More waiting

This morning I waited, fasting, for some medical tests. (The very kind technician commented out loud about what he saw: no significant problems. Whew!) This morning I tended toward tension, and anxiety rather than a calm, accepting, just-is body response.

We are whole—mind and body—so that coming to a condition where one is calm, alert, not-acting but yet intensely interested and involved is not just a mental trick, but also involves the body. It is my experience that attentive, calm waiting is a both-and effort. Even waiting at a traffic light. I both intend to be calm and alert and also pay attention to the sensations of my breath, my pulse, my gut. I relax my muscles and focus on simply noticing thoughts as puffy clouds passing, notice my breath passing my nostrils, simply noticing a place of deep, inner being. 

Some traditions call this contemplative prayer, others call it meditation. I call it a blessing and a plain, good-sense tool to carry with.