Every reaction begins as a spark. The Desert Fathers, Buddhists, and modern contemplatives all pointed to that same instant—the point of arising—where emotion can harden into ego or open into presence. This reflection explores how breath, awareness, and the Welcoming Prayer turn reactivity into energy for being.
Thanks for this teaching. Soon I’ll be living near the most MAGA faction of my family — my brother, who has always been very antagonistic. I’ll have to remember your essay when I’m at family dinners!
Thanks for this, really useful, I like the image you introduced of being the wave, all of that energy bound up in the emotion and it, inevitably, will pass as it breaks on the shore and exist as something different; the knowledge of this is liberating.
Beautifully said, Steve. Yes, that’s it exactly. The wave doesn’t resist its own breaking; it becomes part of what it touches. Once we stop fearing that moment, emotion turns back into energy, and energy turns back into presence.
Thank you. Love the distinction. For years I thought the goal was to feel nothing. Which led to just emotions exploding...because I am human and they had to go somewhere. Now I can sustain them getting to feeling better.
But I am confused by the Rilke quote. I am unfamiliar with his work. Is the beauty the double edged sword? Would appreciate some clarity for my ignorance of the writer.
I love when you write and share Wisdom of the Fathers like this. This is the reason I started following your scrolls. It gives good nourishment to my soul. Thank you, and God bless you.
This is great--my friend wrote a book a few years ago called "Practice the Pause," which uses brain science to locate that split-second when we can activate either our lizard brain or our higher function. I keep missing that split-second!
Thanks for this teaching. Soon I’ll be living near the most MAGA faction of my family — my brother, who has always been very antagonistic. I’ll have to remember your essay when I’m at family dinners!
I just zip lined thru so many feelings & memories & question marks & “a-ha’s!” & “hmmm’s” & “not again!”’s reading that that all i can say is……yes. 🌬️
Thanks for this, really useful, I like the image you introduced of being the wave, all of that energy bound up in the emotion and it, inevitably, will pass as it breaks on the shore and exist as something different; the knowledge of this is liberating.
Beautifully said, Steve. Yes, that’s it exactly. The wave doesn’t resist its own breaking; it becomes part of what it touches. Once we stop fearing that moment, emotion turns back into energy, and energy turns back into presence.
Thank you. Love the distinction. For years I thought the goal was to feel nothing. Which led to just emotions exploding...because I am human and they had to go somewhere. Now I can sustain them getting to feeling better.
But I am confused by the Rilke quote. I am unfamiliar with his work. Is the beauty the double edged sword? Would appreciate some clarity for my ignorance of the writer.
I love when you write and share Wisdom of the Fathers like this. This is the reason I started following your scrolls. It gives good nourishment to my soul. Thank you, and God bless you.
This is great--my friend wrote a book a few years ago called "Practice the Pause," which uses brain science to locate that split-second when we can activate either our lizard brain or our higher function. I keep missing that split-second!
I’d love to hear your personal experience. And yes, preach!
Amen.