Click HERE to view Rev. Maraj’s guided meditation during the service.
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
During this week’s Wednesday evening service, Rev. Richard Maraj continued the series inspired by the Pema Chödrön book, “Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change,” by exploring the commitment to DO NO HARM.
While we may not think of ourselves as people who cause harm, we often do so in subtle ways—through negative self-talk, judgment, complaining, fear-based reactions and the habitual ways we escape uncomfortable feelings. When uncertainty triggers us, we may blame, withdraw, lash out, procrastinate or create stories in our minds that cause even more pain than what actually happened.
The first step is becoming aware of our “escape routes”—the behaviors we use to avoid difficult feelings, from anger, blame and complaining to procrastination, overworking or simply checking out. We should also work to identify our triggers and learn from them … recognizing that strong reactions often point to unresolved pain, fear or limiting beliefs.
When triggered, we can ask ourselves five questions to help us respond more consciously: What happened? What did I feel? What story did I create about it? What did I want to do? And what would love do instead? These questions help us separate what actually happened from the stories our minds create around it.
Transformation also requires processing our emotions rather than repressing them. We can feel anger without becoming anger, experience hurt without using it as a weapon, and have fearful thoughts without believing or acting upon them.
Several practices can help us respond more consciously to our triggers, including the 90-second spiritual pause—giving ourselves time to breathe, feel and observe before reacting—and meditation, which helps us return to the present moment and find our center. Setting an intention before we meditate—such as becoming less judgmental, making peace with ourselves or opening our hearts more fully to love—can deepen that practice and help us cultivate greater awareness and inner peace.
Ultimately, every time we pause instead of react and choose love instead of an old harmful pattern, we strengthen our spiritual maturity and become better able to meet uncertainty and change with peace, awareness and grace.
To see/download a full transcript of the message, click on the button at the bottom of the title header at the top of this page.