It All Happens So Fast

Yesterday, one of my Twitter friends NuclearDwight, posted "Dropped son off for first day of high school." It was easy for me to relate, because I had done pretty much the same thing two weeks ago with my 13 year old daughter. The emotion I had was, "Wow!" Life happens so fast.

I still remember and can feel the first time I held her in my arms. I remember the first time she walked, when she got her adenoids removed, taught her to a ride bike, preformed in her first play, did the Summit Plummet at Disney, held her new-born sister, and her crying because she didn't think I understood how she felt about something important to her. Now she 13, listens to music that I have no idea what the lyrics are saying, because of what passes for singing and spend most of my time making the effort not to embarrass her when her friends turn up. It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Sometimes I look in the mirror, in the morning. I scan my face for that kid who was 10 or 11 years old. I can't really see him, except for the eyes. Besides that, the only thing that I see is now.

Later today, I have to go to lay one of my friends to rest. Resting in my feelings during zazen this morning, I felt the imprint and impression that they made on my life. I didn't feel so much as sad, but rather grateful that I was able to notice them and they noticed me. We had some good conversations. The time in knowing them went fast. Nothing was wasted. Nothing needed to be added or subtracted.

Saying "Our life is precious," is much more than a cliche'. Can You feel it? "Our life is a true miracle. For that reason, I make the effort to live the principle, "Make everything count." What that means is that as I interact with people, places and things, I usually at some point make the effort to be mindful... kind... loving... trustworthy... friendly... It just seems like the right thing to do.

Wayne Dyer sometimes tells a story about a boy watching a monk, by the seashore. The monk is watching a scorpion as it enters the water. Fearing it might drown, the monk picks it up and places it on the bank. As he sets the scorpion down, it stings him. Moments later the scorpion run back towards the water and the monk rescues him again. Setting him down, the scorpion stings him again. As the boy watches, this activity is repeated over and over. Eventually the boy approaches the monk, asking "why do You bother to keep saving the scorpion? Every-time You save him he stings and hurts You." The monk looked at the boy smiling and replied, "As it is in the nature of the scorpion to sting, it is in the nature of human beings to save." We can embrace that.

It all happens so fast. Milarepa said, "I want to live and die, without regret." If we make the effort to live our TRUE purpose, our TRUE nature, we won't be wasting time or know regret. There's no sense in stalling or thinking "This is a test." Rather than being a test, This is our life, which is meant to be lived, whole... seamless... free...

May Your Life Go Well,

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
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