Oriented Toward Reflection

The moon, we know, does not produce its own light; rather, it reflects the light of the sun. This doesn’t happen as a smooth mirror reflection directed straight back toward its origin. Rather, as the rocky surface of the moon reflects, it scatters light in all directions. The amount of moonlight we actually see within the phases of the moon is a result of changing angles between the sun, moon, and earth. So, the “fullness” of the moon’s reflection is based on orientation.

What if orientation has a lot to teach us about relationship? And perhaps about the nature of peace. Not the absence of chaos kind of peace, but a deep peace that cannot be explained based on logical reasoning. Maybe a story would explain what I mean.

One of my favorite stories of Jesus is the one where he is sleeping away a rough stormy boat ride while his disciple pals all end up emotionally revved up in anticipation of their demise. “Teacher!” they cry out, with indignation and overwhelm I imagine, “How can you sleep at a time like this? Have you seen the ocean? The waves are huge! We’re clearly in trouble.”

Jesus, as I imagine him here, is both no-nonsense practical and completely regulated emotionally. He is the embodiment of love and spacious trust. This is what I imagine happens next:

Completely oriented toward the presence of peace, Jesus reminds them of the experience of faith. Then he turns to the water, rebukes it (that old-timey word is a favorite of mine), and suddenly, the text describes, “there was a dead calm.”

This is understood and taught to mean that the waves and wind stopped in that moment. Maybe they literally did. Who knows what is possible?

But here’s another story I imagine. As Jesus emerged, the presence of absolute peace, and reminded his friends of a bigger, less chaotic truth—I am here, we are here, we are held— a dead calm came over their internal waves. Suddenly, they were turned away from the presence of intensity. Perhaps then those external waves became less overwhelming, held in a larger awareness of peace.

This feels in part like a story of embodiment and orientation to me. Oriented toward, oriented away from. It’s body placement. It’s also heart placement. Mind placement. Awareness placement. There isn’t less peace, less God, but rather less orientation toward. That kind of presence is always shining on us, but we might be oriented in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to experience and reflect it. Sort of like the moon. There isn’t less sunlight when we’re not seeing the complete fullness of the moon, but there is a different orientation.

Now, imagine your own orientation. Can you imagine for yourself the experience of being turned toward the presence of peace? Can you feel it, experience it, embody it? Perhaps even enter the week with a solid grounding in it that allows you to not only know it yourself, but to scatter its light in all directions.

Anniversaries are a nice time for reflection. Every year on my own birthday, I look back at the year that’s been, look back on my life as its moved and evolved, or hasn’t. I examine the ways that I’ve flourished, and the ways that I’ve caused harm. I consider the dead branches of my life and wonder if I can allow them to be pruned away.

I love a good birthday celebration with all the people and the food and drink, but I always make time for quiet reflection. How else can I imagine my way forward into something more whole and truer and good based on what is needed in the present?

So, dear friends celebrating this weekend’s 250-year birthday anniversary for the US, I wonder—amidst the loud and explosive, amidst the fanfare and parades, amidst the parties and people, could there also be quiet? Could there be reflection? Might we imagine an orientation toward something more whole and truer and good based on what is needed in this present?

Be well and stay cool in this week ahead.

Just a couple of pals off the coast of Portugal. Join us, friends, for all this joy and more in September. There are 4 spaces left—perhaps one is for you. Click here to read about our adventure and sign up: Embrace Delight in Portugal with Jen and Me!