Not long ago a lynx came out of my neighborhood and crossed the street in front of me while I was riding my bike. It happened on a shaded part of the road near a park; I stopped and stared in awe with wide eyes. I live on the Atlantic coast of Florida, in an area that I consider heavily occupied by humans, especially in winter which was when this event occurred, so seeing a wild cat on a usually well traveled road was startling. Internet research later revealed that lynx are not uncommon in populated Florida areas; but while their tracks are plentiful, actual sightings of the animal are very rare. Part of this is because they are graceful and stealthy in movement and their coloring acts as camouflage. But  I wonder if a large part of their invisibility is because people don't expect to see wild animals in their neighborhoods and therefore don't see them even when they are present.

There is a scene in the movie "What the Bleep" that describes a Caribbean tribe's inability to see Spanish ships on the horizon because the tribe did not have the concept of a large boat that could ride on the water. Once the idea was introduced to them by a shaman who saw the ripples in the water and was able to expand his mind to the new concept, they could all see the ships. I think of Einstein noticing ripples in the universe and opening his mind to new ways of viewing and understanding. I wonder what is going on around us every day that we do not see because our minds are not open to the perception. What amazing phenomenon occur daily outside our awareness? I wonder how many times I miss seeing something because I do not have the vision that allows me to see it. 

When I sit with my own questions, something I often ask myself is "what are my choices here?" Whether it is conscious or unconscious, humans tend to see what we expect to see, that which is in our anticipation and awareness. Many of us have had the experience of coming into contact with an unfamiliar car, and afterwards noticing that make of car on every corner. Likewise, if we anticipate a particular behavior from someone, odds are good that we will see it frequently. If we expect ourselves to fail, or be unloved, or not get what we want, it is likely we will see it happen that way. In a previous tidbit I wrote about how the human mind fills in the details of a situation to fit what we think is right and appropriate, to manifest 'our story' about what we believe to be true. So if we decide that something is a certain way, it is that way for us as the result of our perception and co-creation. In his book, Man's Search For Meaning, Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor, wrote about "the last of the human freedoms",  the ability " to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way". And so, consciously using my best human freedom, I remind myself to choose to be open to possibility, to see events as opportunities, and to cultivate an attitude of awareness and appreciation for what is around me. As a result, I am gifted to see a lot of things that I previously missed: beautiful wild cats, miracles, synchronicities, sunsets, and significant evidence that leads me to believe things unfold in perfect divine order. May you see what you need to see. 




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Some years ago enroute to Mt. Lassen on a horse camping trip with friends, our old truck began to lose power on the steeper sections of the road. The truck, known as Floyd, was soon struggling to keep speed even on the level surfaces and we had no choice but to pull over in a fairly large rest area. Despite our best attempts under the hood, we could not get Floyd to move at other than a snail's pace; no way he could pull the horse trailer to our mountain destination. By this time it was four in the afternoon on a Saturday in mid-summer. The horses were impatient, stamping their hooves. We were hot and tired and dreading the idea of spending the night on the side of the road.

We had a serious need for a mechanic. So I said a little prayer of petition requesting one and set about unloading the horses to make them more comfortable. About fifteen minutes later, a large RV driven by a tiny man accompanied by a very large woman holding a miniature poodle pulls into the turnout. The man climbs down from the cab and hobbles over to us. He asks for help to resolve an argument with his wife. They are lost and she insists they have already passed the town of Chester while he is adamant that they have not. With the help of our map and some loud conversation (he is hard of hearing), we provide the correct information and the man turns and hobbles back towards his RV.

As I watch him amble off, my thoughts return to our plight. Suddenly bells go off in my head and to the surprise of my companions, I race off after the man. As he is a rather slow mover, I catch him before he gets back to his vehicle.

 "Excuse me, do you know how to fix a truck?"

 "Eh?"

 "A truck. Do you know how to fix a truck?"

 "What kind of a truck?"

 "A Ford." I pointed to Floyd.

  "Oh, sure."

Without another word, he slowly makes his way to Floyd, climbs up the front bumper like a monkey and peers into Floyd's malfunctioning depths. Pulling a matchbook cover from his pocket to use as a tool, he does something for about a minute and then jumps down to tell us exactly what was wrong and that his jury rigging will last until Monday when we can get Floyd to a garage. And then he rejoins his wife and poodle and drives off towards the town of Chester while my friends stand open mouthed in wonder.

The miracle in this story is not that a man stops to ask directions and knows how to repair Floyd. The miracle is that I recognize him as the mechanic I had asked for even though his appearance is not in line with my expectations. He could have come and gone and I might have still been waiting on the side of the road for someone wearing overalls with "Mike" embroidered on the pocket. The miracle is in the perception. And this kind of miracle is available to us every day if we cultivate openness to seeing what is there. As Willa Cather wrote, "Miracles... seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming to us for afar, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that there for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always".

The powers of perception and belief shape our lives more than we realize. May you see many miracles this holiday season.

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I had a wonderful conversation with a friend earlier today. She had just finished reading the book When Everything Changes, Change Everything by Neale Donald Walsch and called to talk about how some of the concepts in this book could be translated into practical language and applied to our everyday life. That being one of my favorite things to do, we went to town with focus on three perceptions of reality described in that book and how they shape our lives. I had just finished reading The Shack by Wm. Paul Young  (another author having conversations with God) that included the idea that "paradigms power perception and perceptions power emotions", so I was primed and grateful for this opportunity.  With deep thanks to my friend and collaborator, the following is our translation and application.

In the paradigm of "distorted reality", we apply past experiences into our assessment of a present day event. Because it looks like something we know, we interpret it as if it is the same as that old event, thereby creating a feedback loop that limits the possibility of it being something different. In essence we are building a survival pattern that argues for the status quo, something that our unconscious mind supports. We know how to deal with what is familiar, so it gives a sense of security and safety. And this system can work really well in practical survival, but it does not serve us well if we wish to thrive in our intimate relationships. We can become locked in our personal version of Jean Paul Sartre's No Exit, endlessly repeating the same relationship patterns because there is very little room for anything new. 

A shift in consciousness occurs in "observed reality", a paradigm that does not apply past data to present events. It takes each experience as something new and is open to possibility. It is a more objective witnessing of experience that avoids contaminating the present day with past days. While it is still operating in physical and cognitive planes, it allows for creating a new reality and avoids the feedback loop of repetitive patterns. From my frame of reference, it operates from the perspective of the "absolute beginner", that open place from childhood where we could truly learn new things. 

And then there is the "ultimate reality", a totally different vantage point altogether that comes from the wisdom of the soul rather than that of the mind. It operates in the spiritual plane according to the concept that life is self-sustaining and all change is for the better. This paradigm is designed to move us closer to God. However, the soul may not choose what seems to be in our best interest; it may sacrifice our comfort and apparent well being for a greater good. Often when soul recognizes repetition in a no win situation, it will create a way out that sometimes leads to an inner debate between the mind and the soul. The mind says "no, change is scary". The soul moves us forward.

These paradigms of reality are kind of like human operating systems. When we are functioning in one of them, it is how we see the world, and those perceptions create our reality, they structure what we can and cannot do. The mind automatically reaches for past data, so the first paradigm is usually most familiar. Since the faster something vibrates the more solid it appears, slowing down our thoughts is the first step to shifting gears into another place of perception that can result in a new reality. Breath, meditation, prayer, observation, stillness, and time in nature allow us to notice where we are and chose a new direction. Paying attention to the present moment rather than dwelling in the past can provide opportunity to inhibit and redirect our thoughts, to open our minds and hearts and be more receptive to spiritual growth.     

 "You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body"    C.S. Lewis

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