Spiritual humor is delicious, and the transparency of now makes it all the more helpful, if we just keep
surrendering, surrendering, surrendering:
Two days ago I took my ancient Toyota in for service.
Yesterday, satisfied my trusty little car was again in tip-top shape, I drove
around town in near-triple-digit weather (the air conditioner died years ago)
doing Friday afternoon errands. At my second-to-last stop, I parked, turned off
the engine, and the car was dead. Not even a click.
After I phoned AAA, I watched myself spiral into negative
mind chatter, amused that this is still my default setting after all the self
work I've done. Like many of us, I've been balancing a lot lately, from a
family health crisis to a broken crown that created a spike in my mouth, to a
plumbing emergency and someone reneging on a verbal business agreement after
I'd completed my half of the exchange. So a minor glitch like a dead car
battery (I surmised) shouldn't have made much of a dent in my composure. But I
had perishable food in the car in the blazing sun, and suddenly it was the
proverbial straw.
I turned to a woman loading her car two spaces away and
began spouting frustration, and once she realized I wasn't on a cell phone she
came over and held the space for me in an extraordinary way, not only
validating what I was sharing but matching it, point by point (e.g., her
vehicle, the same age as mine, had failed the day before; her husband is facing
surgery, etc, etc). Her equanimity brought me back to center as I explained the
car issue wasn't a big deal at all; I just needed a break — and some support!
The tow truck team was fantastic. Eric popped the hood,
moved the battery cable a millimeter and the car started up fine. Perhaps the
connection came loose during the repairs, or going on and off the lift. I was
good to go in about a minute and profoundly grateful. I completed my errands
and drove home with the radio on. And this is where the spiritual humor enters
in.
KZST in Santa Rosa has a daily game called "Drive
o'clock trivia" where, at 5 pm, the DJ asks a question and callers who
think they know the answer call in. It's almost always about numbers.
Yesterday's question was, "One in 10 people use this business daily. What
is it?" And of course I knew. I called and said, "Is it a towing
service?" He exclaimed, "It IS a towing service!" I added,
"And I know this because I just called them, 90 minutes ago." He
said, "Well, I'm sorry that's why you know the answer!" But it was
perfect.
This is happening in every realm now, the immediacy and
synchronicity of instant return, often in a humorous fashion. It's a good way
to stay grounded. Another example: I was discussing with my family member why
fall/winter is not an ideal time for surgery, because it's the season of
contraction, a time for rest and reflection as Nature releases the old and
prepares to go into a dormant state. An hour after the call, I received an
email with the subject line, "Honoring the Natural Rhythm of Autumn",
which speaks to the mysteries of life and death and how this month is a great
time to remember our ancestors as we approach All Souls Day/Day of the Dead.
We are always being answered. The Universe is ringing with
love and compassion the moment we have ears to hear. I'm grateful for these
Spirited reminders of the wisdom and support that's always available, usually
liberally laced with humor. As our journeys continue to heat up, as the whole
world awakens in an explosion of confusion and joy, remember the help that is
here for us. And be as kind to yourself as you can.
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