Presence Matters

On this Easter Monday, I am struck by the meaning of this time of year for me. As many of you know, I grew up on the front pew of a Baptist church, with my father preaching almost every Sunday. The overarching message of Christianity for me is beautifully and simply said in an old Bible School chorus, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

I left the organized institution of the church when I left home, yet that primary teaching is still in every session I do, as it is for most of us if we are honest.

Christ’s primary message was one of love – agape – unconditional positive regard for humanity even with all of its shortcomings. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” were some of his last words, and also indicative of that agape presence for humankind.

When we hold a therapeutic presence for someone on our treatment table that positive regard is a key ingredient in the mix of the healing session. We care about the welfare of our fellow human beings. This caring is often a large part of why we do what we do.

As I hiked early Easter morning to greet the sunrise, I thought back to one of the things Christ did with his disciples at the last supper. He held and washed their feet. Their feet. Not their hands, or their backs, but their feet. As I felt my own feet touching the earth, I realized he was grounding them – and opening the doorway to connect with the rich field of the earth – a healthy resource they would need for support as the coming events unfolded.

As we watch parts of the modern media twist Christ’s initial message – purposely whipping people into states of fear and hatefulness – one way to counteract this energy is to create a wave of our own – a conscious wave of agape.

How can you do this? Start by slowing down, and feeling your feet on the ground. Then feel down into the earth under you. Breathe in that energy of love from the delicious spring air around you and remember who you truly are at a soul level. Agape is found in one form or another at the source of most major religions of the world. I say this to remind us all that love and kindness are found everywhere.

This time of year offers us a wonderful opportunity to remember this principle  - that serves and feeds us everyday in our practices and on out into our lives – whether we are Christian or Jew, Muslim or Buddhist, Hindu or Taoist. Weaving our common good into everything we do, in whatever way we make this connection for ourselves. The important thing is to remember to do more of it today and everyday. And, enjoy!

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