The practice of being human

Like a foot that has fallen asleep,
the process of "waking up" those toes
isn't comfortable.

Like the eyes that have grow accustomed
to the cool darkness of a movie theater;
there is much squinting and stumbling
when reentering the light of day.

Feeling and seeing are necessary to life.
These senses help to keep us safe.

But when we tamp them down...
to save time....
to save energy.......
to save face in relationships.....

We aren't saving anything at all.

In fact, we lose ourselves and walk in a stupor of
presence minus engagement.......
a warm body but a mind that meanders over old tapes and trappings..........
a life lived in relation to people, instead of in relationships with people.

It's time to wake up.
To be blinded, for a moment, by the sun.
To hop around on one foot, pins and needles
and feel the feelings that have been buried.

To see things as they really, truly are.
To sow life-giving words that will sprout new life
To live in beauty instead of being a beauty that sleeps.

Eyes are called to see.
Feelings are ordained to be felt.
This is a holy practice - human beings, being human.
Practicing being human, requires...
Practice.

Copyright 2018 T.L. Eastman
Image original painting also by T.L. Eastman

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Uphill idealist

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