“Deep states of concentration, long periods of restful, meditation reflection, or ecstatic periods of oneness have no enduring value without love.  Each one of us is called to put love into action.  It is up to you, up to me, up to all of us to be the teacher who cared, the hand that reached out, the voice that said no or yes, the Samaritan who pulled over and offered assistance on the side of the road.”

Rolf Gates, Meditations from the Mat

Day 333 – The universe sent me a gentle reminder with this reading. The opening quote reminds me and all public servants of the good work we do each and every day.  Rolf places the words of Mirabai Bush to begin this read appropriately, quoting:  “Architects of social policy who have stayed in air-conditioned offices have rarely created programs that are well tuned to the needs of the poor or others who need their help.”

As I move toward winter break, disgruntled and feeling isolated in my classroom, frustrated and growing jaded, I grasp for inspiration.   I stretch, I breathe, I dance (thankfully, so thankfully), and I reflect on what a wonderful miracle most of my life is in the absence of the political world.  Rolf writes of the heroes and heroines of the everyday, of the commonplace, the glitter that goes unnoticed and is swept away by fear and hoopla perpetuated by the news; He describes in this relating to a story of 9/11, writing:  “He [the everyday hero] did not think of himself as extraordinary,” and yet, he risked everything for another without even thinking.  He did the right thing without thought to personal dilemma.  And, “this,” Rolf adds, “is the grace that only we, ordinary men and women, can bring into the world.  And it is for this that we spend time on our mats and our cushions.”