Airports as a Vehicle for Spiritual and Social Transformation

Is there a better place and activity, other than a More to Life Weekend, than traveling through a busy airport to get your daily supply of LIFESHOCKS? I don’t think so!

Airports and travel in general are now my church, my number one location and source for personal and spiritual growth, the place where I get to practice Mastery, and grow spiritually moment to moment – whether I am ready or willing or NOT.

I was thinking to myself a few weeks ago, that I am not using the travel time I have wisely… it is often “wasted time," waiting in lines, walking from here to there, elbowing people out of the way, or simply reading the paper… not noticing. Instead, airports and travel, just as life, is all the time everywhere constantly nudging me to wake up - to bring myself and love to every situation.

I am running late, driving to the airport. Every light is red. The cars in front of me are driving extra slowly. I cannot miss this flight, important meeting, big contract. “I won’t take it” “I won’t take it.” I can take it. I will take it. Breathe. And for the hundredth time I promise God I will get here earlier if I can just make it to the flight on time and alive.

I jog up to the security line, which is usually small or non-existent at the Knoxville, McGhee Tyson airport, and it is winding down to the fountain midway down the hall. I won’t take it. I won’t take. I will take it. Breathe. 45 minutes until my flight leaves.

I make it to point in the process where you need to choose which security line and conveyor belt you will join. And, more importantly, which security agent you think is the fastest. In the process of becoming a now seasoned traveler, I have been wisely studying the agents. The first line, look at it, its going twice as fast. I confidently choose that line.

Ugh. One minute later, they change agents. A nervous agent takes the inspection seat, evidently new to the job and ready to be thorough. Now I am all for safety and fighting terrorism , but our line is not budging. An older man gets beeped as he goes through the x-ray. He needs to return, holding up the line. The agent continues being extra cautious, and takes three times the amount of time that the other agents take. I can’t take this. I won’t take this. I won’t. Breath. I can take this. I can take this. I am taking this. I will take this.

During every trip I take these days, life is helping me to grow. Each time I travel, life reminds me that my daily discipline of meditation is essential, providing me with a reservoir of patience and calm to take me through the day. These daily and weekly disciplines - processing, meditation, reflection, time with community to get and give support. When I do those, everything goes better, or perhaps they just go the way they go, but I am better.

The opportunity to practice Mastery is everywhere all the time. My favorite poet Rumi says: What time is it? It's time to pray. And that’s how I feel in airports, its always time to pray, to notice and be someone that brings helpfulness and humor and kindness rather than frustration or self-centeredness.

So, as you travel this holiday season, remember that the long line to get checked in, the security line that won’t move, the overworked and unpleasant airline employee – are all gifts and opportunities – just for you!

Gratitude as a spiritual discipline

"Develop spiritual
disciplines that maintain an awakened state."

What would happen if you chose to be grateful...period? No matter what.

"Happiness begins
with our choice to say 'yes'
to whatever Life gave us,

whether we wanted it
or not." Brad Brown, Guide Lines to Feelings

Practice: This week, celebrate Thanksgiving by choosing to be grateful no matter what. Chances are you will notice more of what delights you, more of what is beautiful, more of what touches you. There will also be those times that you don't really want what Life is giving you. Then what?

Remember the five practices in the connecting space "above the line"? Notice, tell the truth, choose, create, and then...gratitude.
Happy Thanks Giving!

Willingness to choose service that provides "negative" Lifeshocks

The Courageous Conversation
"To be courgeous means at bottom to be heartfelt. The word courage in English comes from the French word cuer, heart. Life is a creative, intimate and upredictable conversation if it is nothing else, spoken or unspoken, and our life and our work are both the result of the particular way we hold that passionate conversation."
David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea, Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity.

Living Mastery is being willing to have courageous conversations even if your voice shakes and your knees tremble; to provide the truth of what you see, what you hear and what you think, all in the context of being For the other, For Life, and For yourself. Is that not what courageous love really is afterall; being willing to provide the Lifeshock that may serve to awaken and transform.

PRACTICE
Look and listen for your opportunities to have a courageous conversation with a loved one, a co-worker, a dear friend. What have you been holding back? What are you afraid might happen if you said that....
Find your truest, most noble intention and go forward Warrior.

"Wanting the best for you

is wanting the best

for me"

Brad Brown, Guidelines to Love

Ability to contribute without reserve or resistance

I can't

I wont'

I have to.

You should,

I should

I shouldn't.

Why?

I would like to, but . .

sure signs

of a warrior

who has

lost

his way.

Brad Brown, Mental Touchstones for the Warrior of the Spirit

Practice:

Who and where are you shoulding?

Who and where are you being For someone and For yourself?

Which one feels more resistant, tight, constricting; or open, easy, light?

Will you find your lightness? It can be a simple choice....really.

Objective, not identified with the results of one's actions.

Marks of Mastery, K. Bradford Brown

Outward circumstances

neither make nor break us,

unless inwardly,

we have identified with them.

Inside Out: Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit, K. Bradford Brown

PRACTICE: This week, remember:

• "I produce results. I am not my results."
• "I achieve what I set out to achieve, or I don't. Either way, I remain who I am."
• "My results are not a commentary on my worth as a human being."

Then breathe, choose and keep moving forward. By not judging, you are free to simply 'observe yourself with interest' and course-correct rather than waste your precious life energy berating yourself. Now that's a relief!

With love, honor and respect.

Ability to Self-Remember

Self-remembrance can take many forms. It can look like remembering, honoring, and acknowledging all that has been given to you by your significant relationships: parents, children, siblings, spouses, partners, and teachers. We are who we are in part because of those who raised us, taught us and loved us.

Love trusts itself

to find the right words

without rehearsal

K. Bradford Brown, "Guidelines to Love"

PRACTICE: Write a love letter to one of your beloved --- whether they are alive or have passed. Express all the things they have done for you... gifted you with... and how they have loved you.
Decide what to do with the letter. Whatever you choose, it will be the right choice.

Namaste

Objective, not identified with the results of one's actions.

Marks of Mastery, K. Bradford Brown

Outward circumstances
neither make or break us,
unless inwardly,
we have identified with them.

Inside Out: Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit, K. Bradford Brown

PRACTICE:
This week, remember . . .

• "I produce results. I am not my results."
• "I achieve what I set out to achieve, or I don't. Either way, I remain who I am."
• "My results are not a commentary on my worth as a human being - win or lose."

Then breathe, choose and keep moving forward - or not. It's your choice - so long as you are conscious and intentional.

With love, honor and respect.