During this time in our lives, it behooves us to hold in awe all of our fellow citizens who have placed their own lives at risk for the well-being of others, for their courage, sacrifice, resilience and unselfish gestures of kindness. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.”- Ambrose Redmoon
We must hold in AWE those doctors, nurses, medical aides and technicians, first responders, public workers such as bus drivers, conductors, trash collectors postal and grocery store workers, and all others in essential businesses, factories and plants, plus the volunteers who give of themselves at food banks and test centers and all the numerous others who risk contact when in the presence of complete strangers.
Whenever we hold others, such as those caretakers and unselfish givers mentioned above, in such high esteem, each one is transformed into a “Wizard of Awes”. As wizards, they grant each of us HOPE and the BELIEF that there are always helping hands available to us to comfort our discomfort. In doing so, they distract us from our own woes, anxieties and stressful thoughts. Perhaps they even influence some of us to become lions of courage. The path to recovery from these challenging times is knowing that we are here for one another as if to say, “here, take my hand”.
One of the most important tenants of human life as well as mother nature is the universal “law of impermanence. The one constant we have going for ourselves is “change”. It is what history is made of. Unfortunately, “change” moves at its’ own pace. It only seems that which we dread moves slower than that which we savor. Yet perpetuated by time, “change” infinitely moves onward. These kind and gentle “Wizards of Awes” give us the power to lighten the darkness of these changing times. It has been said that courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.
Let us fully appreciate and be forever thankful for how these wizards exemplify the spirit of true compassion. Let us recognize how their courageous efforts to maintain loving and caring attitudes towards others can help to shield us from our own thoughts of despair (anxiety and worry, etc.) by giving us hope and faith in all of mankind. We must also believe that these challenging times shall pass. We are never alone. We are together. We all have within us the ability to be Wizards of Awes!
“There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.” – ― L Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Watch for ZOOM Mindfulness Meditation classes coming soon!