Reach Through the Smoke

First of all, I add my prayers to those who pray for rain. Who pray for the safety of all those touched by California's fires.

As a runner, these are not easy days. I have been amazed to see many folks out running under the dirty, pomegranate skies. I scratch my bald head.

For me, the past several days of fires have brought dense dirty air to my hometown of Long Beach. My body, especially my respiratory system, rebels. "Hey!" it shouts. "I was born to breathe gases not solids." It took until 2 a.m. last night to finally cough up the latest fragment lodged in my lungs. I fell asleep exhausted.

Three, now four days with no running. Hardly being able to leave the house. Hermetically sealed. Not pleasant. These are not easy days for those runners who stay inside. And as uncomfortable as it is, I encourage all of you to stay inside. Stretch, do yoga, meditate, get on a treadmill. Stay inside. Ah yes, stay inside.

Tired from lack of sleep, frustrated from no running, concerned about my relatives evacuated from their San Diego homes, I begin to look down into the start of a downward spiral. And then I came across this quote attributed to Guan Yin, the Chinese bodhisattva of compassion, as I was seeking to find a positive focus.

"Let the magic happen. It's always there. Abundance and love are always there. Believe in the highest good. There is a higher essence to everything. The realm you're in has a heaviness that mutes energy. You can penetrate through it, no matter how dark and heavy. Sometimes it has nothing to do with karma. Just don't forget to keep it open. Don't get too bogged down, don't limit the brightness. Reach through the dark energy and grab it. You might see the smoke coming out of the chimney and you'll even see the smoky sky. You need to reach through the smoke and bring the light to you. Remember the possibilities of something greater then are right here. Be willing to go to the lightness. Don't feed off what is not right in the world."
Kuan Yin
Source: The Living Word of Kuan Yin

Nice words, for sure. But I needed more than "positive thinking." I'm searching for the experience of my inherent positivity. I read the quote again. And again. And again. Then, instead of reading it, I follow it. I reach through the smoke rather than focusing on it. And there it is, in its beautiful simplicity. Beyond the smoke is my next breath. All those hours, days, years, or unencumbered breathing taken for granted. The daily miracle taking place, literally, right under my nose! The miracle of being breathed——for that is what is really happening, no? Try breathing as an active verb and see how long you sustain it.

Is it a coincidence that as I have been immersed in gratitude for the inimitable gift of breath that my breathing has eased? I think not. I am filled to overflowing by the simple gift of breath.

As I feed off what is right in the world, I invite you to join me in the feast. Perhaps our cumulative tears of gratitude can bring rain . . .