Sometimes an unpleasant thought will come into my mind and stay longer than I would like. It may leave for a bit but then return with "just another point to make". I can then get caught up in a mental debate between at least two different opinions about this unpleasant thought. "You have every right to be angry and upset. Remember the time when..." and on it goes. This reminds me of a story:
There were two monks walking back to their hermitage when they came to a muddy stream that blocked their path. There was a beautiful lady dressed in a long gown who was trying to find a way across the stream. She asked if they could help her across. The first monk thought "We are not supposed to have physical contact with women". The second monk said, "Yes, I can help you." and he picked her up and carried her across the stream. He put her down on the other shore and she said, "Thank you." and they parted ways. As the monks walked along toward their hermitage the first monk was outraged at the other monk for carrying the lady. He thought, "How could he do such a thing!" But he kept his silence.
Later on that evening the first monk could no longer hold his tounge. "How could you carry her across the stream! You know you are not supposed to have contact with women. Much less carry her!"
The second monk replied, "My dear friend, I carried her but for a brief moment. You are still carrying her."
Maybe we can practice letting something go.
a line from a Mary Oliver poem ......
ReplyDelete"To sit down, like a weed among weeds, and rustle in the wind!"
if only we could do that, but then the weed has no mind to contend with.