The View From Here

March 2016

The Spirituality of Islam discussion group began a few weeks ago, and we have been having a wonderful time learning about the Quran and its similarities to both Judaism and Christianity. For those of you who are new friends to the congregation, the group meets on Tuesday mornings from 10:15-11:30, in the vestry. All are welcome! No prior attendance necessary.

Last week, one of the themes was the importance of gratitude, a significant virtue in any wisdom tradition. We learned this delightful tale from Asia: A certain monk had a terrible toothache and went around thinking that if only the toothache would go away, he would be so happy. Then, in the midst of his pain, he had a wonderful insight. Turning to his friends and colleagues, he asked them if they also had a toothache. “No,” they all said. “Well then, why aren’t you happy?” he asked. Why aren’t you conscious that this very moment is a non-toothache moment? (p. 39, Out of Darkness Into Light, Jamal Raman et al)

It is not possible to live in this world toothache free. But it is important spiritual practice to remember our non-toothache moments, and to be glad in them, however short-lived they may be. When we say we’ve had a bad day, we had an ear ache, or the stomach flu, or got a speeding ticket, let’s be aware that these are petty annoyances, the kind of annoyances that someone in the hospital receiving intravenous chemotherapy would, say, kill for.

Almost every single thing that happens to us is both wave and particle: singular and unique, but also part of the larger flow of all history, including our own. Let us enjoy our non-toothache moments.

See you at 4 Cleaves Street!

Rev Susan