(#124/365) Offerings

"When faced with a feeling of stagnation or confusion, it may be helpful to take an hour, and afternoon or even several days to reflect on what will truly bring us happiness." - Howard Cutler


Title: Ophelia
Flickr User Elishams

spirituality on the 7:04am northbound

So - interesting train ride this morning. I didn't charge my laptop so I went searching for a seat with a electrical outlet - and I got seated next to Doug. (he was wearing a work shirt embroidered with his name, a mechanic I think)

At any rate - I get settled and see that's he's studying the book of John in the Bible. I commented that it seemed like a nice way to start the day. His face lit up with a gigantic smile and he said that he agreed, that starting the day with the Bible was a calming, centering way for him to start each day. I told him that I am a practicing Buddhist and that I start each morning with calm and quiet meditation.

He commented that usually - people see him on the train reading his Bible and they give him a dirty look and don't talk to him and how nice it was for me to acknowledge his journey in God. He admitted that he used to be a Bible beater - and that he eventually realized that using the Bible and the word of God as a blunt instrument was chasing people away in his life. (and he said that his "enthusiasm for Christ" cost him a job after he found 'the truth') It was a remarkable conversation - he said that it really was a life lesson about things to find himself so isolated as a result of becoming a Christian.

What could have been a complete trainwreck of a conversation was actually very sweet - and he asked some basic questions about Buddhism. and he said that it was nice to wear happiness and compassion on my sleeve. What made it nice for me - was to reach out and respect his journey and do so without any talk of how Christianity gets mis-used or how the blunt weapon approach is why so many people can't believe in it - just letting him talk about his faith with no commentary on my part.

He wondered outloud of modern society was spiritually bankrupt - and I said that with the myriad of distractions and the pace that we try to lead out lives sometimes - that spirituality in its many forms requires stopping and making time to stop and reflect and learn. I think that "spiritually bankrupt" is a tad harsh and "judgy" - and suggested to him that we both be thankful that we have our spiritual paths... and how it helps us both respond to the world with a smile and (most of the time) patience. It was a nice moment.

He put his books together and headed off to his job at Millbrae - - but it was just very lovely. the smile on his face tells me that he felt the same way too.