Dear Beloveds,

Our theme for December is Presence, and even though winter is upon us, I’m thinking of surfing. Being in the present moment, being non-reactive and aware of yourself, your emotions, and your thoughts without letting them overwhelm you is a meditative practice that takes years to develop. No matter, the present moment is always a good time to begin a good practice. Breathe.

Many years ago when he and I were still young men, my cousin Matt, with whom I was close, moved to Hawaii. During the years he lived there, he learned to surf. He was always an athletic person and it was no surprise that he learned a new sport. And yet, as athletic as he was, he found surfing difficult. It took a lot of practice to get up on the board and then more to learn how to ride the wave. Learning to surf requires effort, concentration, dedication, and repetition. It’s a practice. So too is being in the present moment.

In his book about mindfulness and mind-body holistic health Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn says “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” Life can be hectic enough under ordinary circumstances. Throw in the stress of the holiday season, and the anxiety about the health and future of our democracy, and the waves we’re surfing have morphed from average-sized recreational waves to world class 80-footers like the ones off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal and Dungeons, South Africa.

The waves will most likely get rougher in the near future, but our first task isn’t to solve all the problems, as urgent as they are. Our first task is to get out the board and learn to surf. Having a mindfulness practice is good in itself and at any time for most people, but right now, I invite you and encourage you to lean into your spiritual practices, especially your mindfulness practices. If you don’t already have a mindfulness practice, I invite you and encourage you to begin one. Learning to stay in the present moment helps us battle anxiety, make better decisions, and be our best selves under difficult circumstances. If you’re new to mindfulness, meditation, and remaining in the present moment, these resources might be a place to start:
• https://www.freemindfulness.org/welcome
• 21 Mindfulness Exercises and Activities for Adults from PostivePsychology.com
• https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/
• UMass Memorial Center for Mindfulness
• Jon Kabat-Zinn’s phone app

This holiday season, give yourself the gift of being present to yourself and to the present moment.

Shine on,
Rev. Tony