There are two ways to view the story from today\u2019s reading. We can view the story as an example of how to be with others, and we can view the story as an example of how to be with ourselves.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s story is about fearlessness and kindness. Fearlessness and kindness go together. You can\u2019t be afraid and be kind too. You might be afraid and act nice, but that\u2019s not the same thing. If you have a personal agenda\u2014a desired outcome\u2014you aren\u2019t being kind; you are being manipulative. (Note: Whenever you have a personal agenda, there is an underlying fear.)<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s story, Jesus demonstrates kindness. He is not afraid. He interacts with the man in the story with no fear at all. He is present and genuinely responsive.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s fair to say there isn\u2019t enough kindness in the world today. If we see kindness and fear as opposites, we can also say there is too much fear in the world today. That negative energy is recycled in our world through the loop of experience\u2014What I think, I see; What I see, I experience; What I experience, I think<\/em>\u2014and unspeakable atrocities occur as a result. Genuine kindness can help release some of that negative energy, and some atrocities can be prevented.<\/p>\n When you read the story, notice that a woman shares a fearful story with Jesus and the apostles. The apostles pick up on the fearful energy and believe it. As a result, they are incapable of being kind. Jesus dismisses the fearful energy as meaningless, so he is able to meet the situation without fear and with kindness.<\/p>\n I mentioned that there are two ways to view today\u2019s reading, as an example of how to be with others and as an example of how to be with ourselves. If we see the man in the story as the ego and the legion of demons as thoughts, then Jesus demonstrates how we can be kind with ourselves.<\/p>\n The same rule applies: we can\u2019t be afraid and be kind too.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no reason to fear the mind. The mind can make a lot of noise, but if we don\u2019t give it meaning, it is a noisemaker and nothing more. You don\u2019t have to fight against the mind. In fact, fighting it isn\u2019t helpful. Instead, be kind to the mind.<\/p>\n For example, if the mind is worried about a future situation, you might say, \u201cI know you think there\u2019s a lot to worry about, but we don\u2019t actually know how things are going to turn out. Relax. Let\u2019s watch and see what happens. We\u2019ll know what to do when the time comes.\u201d<\/p>\n With kindness, you can help the mind relax and let go of distracting thoughts. That places the mind in the present. A mind that is in the present is aware, surrendered to intuition and effectively responsive in the moment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are two ways to view the story from today\u2019s reading. We can view the story as an example of how to be with others, and we can view the story as an example of how to be with ourselves. Today\u2019s story is about fearlessness and kindness. Fearlessness and kindness go together. You can\u2019t be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[101,88],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-28278","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-gentlehealingtips-year2","7":"category-sidebar","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n