Theme/Mantra: “The Sacred is found in the everyday”
Reading:
(just the words of the song today- over and over… read, listen to- read, listen to)
Meditation-Physical Movement- (combined today)
At some point today, as you are going about your daily business of everyday life- maybe multiple times today- Pay attention to what you are doing. Pay attention to the meditative qualities and sacredness of
Washing the dishes
Folding the laundry
Pouring the coffee
Getting dressed
Feeding the cats or dogs
Brushing your teeth
Taking a bath.
Walking the dog around the block
Taking the steps to your office
Planting seeds in your garden.
Reflection:
Kathleen Norris wrote a tiny little book called, Quotidian Mysteries. It is beautiful how she calls us to pay attention to the daily life chores that seem to be mundane and frustrating. But she reminds us that the sacred can be found in any action. And that sometimes in the “quotidian” is where we find the best potential for meditation and reflection.
Carrie is an incredible songwriter- the words of this song give us vignettes to envision of real people in a community- Our hearts feel their pain with the pictures she paints.
And, we feel in unison with them. We want to be in a community like this-
Where sharing bread and toast seems like the sacred act (for some) of communion (or eucharist).
I feel the connectedness of all of humanity when I listen to this song.
Through the intentional and compassionate actions of everyday life.
Song: Betty’s Diner by Carrie Newcomer
Miranda works the late night counter
In a joint called Betty's Diner
Chrome and checkered tablecloths
One steamy windowpane
She got the job that shaky fall
And after hours she'll write till dawn
With a nod and smile she serves them all
Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
When you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all so she don't mind
Arthur lets his earl gray steep
Since April it's been hard to sleep
You know they tried most everything
Yet it took her in the end
Kevin tests new saxophones
But swears he's leaving quality control
For the Chicago scene, or New Orleans
Where they still play righteous horns
Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
When you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all so she don't mind
Jack studies here after work
To get past high school he's the first
And his large hands seem just as comfortable
With a hammer or a pen
Emma leaned and kissed his cheek
And when she did his knees got weak
Miranda smiles at 'em and winks
Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
When you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all so she don't mind
You never know who'll be your witness
You never know who grants forgiveness
Look to heaven or sit with us
Deidre bites her lip and frowns
She works the stop and go downtown
She's pretty good at the crossword page
And she paints her eyes blue black
Tristan comes along sometimes
Small for his age and he's barely five
But she loves him like a mama lion
Veda used to drink a lot
Almost lost it all before she stopped
Comes in at night with her friend Mike
Who runs the crisis line
Michael toured Saigon and back
Hair the color of smoke and ash
Their heads are bowed and hands are clasped
One more storm has passed
Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
When you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all so she don't mind
Until Tomorrow- Peace
Reading the lyrics of the song I feel the sense of community that is contained in humanity. This is a good, important feeling.