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People believe that those in pastoral or ministerial roles have cornered the market on peace-of-mind, and likely reside in the center of some metaphorical lotus. Well, I’ve got news for y’all: one doesn’t get “badger” in their nickname from being cute and fuzzy (or having black/silver/salt and pepper hair alone).
No, it’s usually due to some combination of higher-than-average grumpiness, a degree of “physical” presence, and a burning desire to make your displeasure known to others, by whatever means necessary. I always have a chuckle to myself when folx say how collected I seem in some situations, or conversely, how firey I can become about others. To those folx, my reply is usually the same: you should have seen me 20-30 years ago.
No, it’s usually due to some combination of higher-than-average grumpiness, a degree of “physical” presence, and a burning desire to make your displeasure known to others, by whatever means necessary. I always have a chuckle to myself when folx say how collected I seem in some situations, or conversely, how firey I can become about others. To those folx, my reply is usually the same: you should have seen me 20-30 years ago.
The soul is like a bowl of water, and our impressions are like the ray of light falling upon the water. When the water is troubled, it appears that the light itself is moved too, but it isn’t. So, when a person loses their composure it isn’t their skills and virtues that are troubled, but the spirit in which they exist, and when that spirit calms down so do those things.”
(Epictetus, Discourses, 3.3.20-22)
Loss of control will happen. We screw up. Accept it. It’s inevitable.
Through that acceptance, it’s imperative to remember that it wasn’t our practices and reasonable-spirit that has left us forever… it is we who have temporarily stepped away from them.
Take a pause. Breathe. Notice your control and good-sense waiting for you right where you left them.
Pick them back up.
Get back to work on right-relationship with passions and emotions… again, and again.
After all, it’s why we practice.
(See y’all tomorrow)
Through that acceptance, it’s imperative to remember that it wasn’t our practices and reasonable-spirit that has left us forever… it is we who have temporarily stepped away from them.
Take a pause. Breathe. Notice your control and good-sense waiting for you right where you left them.
Pick them back up.
Get back to work on right-relationship with passions and emotions… again, and again.
After all, it’s why we practice.
(See y’all tomorrow)
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