The hustle and bustle debacle

This morning was a rush. I had an earlier appointment than I typically schedule…8am. I had to skip my morning routine, wake to an alarm and hit the road to make my meeting on time. As I drove onto the highway I was shocked to see …traffic. Pre-COVID style traffic. Bumper to bumper cars filled with stressed, flummoxed drivers rushing into the day of hustle and bustle. I couldn’t help but reflect on what a blessing the last two years have been. Years of stillness and silence, rest and recuperation. I have woken to the sunrise and somedays to the mid morning sun. I have begun my days with spiritual reflection during wilderness walks with my pup. I have prayed and surrendered the coming day’s events to the providence of the mystery of the Source of everything. I have begun in humility and asked for my gifts to be used well in the service of others and I have asked for peace when no one has asked for my service. I have filled my mind with the words of the spiritual masters and the titans of logical philosophy. I have reflected in writing and checked in with the status of my soul. All to prepare the best of me; to be ready to be the best of me for that day. It has created a beautiful rhythm to my days. A joy of existence I don't remember experiencing has pervaded my waking moments. But this wasn’t the case today. Breaking my rhythm and the honoring habits of soul I have developed caused a depth of turmoil within me that took me back to my “successful” days of hustle and bustle. Commerce and commitments. Deadlines and depression. I cant help but wonder why we have built a society around the production of goods and services and forgotten to slow down enough to live.

Looking at tribal society I am inspired to imagine how we could return to the community of connection and soul. To live in the dirt and not upon the dirt. To live in community and not alone in a castle. I love western society and all its conveniences and shiny objects. Literally, I love shiny objects. But I have come to recognize that the shiny stuff of glitter and gold is empty and meaningless without the stuff of soul water. I have heard the phrase that “the cost of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it” and I cant help but notice how much life we are exchanging in America for things that don't bring us closer to that which we seek. I believe we can find a way in this new world to build a society with the best parts of the west augmented by the best parts of the past…the distant past. The past of the campfire. The past that required we live authentically in community, while stretching to be the best of who we are individually, in service of our tribe and our community.

I believe we can build beautiful shiny objects out of love and honor our maker by creating these goods and services from the gifts bestowed upon us. And, I believe we can create a new societal rhythm that allows us to prioritize our moments and our relationships as much as we prioritize our productivity and our power.

Together is better. The hustle and bustle of modern life has left us empty and dry. The search for more has us forgetting to ask the why. Let's slow down… lets breath together… then, let's together create harmony and rhythm, enjoying the shiny objects we build from the deepest parts of who we are.

Blessings and honor.