Pillars of Liberation: Faith, Hope, and Love
Once upon a time …there was the simple understanding that to sing at dawn, and to sing at dusk was to heal the world through joy. The birds still remember what we have forgotten, that the world is meant to be celebrated. — Terry Tempest Williams
I wonder if we need to spend more time in our bodies to re-member, re-claim, and re-ignite the celebratory fire that is all around us. Often muted by our hurrying and rushing to the next event, considering the countless opportunities to languish in each momentary experience might aid in the remembering.
As a dancer the enticement of movement resonates with me and calls me into my own physical awareness and its relationship with spirit. That connection of spirit and matter is a necessary part of my wholeness. It is also something I’ve taken for granted until recently in observing the many examples of errant behavior displayed by people who profess to be human. In observing such behavior I think “if they were in their bodies, they wouldn’t be acting in such a mean way and cut off from reality.” It would hurt too much!
It seems as though life presents numerous opportunities for reclaiming our true nature but like stones we fall and tumble against each other totally unaware until the divine Author takes us to his heart along with our lessons of life and soothes our wounds. There in that place of healing, wholeness occurs if we allow the process to transform us. It seems we have to do a lot of living before we begin to fully realize that is what is happening; we are being shaped and molded, rather than living by our own volition. The faith that held us together in times of unbearable anguish and observing human suffering and natural disasters raised us up on pillars of grace and the tears served as purification for next steps by falling into God’s arms.
Of course the choice to surrender doesn’t always come quickly. In fact, in some cases I can recall periods of determined resistance when nudged from the path of my reality and personal agendas. But of course, the Divine knows that we are more than what we think and in order for transformation to occur we have to hope that our smallness won’t interfere with authentic possibilities and growth. It is necessary to let go in order for mystery to be fully expressed as Richard Rohr says:
…personal surrender to the healing and transformative mystery of divine love.
This is the hallmark of Jesus’ work and actions. In that place of letting go that often does not seem like freedom is exactly where liberation occurs. With a deep sigh I think, “not again, surrender again.” But, in fact, it can be another opportunity in which we can be played like a finely tuned instrument as Hafiz so eloquently states:
I am a hole in a flute that the Christ’s breath moves through.
So, what if we were to embody the virtues of faith, hope, and love? Our hands as the communicators and communion with all life, faith. Our feet establishing our connection to earth, hope. And our heart pulsing within on each breath connected to the divine heart, love. What if we could further enhance those qualities using the entire body as the instrument to harness the fullness of that expression through movement? What might that feel like? Well let’s see in the embodied practice that follows.
Embodied Practice: Remove your shoes. With an elongated spine sitting or standing feet hip-width apart, rest your hands, one on top of the other over your heart take a few deep breaths and notice the heart beating. Eyes lowered, feel the warmth of that posture. Then slowly extend your arms forward, palms up and open to about shoulder width lifting the arms to a V allowing your eyes to gaze upward (pause). Slowly, softly bring the arms down alongside your legs. The eyes now gazing downward (pause). Shake the hands gently to ensure blood is flowing all the way to your fingertips. Begin again with the hands resting on your heart. Repeat 7-12 times in a slow steady rhythm, no rushing.
Perhaps, the simplicity of this faith, hope, love embodied practice will draw forth a new awareness in your body and senses. And before your mind goes into overdrive doubting what you might be sensing, just be in the stillness, let yourself linger before going on to whatever is the next moment in your life. You may notice you are behaving differently or you may notice nothing at all. At least you have a tool for engaging the whole body and over time will begin to understand how your hands carry the power of compassion, your feet move you swiftly and gently through the day and your heart carries a humility you had not recognized previously.
And you’ll be at that place which T.S. Eliot urges us to seek, a new beginning with a freshness not before known.
We shall not cease from exploration/ And the end of all our exploring/ Will be to arrive where we started/ And know the place for the first time./