have questions and no answers?

      When a student said to me the other day "I hate my arms" it was a no brainer for me to remind her that loving her body as it is now is often the path to greater health. But what about the subtler self abuses we heap upon ourselves? We think nothing of embarking on another cleanse, another self improvement project of making vision boards and plans for a great future. And let me be perfectly clear, I think these are all admirable and worthy activities. But what ground are these self improvement projects blooming in? Are we striving to grow because we are not good enough or simply because we want to be better?There is a difference. And taking on endless self improvement projects because "we are not good enough" is not only self abuse but it often ironically enough impedes our growth.

     Look outside your window and look at a plant for a moment. The nature of that plant is to grow in the direction of the sunlight and it does. Imagining for a moment that plant had thought capability. Can you imagine a pretty daisy thinking it needs to grow because it is not okay as it is? Of course not, the daisy just rests and grows. For years I have been pondering Romans 12:1
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

     I get the part about offering your body as a living sacrifice. Simply put if we feel God is telling us to do something and we have inner peace and that something does not disagree with scripture then we should use our body to obey God. Maybe we need to walk over to someone, or use our mouth to encourage or our arms to comfort. Our bodies are meant for God to use. The last part about renewing our minds I also "get". The cliff notes version: toxic thoughts = toxic life. But the middle "do not conform to the pattern of this world" is what I had to mull over for years before making any headway. For years I read it as plural "patterns" and that was easy....don't do what most of the world does. Don't be a bully, don't be a pervert, don't be a glutton...But then one day I noticed that pattern was singular. Wow, if there is only one pattern of this world and God does not want us to conform to it I sure want to know what it is. So after months of meditating on this what came to me is that the pattern of this world is dissatisfaction. We are hard pressed to find ourselves satisfied with things as they are, with ourselves as we are. Always needing to gain or lose 5 pounds, to read that book, to paint that wall. These are great activities but miserable and counterproductive as driving forces for our lives. So today I want to tell you "You ARE good enough". You and I are not perfect and every human being could use some polishing I am sure. But the beginning of growing towards the sunlight comes in resting in who we are today. Being okay with who we are is not an invitation to stagnate but rather it is the gateway to the mountain top
So shine on child of God, because the truth is today you are shiny. Today you are awesome and the more you rest in that the more you rest in Truth. If you want to improve then I applaud you but please let the desire for self improvement gently flow from self love and self satisfaction. The desire to contantly self improve beacuse we are not good enough is simply not the way to grow into the beautiful flower you already are.

Pretty Little Liars All

    You're a liar and so am I. You may not know it and most days I don't. As a matter of fact I pride myself on being "authentic" and honest which really is a cosmic joke on me. Because the truth is that we can't handle the truth, please deduct blog points here for borderline plagiarism! So we make up stories about our lives, we give ourselves labels and then we cling to our made up identities as if they were the last life rafts in a sea of delusion. We write stories about ourselves all day long and we will often fight to the death to defend these stories. Religious wars, anyone?
One of my favorite prayers is by Rabbi Abraham Heshel. He prays "Lord, please do not let me deceive others but more than that do not let me deceive myself".
Stories are great for campfires but when we keep a white knuckle grip on our own stories what gets strangled is often the truth. So, what is the truth?

    No, really what is the truth? I hope you didn't think I came prepared with that answer. All I know is that all that exists for sure are molecules and the space in between them. I have placed my belief also in the Judeo Christian faith which states that "We shall know the truth and the truth will set you free". So, I guess I have to start there. But I recognize that this is my chosen belief and there is a difference between truth and beliefs. Jesus tells us to come to God like little children. Being childless by choice I don't have too much to go on here but it seems to me as if children are full of wonder and questions.  Wonder and questions seem like a hallmark of humbleness. And clinging stubbornly to our made up truths seem like a sure sign of pride. So humility is the path to truth?

    If I follow this crazy train down the track the only logical conclusion I can come to is that being sure we are right makes us wrong. How deliciously ironic is life?!  Another example: I tell my awesome husband "I love you" and then I am impatient and rude to him. Scripture clearly says love is patient and kind. So once again I have lied to myself. Do I truly love my husband just because I have "warm feelings" and I told him so? Or is the hallmark of love actions? The truth is not so clear. When I was younger everything was black and white. You were either my God fearing friend or a sad atheist, a liberal or conservative, an intellectual or a dunce. But now the world is painted in shades of gray and the way to the Truth is to let go of all of our little truths.

 So, today as long as it is today,  I will endeavor to remember that my stories are just that: stories. I will work to come into conversations and relationships without assumptions. The less I know the closer I feel to the truth.
The truth I believe is that, yes, there is a God and , yes we are all connected to each other and to God. This is my belief  but every single time I label you and label me I feel this truth slipping away.
Today I will come to life with open hands and an open mind as I recognize that just because I believe it doesn't make it true. Mabye...

Drinking Problems

    The first sentence is always the hardest to write just as the first steps towards God the most tentative and shaky.Years ago, as a curious spiritual seeker pondering the possible existence of a Supreme Being one thought consistently stuck with me. Not that I understood it at the time, or now for that matter, but the thought that God is a river brought me great comfort. I had no problem visualizing myself as a lazy leaf going with the flow. I did not anticipate rapids, water falls or dry spells, I was young enough and naive enough to just want to float.

    Fast forward a few years as my spirituality continues to evolve but my health habits could use refining. I had a Dr. Pepper habit that was not serving me. But, how amazing is God that He can use everything for our growth even an abundance of sugary drinks?! I had settled in to the second silent hour in my massage room and as my clients muscles began to melt my mind turned once again to God. Pondering how to really serve humanity and turning this thought over and over in my mind I was interrupted by a "still small internal Voice" I now recognize as the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit: "be the straw"
Me: "HUH?"
Holy Spirit "I am the Dr. Pepper, your client is thirsty: Be the straw"
Me: "HUH?"

    I know, confusing, right? Ok, then let's fast forward again about 20 years to, um yesterday.
Opening Quiet, my yoga studio,  in order to serve others in their spiritual growth is such a privilege and honor. I had focused so much on the build out and the students and clients that slowly over the last three weeks my meditation, asana practice and prayer life dwindled from a steady stream to a trickle. Elementary stuff, if you wanna lead people in yoga do yoga. if you wanna lead them in prayer then pray! Elementary but not that easy to remember in the thick of it. So, when once again when that still small voice interrupted my thoughts yesterday I was grateful, startled and humbled.
Holy Spirit "Your straw is clogged"
Me: Sigh

    God then gently led me through the lesson that in order to flow I not only have to give, that one I got years ago. But also I need to keep my "straw" clear of debris. Spiritual debris comes in the form of anxiety and fear. But it also comes in the form of never ending busyness. It comes in many forms.  In order to flow we must be open at both ends of the straw and in the middle.Gratefully receiving all of Gods Spirit and fearlessly giving it all back keeps the ends open, but we also must be clear in the middle. When we allow a state of sin (separation from God) to fester eventually our straw gets clogged. So while feeling anxious or fearful or being busy is not a sin in itself leaving these states unaddressed leads to clogged straws which truly is a sin. I use the term sin in a nonjudgmental manner, it is not necessarily about our actions but about our attitudes and at times ALL of us have attitudes that separate us from God's Presence. Whatever we allow to separate us from Gods loving presence is our sin, is our clog in our straw.

     One more fast forward, to this present moment. I no longer see myself as floating in God (although we all probably are) but I see God as a river of cool clear water flowing through us. So in order to serve God, others and our own growth it is crucial to nip sin in the bud as it develops in our thoughts otherwise it can clog up our straw. Lately I have noticed that the thoughts about sin are often more painful and cause more separation from God than any actual action. So, here it is...to be a free flowing straw we must keep our minds calm like a still lake that is capable of reflecting God. We will experience rapids in our lives (such as opening a business) but none the less our minds must remain focused on God and not on the swirling waters rapidly rising all around us. So we can float or swim or take a deep dive under but no matter our situation remain aware of your thoughts and keep your straw free flowing. You never know when someone will need refreshing. And it truly is in offering up that drink to others that our own thirst is quenched.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

   As a yogi and spiritual seeker I spend a lot of time contemplating the internal life. Searching out God and cultivating internal quiet is a fulfilling and gratifying practice for me. It is also dangerously on the edge of selfish living which is exactly what God warns us not to be. We serve God only by serving others but then we get greater intimacy with God by going inside where we serve no one but ourselves. A conundrum that is only solved by carefully monitoring our relationships.

   Spiritually is measured relationally and if our closest relationships are volatile and selfish then perhaps it is time for a more rigorous honest self assessment. Anyone can appear godly when we're alone but it is our reactions when loved ones stretch us that are telling. Our families are mirrors that reflect us back to ourselves.it is so easy to think of serving that little old lady crossing the street or passing a few dollars to the homeless but what about when your Mom is driving you batty? That is the moment to realize maybe you are driving her batty as well and take a deeper look inside. Our internal journey ideally is a platform from which to refine and improve our external relationships. I don't think my Mom has read my blog yet but when she does....this is just an example Mom. I love you!! You're awesome.  So, with everyone around me today I will endeavor to remember love is a verb.

    So,yogi....when you roll out your mat and someone steps on it how are you gonna react? When that person who always annoys you in class sits next to with a heavy sigh are you going to remember that they are not a idiot but rather a mirror of ourselves? Endeavor to go inside only to make your outside more Godly and your journey will not only enrich you but the world as well namaste

yoga tools

   Yoga is not religion and really yoga isn't even spiritual. What crazy talk is this froma faith based yoga teacher? I believe yoga is a neutral set of tools that we can use to connect to our inner silence and therefore our faith. Connecting to our inner silence has spiritual potential for sure. Nothing can fill this space, no extravagance, no discipline, no indulgence and no philosophy. This space must be filled by spirit alone and when we do not take the time to be still and allow this space to fill then we find ourselves desperately working to fill this space with other things. Food, sex, drugs,rock and roll...you get the picture! Sometimes this "thing" we use to fill the hole can be our yoga practice.

   Yoga is neutral until we begin to shape our practice. Then it can either magnify our neurosis or lead us to that beautiful space of stillness and healing.The huge irony is that the roots of yoga are that we practice asana (the postures) to come to a place where our bodies are capable of being still long enough to meditate, quiet the mind, and find that inner silence that will lead us to integrate our body, mind & spirit. When we practice yoga in a neurotic, obsessive, bossy, unhealthy way we move farther away from this still place.

    This is when potential for injury arises both in body and spirit. In practicing every breath, every asana we must ask are we moving towards or away from our best self? The self that will fearlessly approach our physical boundaries but not recklessly crash through them. The self that will be still and rest and yet shed all remnants of laziness and sloth. Be industrious. Be present. Be still. And that is yoga. A wondrous tool box for your body, mind and spirit. A tool box for people of faith and people searching for fullness. But as we practice we shape our yoga at the same time it shapes us. So many stories in the news lately about yoga injuring so many people. Yoga is us, we injure ourselves as we shut down that still small voice inside. Yogis call it Inner Teacher, Christians know it as the Holy Spirit. It is separate from your personality and you thoughts...present in both but bigger than the sum of our parts. It is in discounting this Voice that we shape our yoga into a dangerous beast that shears our SI joints and twists us into broken piles.Let's not be those yogis. Step on the mat with presence. Mindfulness in your body awareness in your breath. Let's have 2012 be the year we occupy our bodies and practice with integrity.