Technically we’ve been in Autumn since September 21, but the change of the seasons only became real for me this past week. \u00a0We had the Halloween holiday,\u00a0pumpkins were everywhere, the weather has been a little cooler, I’ve actually started wearing sweaters into the office. \u00a0And the most significant\u00a0occurrence is that we actually had a little rain. \u00a0Boy did the rain feel like a blessing, even if only a little of it.
Noticing the changing of the seasons is one of the ways I stay connected to reality, which is an important part of my spiritual practice.\u00a0\u00a0I’ll talk a little more about that\u00a0in a sermon at the end of this month. \u00a0The basic practice, though, is to notice the difference\u00a0between the wonderful ideas\u00a0and interpretations that constantly run through\u00a0our minds, and the real world we’re actually a part of.
I love ideas and stories (talk to me about the opera sometime!) \u00a0But I also know how this inventive gift of human creativity can lead us astray. \u00a0Fantasies\u00a0can lead us\u00a0to thoughts that\u00a0frighten us or cause us to separate from the community and care we need. \u00a0Coming back to noticing what’s really real: \u00a0this tree, this breath, this rain, can help us reconnect to reality and thus our ability to respond in ways that are healthy and helpful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"