Speaking of summer camp, I’m off to Breitenbush for the annual retreat there.
Time out for really digging in to The Work. No tasks, chores, laundry, admin, cooking, or doing anything else with the exception of coming to three gatherings each day with sincere people deepening self-inquiry, together.
In some ways…it’s not exactly “retreat” as we tend to call these times away.
It’s a “charge!”
(As the brilliant Stephen Jenkinson, one of my favorite mentors and authors, likes to say about group gatherings filled with questioning out loud).
I notice both Retreat and Charge seem to come from war references, as many of our communications do.
Funny to consider when we go on “retreat” that it’s our daily regular normal life we’re retreating from. We get away from it like it’s the front line, then regroup, plan, assess, rest, reset…and head back to the life.
If we think of our time away as a “Charge!” (a turnaround) then this fits for me when it comes to The Work.
As Byron Katie says herself: ‘I call it The Work because….it’s work.’
The other day I found myself having some defeated thoughts about the moment. Another “war” term, I notice, in this word “defeated”.
I felt tired, like doing very little, yet the mind was commenting about how if I give up I’ll never cross the finish line.
“Go, Go, Go!” shouts the mind. Never stop! Give it your all! Do the thing!
What finish line? Good grief.
So today, noticing the thoughts or sounds in the mind that suggest there’s something to fight, win, push against, grasp for, beat, crush, give-it-your-all, finish.
And noticing they are not ever true, not forever, not even now.
There are five birds in my cherry tree right outside my window, eating my cherries.
Those are MY cherries. The birds shouldn’t be eating them! Fight the birds!
Is that true?
LOL.
Who would I be without the thought I “have to” make them go away. I “have to” do the thing. I “have to” keep my nose to the grindstone. I “have to” get it done.
I’d be laughing.
This really is an incredible amusing, joy-filled life with craziness and zaniness and misery and cherry-eating-birds and lists that are never quite done.
And, I notice, time for doing something that shouts, gleefully….CHARGE!!! Then other moments that say RETREAT.
Without attacking anything or needing to go to war about any of This, or seeing any of what happens day to day as a problem. Simply questioning stressful stories. And loving life.
Turning it all around: No one has to do anything, or make anything happen, or accomplish, push, grab, press, finish, or get anything done, or stop birds from eating cherries.
Could that be just as true or truer?
Well it’s certainly entertaining and exciting, for me, to notice the examples I see in the world of this being true.
I notice there are at least five species and sizes of birds out there pecking and hopping and flying and eating away. Plus a squirrel.
What entertainment!
“Who would you be without the thought you want him to get up and do something more constructive? [And you can do this on wanting yourself to be more constructive.] There are two ways to live this out; one is loving what is, and the other is to be at war with it.” ~ Byron Katie
Much love,
Grace
P.S. I made a video on facebook about doing The Work on FEAR and what I’ve found very helpful for starters when wanting to question and understand anxiety-producing, or very traumatic and fearful events. Watch HERE. Leave a comment or question and “like” the page if you haven’t already.
