Awakening

Cicada photo by M.J. Raupp

          Periodic cicadas appear in great numbers during the spring after spending 13 or 17 years underground. They crawl to a vertical surface, shed their exoskeleton and dry their new wings. Adults only live for a few weeks, during which males sing in chorus to attract females. Once mating has occurred, females cut v-shaped slits in young twigs and lay approximately 20 eggs. The cicada eggs take about 4 to 6 weeks to hatch, then the newborn nymphs drop to the ground and burrow into the soil. There they spend over a decade in darkness, feeding on tree roots as they develop and wait to emerge into the light.

          Pema Chodron wrote, "The journey of awakening happens just at the place where we can't get comfortable." Pain brings many people into recovery, but the biggest obstacle in staying there is often our own self. The ego - an identity constructed around our beliefs, opinions and personal experiences - sees its purpose as a protector from all things that don't bring us enjoyment. But the walls it erects as protection also separate us from people and different perspectives that could offer us support and a life free from addiction. Yet through honesty, open-mindedness and willingness, we can begin to knock down those walls. Where we once felt alone, we now find a common bond with others. Listening to those who have been successful in recovery, we widen our views and learn new skills. Inventories give us clarity and insight; we recognize that we are responsible for our own peace of mind. As our self-involvement is replaced by a concern for others, we discover a new purpose - holding out the light of recovery for those searching for a way out of the darkness.

For more information on service, see this post.

Service

Marigolds used as companion plants in a vegetable garden

          As we forge ahead on the road of recovery, at some point we’ll realize we’ve had a spiritual awakening. Our lives look different, not because things outside of us have changed, but because we’ve had an inner transformation. Our perception of life and how we relate to it are no longer based on old patterns of behavior. We’ve discovered an inner resource of strength and wisdom independent of the ego. This emotional balance and new level of awareness are sustained by making our spiritual principles and practices a priority. Many of us are filled with gratitude for this shift, and it spills over as generosity. These feelings are what form the foundation for another necessary practice – service. Just as others offered us wisdom and guidance when we struggled, we in turn offer it to those who reach out for help. Service involves benevolent aid given freely without expectations. It permits us to have a first-hand, practical experience with selflessness and pulls us out of our own self-orbit. Our own understanding may deepen as we mentor another person. We may be surprised to find that even if our efforts don’t appear to make a difference in another, they make a difference in us.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the power to turn a life around. 

~ Leo Buscaglia

For more information on service, see this post.