Reminders

I rely on reminders. I’m a person who people used to call “absent-minded,” but I’ve learned in studying mindfulness that I’m more “hyper-focused.” I can get easily caught up in what I’m doing, or fixated on what I’m doing next, that I miss a moment or other things that need to be done. So, I rely on reminders or patterns of activity to make sure I am attuned to life and all its pieces.      Although I’ve realized that I have a particular proclivity for this, I also see that it’s easy for all of us to get caught up with what we think has priority, and miss what remains important and is right in front of us. We forget to pay attention. This, I believe, is the biggest difference between us and Jesus and the way he lived. He never lost connection with God. He was always attuned to life.      One of the lessons I’ve discovered with reminders and patterns is that mindfulness relaxes me. I am able to attend to the moment or person in front of me or the person who just walks into my way or comes through my door. I’m able to talk with God continually as I face or deal with life. I’m not perfect at it, but I can see that I’m better.      Which makes me thankful for the “Church Calendar,” that pattern of reminders we think of as holidays or special celebrations. At the end of November, we’ll celebrate “Christ the King Sunday.” It’s a reminder that Jesus is Lord of all. Repeating that experience each year has taught my soul to keep that truth before me regularly. It gets re-emphasized each November, but I consider it more often. I rely on reminders. How about you? Blessings, Geoff