Patience: Respond, Don’t React

Today I felt the importance of having my meditation with the birds. Seriously. Trying to be all-zen-and-shit in order to stay grounded and be a lightworker sucks. I could spend all day looking for inspirational quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, and Mahatma Gandhi, but I’m not fucking Gandhi. I meant that as an adjective, not a verb. 😉 But even with their words of inspiration, some days are just hard to process everything going on with all the noise and division.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a towhee, so being surprised by its presence led me to look for what it represents. Reading about its symbolism or spiritual meaning didn’t lead to an immediate a-ha moment about which of my bazillion thoughts I could share today. I felt disappointed because I am still not very patient.

Today I felt called to use my Sacred Rebels deck for general guidance. A pair of cards jumped out of the deck while I was shuffling:

• 3 – Inspiration
• 7 – Legacy of Light

The summary of the cards is to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m on the right track. Just keep trying to lead others to their own authentic life of peace. Being All-Zen-and-Shit. Just stay on my path alongside others walking theirs and keep the light on for all of us.

I went back to the Google search results about the towhee where I found Animal Totems: Dictionary of Birds, by StarStuffs:

“Towhee represents a time of utmost persistence and confidence. She teaches ways to uncover what is hidden. She shows the value of activity and progressing forward, even if it means taking steps backward. She shows how to maneuver in a way to keep going. Don’t give up. When Towhee appears there may something else you are missing and will show how to go over things with a new perspective. She uses resourcefulness and ingenuity to aid in revealing what is necessary. Is it time to voice your opinion? She shows the power in keeping feet on the ground and balancing energy and time that is spent on activities. Towhee’s medicine includes being quiet, secretive and subdued when needed as well as being forthright, loud and defensive when it is appropriate. She shows how to balance such passive/aggressive properties. The time period for Towhee’s lesson span about 2 weeks. Be aware of situations where you can implement her wisdom for she will present you with the best course of action.”

Towhee description, Animal Totems: Dictionary of Birds, by StarStuffs.

Besides “getting it” for my own business, something else clicked.

We always want immediate change. Overnight results. We want answers. We want everything now. We are impatient… time is of the essence… even though we have seen beauty unfold from things when given time to do so.

Sometimes we are so impatient that we react instead of responding. What’s the difference? Time. Logic. Emotions. Instinct.

The more emotional we feel, the quicker we react instead of allowing ourselves time to receive more details before we respond.

So much is going on right now with all of us – globally, nationally, and personally. Pick something. Anything. How much back and forth have we seen? The little dance of “react, retract or retreat, and redo”. Doing, then undoing… How hasty are we with our words and actions? How many times do we try to take them back? We cannot undo or unsay them.

I still do my share of reacting, but when I am able to stay centered and grounded, I’m able to keep moving forward with fewer backward steps.

Given time to respond instead of reacting, we can do better. We can make it our nature of our daily personal interactions, and it will flow from our families and friends, communities, and beyond.

We can hear and understand each other.

We can stand together to stand up for each other.

We can set down our egos to see situations from other points of view.

We can change perspective to see what we’re missing.

We can use our resourcefulness and ingenuity to move forward and try a new approach toward change. We can end the insanity.

Yesterday I started seeing articles/posts where people are being the change they wish to see in the world. Police officers walking with or sitting and talking with protesters, protesters defending a police officer separated from his unit, police officers taking a knee with the crowds.

This is leadership – the courage to try and the courage to go first.

These are the behaviors that show they believe in the goodness in each other.

When we approach each other expecting the best, not the worst, we have a chance.

In whatever way you respond to our environment, do so as you naturally do – be it protesting, writing, praying, or any way that comes naturally for you – but please remember to do it without your ego and with Compassion. Empathy. Kindness. Love.

“I offer you peace. I offer you love.

I offer you friendship. I see your beauty.

I hear your need. I feel your feelings.

My wisdom flows from the Highest Source.

I salute that Source in you.

Let us work together for unity and love.”

– Mahatma Gandhi, Prayer for Peace

My niece (BFF’s daughter) is a peaceful protester who currently lives in Los Angeles. On Saturday, 30 May, she was part of the Black Lives Matter peaceful protest. She asked for prayers for her and her fiance, and even though I don’t pray, I sent her my intentions for the pair of them to pray and I hope that anyone who will be participating in any gathering to work for equality, justice, and peace may benefit from this mindset:

“Divine Spirit of Love, thank you for placing my soul here to call for equality and justice through action. May the spirit of love and peace protect us from harm. May our actions bring forth a better world where kindness and compassion prevail. May I always use my voice and my actions to be an example and lead others to be the good and be the change they wish to see. So it is done.”

Auntie Leenie’s Protection Prayer

Luceat lux vestra.