As I stumble through the week of rain, sunshine, an endoscopy (for my husband not me) and a broken hip (a friend, not mine) I have to get a little perspective.
I ran across this definition of balancing with the context of the balance beam, “Mastering the use of a balance beam involves more than developing balance; you need to strengthen your body through exercise and increase your flexibility. You also need to learn some dance skills to make your moves on the balance beam seamless and artistic. Learning how to use a balance beam is a process that involves time, commitment, practice and dedication.” That was on ehow.com
Balance requires dance for fun; physical strength to meet the challenge; flexibility to go with the flow and commitment to the practice. With time and dedication balance will become a gift you can attain.
I would add that perspective also helps. Last week we took time for a meditation that took us out in to the ether of space and far beyond the scope of our form on planet Earth.
Perspective gave us the gift of seeing how small we are in the scope of things. We also became part of something greater. We became part of the “All that is”. It is a “we” so great that it is an “All.”
The ego would like us to believe we are the “head of” or become the “All” as a single unit which is “me” of this planet. A great lie the ego likes to keep so it is still in charge of the whole universe. We are Ohana. We are a part of all that is. Humility tells us that one hair on the back of the tiger is not “the entire tiger”.
But for the lack of the nail the kingdom falls. We have a part to play. That part is essential. It is essential if you are homeless, President or a coffee barista. The gift of perspective is we know we can commit to the passion of being the best ________ (fill in the blank with what you are through out the day mom/dad/manager/street cleaner/lover/husband/girlfriend/etc) we can be.
There is a story of a man named Kamana. Kamana ran a small neighborhood grocery store. He had managed the store for many years. All the locals knew him and loved seeing his smile when they visited his store. New customers always said, “You go in a stranger but you leave a friend.”
One night as Kamana was closing up his store, two masked men held him up at gun point. Although he followed their directions, one man was jumpy and shot Kamana as they left with his money.
In the ambulance, the paramedics referred to him as “the patient”. This continued at the hospital with the doctor and nurse. The would say, “What is the patients prognosis?” and made grim faces.
At one point the nurse was getting him ready for surgery to remove the bullet. The nurse asked, “Are you allergic to anything?”
Kamana looked very serious and said, “Yes.” He took a breath and looked her in the eye and continued, “I am allergic to bullets. I have a very bad reaction.”
Everyone around stopped and then began to smile and laugh with Kamana.
“My name is Kamana. I am the grocer down the street. Please call me by my name. Work on me as if I am alive and this will all work out fine.”
And it did. Kamana came out of surgery fine. When he returned to work the store was open and people flocked in to see how he was doing. His aloha heart was a back and everyone wanted to see him.
Months later Kamana was in the store sweeping. He looked up and the nurse who had been at the hospital was in the store. She came over to him and put out her hand. He took it and smiled.
“I wanted to see how you are doing.” She said. Kamana answered that he was doing well.
“When you told us you were allergic to bullets, it was a magical moment. Since your visit I now talk to all my patients by first name. You have made a tremendous impact on me and the hospital. I thought you should know how amazing your voice has been even after you have gone home.”
The legacy we leave is possible in every moment. In every action we make and word we speak. Each hair on the tiger’s back is not the tiger, but each part is important to the health and wellness of the whole animal. That includes you and the planet and the universe we are a part of.
Mahalo nui for all you are and give to this time and place. Most importantly, Mahalo for all you do that I don’t know about. Your gifts will give and give.
