Wood Chips
From the shores of Lake Superior (The Third Coast)
We are always prone these weeks, under the strain of facing a flood of news regarding COVID-19 and civil unrest, to lose balance. Part of the Cedar Tree Institute’s focus over the years has been on keeping anchored, grounded in our diverse mission here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. One way we have done that is to offer classes and workshops on mind/body practices, in our case Tai Chi Chuan, a Chinese exercise developed by Buddhist monks hundreds of years ago.
One of the fascinating aspects of learning body awareness is how a very slight change of posture can impact both our mental and physical well-being. Here’s an example from the Pacific Northwest where I once stayed during a retreat at a Roman Catholic convent. One of the Sisters came out and told me this story.
“For years,” she said, “There was an irritating sound from our flag pole. When the wind blew, it made a noise that woke us from our sleep, disturbed our morning liturgy and prayers. We had many complaints. No one knew what to to. Then, one day, a truck driver stopped by to deliver a package. I told him the problem. He asked to look at the flagpole and lanyard mechanism. He went back to his truck, brought back a screwdriver and made one simple adjustment! No more that a half turn of a screw! The sound disappeared forever.” She smiled and said, “It had been years that we had been living with that problem.”
I think both spiritually and physically we often make the mistake that big changes are needed. In some circumstances that is true. But I’m going to take a chance to suggest that in many situations concerning our mental, physical and spiritual health, it sometimes takes the slightest of changes to make all the difference.
We know this is true from the world of physical rehab. I know this is true for the world of the inner life. I am also convinced that in strategic efforts to promote social justice, the same principle holds true. The key is to distinguish between areas of concern, and areas of personal influence. Small actions of compassion and truth-telling can be, when all is said and down, the real foundation of social change.
Jon Magnuson
The Cedar Tree Institute
“Wood Chips” is a series of brief reflections written by Jon Magnuson, Director of the Cedar Tree Institute.
