Order Is a Lovely Thing

Order IS a lovely thing.

Order, simplicity; both could be synonyms for peace.  When contemplating our meditation practice, we need to take an honest look at how much we really want peace.  What are we willing to do for it?  What are we willing to give up?  Is peace something we genuinely want or are we just giving it lip-service?

If you truly crave peace, you have to muster the courage to let go of anything in your life that doesn’t serve that practice.  (Yikes!  Don’t go giving away your children or quitting your job!  Those can serve as a veritable “boot camp” for developing inner peace—we’ll get there.)  You have to have faith that your identity isn’t wrapped up in what you wear, the hours you spend volunteering, or the admiration of others.  Your identity is not embodied in your overstuffed closets or overstuffed schedule.  You are more than that, so don’t be afraid to make changes in your life that might impact the way others see you.

Much of the practice of meditation is about letting go.  By letting go of anything that serves to make our individual identity concrete; by releasing anything that widens the chasm between ourselves and others, we are able to find abiding peace.

This week we will spend some time looking at the areas in our life where we can let go of attachments, create order in our mental and physical spaces and find simplicity.  Simple is not easy, but it is liberating.