SPIRITUAL CHALLENGE   – The Mending Meditation

Our theme this month is REPAIR and my challenge to you for the month is something I call the “Mending Meditation.”  It has three parts and each part involves a different type of mending or repair work: 1. Mend something that physically or mechanically needs repairing. 2. Mend something about yourself. 3. Mend something in the world around you.

First is to find something that physically or mechanically needs repairing and fix it. Some things will be beyond most of us. If you’re not a car mechanic, or HVAC technician or computer IT person, perhaps look for something you can do already or you may be able to learn with a lesson or two from a family member, a friend or YouTube. Manageable repair tasks might be things such as a sock with a hole in it, a pair of jeans with a rip or tear, a squeaky door hinge, a flat bicycle tire, or even a dead battery in a television remote. The physical act of fixing it yourself is a meditation. Be present to it. What did you have to do to mend something that was broken? Did you need to learn a new skill? Was it frustrating? When you fixed it and it was repaired, how did you feel?

Next, repair something about yourself. No one is perfect. There is probably something about you that could use a tune-up. This could be something physical, something emotional, or something spiritual. It might involve your physiology or mental health. It might be an attitude or a skill. Perhaps you’re already doing this. Those of us living with physical or mental illnesses engage this type of mending daily. Maybe choose something about being nicer to a family member or friend who gets on your nerves. Maybe finally learn to use Google Docs or go back to yoga class or take up tai-chi.

Finally, do something to repair the world. Tikun olam is Hebrew for “world repair.” Although the term is found in the Mishnah (compilation of oral Jewish law circa 200 C.E.), since the 1950s it has come to mean doing social justice work in more liberal Jewish circles.  How you repair the world takes many forms. Sometimes it’s as simple as acts of loving kindness toward family, friends, and neighbors. Sometimes it’s more involved such as volunteering for a social, racial, or environmental justice organization. It could be as simple as voting or donating money to a worthy charitable cause.  

The challenge is to practice each of these three types of repair this month and reflect on the commonalities and differences of these three ways to mend things. Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, says the spiritual practice metaphors of mending are rich and tactile. Experience these for yourself this month. As you do, reflect on how mending something, including yourself, is as Rev. Everett reminds us “a validation of worth.” 

As always, if you take on the challenge, I’d love to hear about your experience with it.