My son, Alex, taught me how to make his famous deliciously dense Danish bread over the Christmas holiday. It’s a three day process, not that time consuming and yet it requires remembering and a level of focus. Yesterday while the loaves were in their final rise before baking I called Alex regarding how many hours I let them rise.
He said they should at least rise to their full potential. Bam!!!! Shouldn’t we all? Shouldn’t we all rise to our own full potential? Would it be nice if it was that easy? Imagine if humans could just be covered up with a warm cloth, settled in a cozy spot in the house and then left for 5 hours to rise to our full potential. Wow.
I think on some level I had hoped at one time or another that it could be that simple. And yet just in one day the bombardment of thoughts, ours and others, and sooo many choices have my head swimming in a sea of murky waters. There are many days I hear myself saying: “Could the real me please stand up”. It is very hard to see the forest through the trees.
And yet, on the days I sit in quiet meditation, take a meditative walk through the forest or go to yoga, there is a calm that comes and lays quietly upon me like that warm cloth over the loaves of bread. In that moment there is a glimpse of me and my place in the world.
Reality: When I give attention to planting my feet firmly on the ground, reminding me of the truth that the earth is indeed supporting me; when I catch the rhythm of my breath and stay with it….my world slows and gratitude swells. I think our full potential lies somewhere in that space.
Welcome to Wonder 