Feel That Breeze - Awareness, Attention, Action

Mykonos, August 2012

'Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom.' James 3:13

There is a resident pelican on the Greek island of Mykonos. Chancing on this  pelican at the right moment, I took the picture as the bird was enjoying the sea breeze and spreading its wings. It basked in the sunshine. That bird demonstrated an at-one-with-nature experience as it was taking in the sun and wind.

The same wonderful sensation can be felt when meditating outdoors as the  gentle breeze lands on your face. With eyes closed and mind relaxed, that breeze informs you that you are not alone; that you are surrounded by God's creation. Then you become aware of the presence of God.  

In 2007, my daughter Rebecca, wrote to remind me that God is everywhere; we just need to become aware of His presence. She wrote, "I've always been amazed at the wonderful things that God has done for us. It isn't just nature that is a testament to God's creativity. Even man-made things like skyscrapers and cityscapes also attest to the greatness of God. You don't have to go very far from home to some remote place like New Zealand to enjoy these sorts of things either. Just step outside to take a  look at the things around you.

I recently watched a movie that was about being quietly thankful for your experiences. Every experience that we go through in life, whether good or bad, has a hand in making us what we are today, in shaping our personalities, our relationships with others and even our walk with God. So, as written in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 'In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.' 

Take a look around you, that is awareness. But awareness is just the first step. As, Father Laurence Freeman pointed out in his daily wisdom page in WCCM on 24 Sep 2021, 'You could be aware of somebody in need but just objectify it, look at it, think about it. But then awareness should naturally move up the scale into attention to the personal needs of that person; and then it should naturally move even further up the scale into compassion. And compassion has this sense of identification or this sense of oneness with, and then that must lead to action.' (Ref 1)

Awareness. We have five senses, sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. Yet we may go through the day unaware and oblivious of our surroundings. There is a constant preoccupation that seems to insulate us. Perhaps urbanisation and crowded streets with traffic snarls forces us to shut our senses and we move quickly ahead to our destination. O that we may enjoy awareness with our five senses! John Keats (1795-1821) clearly expresses this awareness in his wonderful poem 'To Autumn.'

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the  vines that round the thatch-eves sun;

To bend with apples the moss'd  cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells 

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For summer has over-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Attention. Beyond just being aware of surroundings and things, we should become aware of people and then pay attention to their need and plight. Just as we can become oblivious to our surroundings, distractions can cause us to completely ignore the person next to us. How often friends walk by without even a greeting? We live lives, focus only on ourselves, seldom do we think of others.  We lose all opportunity to show our appreciation to other people. Here is a modern poem 'Our Worlds Collide' by Lyric Man

I would love to be your comfort

A blanket when you're confused

A bright sun on every dark day

Warmth and hope you cannot lose

To be the canopy to cover you

When life's storms come your way

I can be one you've longed for

Because I see the words you can't say

Action. Father Laurence went on further to suggest that it is no use just being aware or  paying attention. The next step is to take action. Amos Russell Wells wrote a poem 'Saying and Doing.'

It isn't the talk that will count, boys,

But the doing that springs fom the talk.

To what will your walking amount, boys

With no goal at the end of your walk? 

What's the use of a ladder set up, boys,

With the end resting only on air?

What's the use of a nobly filled cup boys

If no one to drink it is there?

What's the use of a capital plan, boys

That never is more than a scheme?

He makes a poor, scatter brained man boys

That begins his boyhood to dream.

No; talk on and plan as you will, boys

But remember, if you would succeed.

It isn't the talk that shows skill, boys,

But the end of the talking, -the deed!

Turning awareness to attention is a tenet for practical Christian living. This is called 'faith in action' and it was pointedly encouraged by the Apostle James when he wrote,

'Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does mere talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come across an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup - where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?' James 2:14-17 Message

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, 

'What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.'

That Mykonos pelican enjoying the breeze? After the photograph was taken, it spread its wings and flew. Aware of the sea breeze, it took action. 

Come, let us take action. Let us live and sing the the old song, 'I Would Be True.' 

1. I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
   I would be pure, for there are those who care;
   I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
   I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
2. I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
   I would be giving, and forget the gift;
   I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
   I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
3. I would be faithful through each passing moment;
   I would be constantly in touch with God;
   I would be strong to follow where He leads me;
   I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.
4. 
   

Lionel

Ref 1: Laurence Freeman, Daily Wisdom, inspiration for every day, 24 Sep 2021, The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM)