Sitting here on the fifteenth anniversary of September 11th, while reflecting on what is important in life, I find that I return to the same theme over and over. Sacred moments in which we slow down are what will be cherished and remembered when we leave this place. Sacred moments are ones in which we connect in a very real way with another without the desire or intention to share that moment with the world.  These moments are held tight in our hearts, virtually impermeable to the ravages of the world. It strikes me as saddening that these are not the same moments that many strive for or encounter within the busy culture of today.

 

“To the poet, to the philosopher, to the saint, all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all men divine.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Busyness for busyness sake is a horrible side effect of todays world.  We rush from one thing to the next multitasking and oblivious to each other.  We network, rush in our jobs and talk incessantly to a plethora of friends and family via phone, text, chat and Facebook message. In all of the hustle and bustle do we ever really take the time to look someone in the eye and see him or her? Taking a moment to check in and see what is going on in another’s world. For that matter, have we even got the skills to do so anymore?  I don’t think so, and this invaluable form of human connection should be reinvigorated and nurtured.

 

“Reclaiming the sacred in our lives naturally brings us close once more to the wellsprings of poetry.”

Robert Bly

 

I am more than sure that the survivors of the horrible tragedy of September 11th would give anything to have their loved one back for just a moment. To wrap their arms around and tell them they love them.  The trivialities of life are probably not even considered; a promotion that was in the works, a move to a bigger house, the imminent publishing of a novel, all meaningless without the value of the human connection gleaned from it.

 

Take this day and commit to stopping the hustle.  Slow down and tell those closest to you that you love them. Look at the beauty of a blue sky or the wonders of a mountain. Sit in the grass and feel the energy of the earth beneath you and watch the hummingbirds fly about.  These are all sacred moments that we miss in the busyness of our over scheduled days. Allow your mind to linger in these moments that will never be repeated, gracing this space just once. In doing so, you free your mind from the constant and obsessive thoughts from today’s information saturated world.

 

“In this moment, everything is sacred.”

Ariel Books

 

Smile just because you can and feel the wind on your face. Sit peacefully and watch a sunrise or sunset. Learn to sit in the storm and allow yourself to slow down.  Not only will you experience the beauty of this sacred moment, you will open the mind to new possibilities and creativity that are suppressed by the daily to-do list. Honor those that no longer have these opportunities for there own sacred moments and who’s loved ones only have memories to hold in their hearts. Dare to live your life in its most honest and loving form. Slow down.