With any bit of self-observation most of us would agree that we are prone to defend our judgments and opinions as if defending our own lives. And to our “ego,” or our “false self,” that’s exactly what it feels like. Our thoughts in the form of judgments, opinions or beliefs are like an arm, or foot for us. We don't want to lose it for anything in the world. Emperor Marcus Aurelius said "You will be happy when you stop giving opinions". This sentence sounds very strange in these times in which we place great value on thought. But since what really matters to us is to feel secure and strong in a position, it is very difficult to let go of them. This is especially so if we consider ourselves experts in a field. So, I can only imagine how Peter must have felt when an out of town carpenter came to an experienced fisherman and told him to go cast his nets in deeper water.
"Questioning our most deeply rooted beliefs requires a lot of courage, because it implies accepting that we could have been wrong all our lives." (Enrique Martínez Lozano)
All our opinions, thoughts, beliefs, judgements are based on experiences from the past. When we cling to them we cannot see what is present, we automatically “download” the past which blinds us to the reality in front of us. We stop listening, seeing, observing. Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron…Just like a carpenter came to Peter and made him suspend his experience and opinions about fishing, Covid came and made us question the way we did most of our daily activities. It is giving us an opportunity to self-observe and have the courage to question our deeply rooted beliefs. Perhaps, it is time to give thanks and praise God for the opportunity Corona is giving us to go deeper. What if today, or anytime this week, I give myself some time to sit quietly and focus on observing my breath; I don't change it, I just become aware of it. I attend without forcing to the FEELING that accompanies the arising of thoughts/judgments/opinions as I sit in silence. What beliefs are keeping me from letting go of my way of “fishing” and learning to “fish” differently, for God’s Kingdom?
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