“What you are is what you have done with the why you are. The Universe doesn’t operate by chance. We are all self-conscious beings with a gift to share. How we share that gift determines the quality of our lives and the memories we leave behind.” — Raymond Charles Barker
The word contemplation may be used in different ways to mean: thoughtful observation or study, meditation on spiritual matters/philosophical subjects … especially as a form of devotion, intention or expectation, attentive consideration, introspection, musing, reflection, rumination, thoughtfulness, cogitation, pondering, examination, inspection, scrutiny and retrospection. At first glance this may seem a bit overwhelming to take in, however, when we understand that each of us learn in different ways, at different speeds, at different times and for different reasons . . . the manner in which each of us embrace growth/learning is profoundly unique. Contemplative Consciousness has been present in our lives without ever having to put a label on it . . . we just simply did it. As children, we learned it by osmosis through observation and imitation, and later we adapted to our changing life circumstances through contemplative choices we arrived at through conscious awareness. Sometimes this happened by accident, which for us was providential. Henry David Thoreau put it this way . . . “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”
We are constantly contemplating our lives in a myriad of genres, without really discerning how we got there. Operating on automatic pilot works for awhile, and then we hit a brick wall only to find ourselves swimming aimlessly in a pool of confusion, distress, conflict, and disillusion. Then what. Unless and until we develop a set of tools that give us the basic foundation to function, we will continue to be lost in this sea we call life. Not a pleasant thought. Unfortunately, there are many who don’t even have a clue that they are lost, and contemplating a conscious thought, intention, expectation, or reflection is out of the spectrum of possibility or probability for them. Sometimes when we meet individuals like this on our life’s journey we would like to share the wisdom of Rumi . . . “Stop swimming so hard and climb in the boat.”
If you have been blessed to embrace the gift of contemplative consciousness, evaluating discernment, reflective thoughtfulness or introspective observation share those skills with those who are a part of your life in this moment. It is something that is done subtly, and executed by example more than words. Our actions leave an indelible impression on those who notice something that might be just a little different, than the ordinary experience or exchange. Illuminating the darkness in our world from those individuals who have been given the gift of light, happens one person at a time igniting a chain reaction. Make no mistake, once we have been enlightened with the consciousness of contemplation, the quality of our lives will change and the memories we leave behind touch each soul immeasurably. In this Chinese Proverb the words are simple and hold the truth of our journey . . . “The diamond cannot be polished without friction, nor the man perfected without trials.” JLR