Authentic Presence Only

"The ornament of a house is the 

friends who frequent it."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

An invitation from my friend who is a school teacher was an offering for lunch out at her farm.  As word spread, I realized it wasn't just a select few, but an extended list including folks I didn't know.  We awaited the luncheon with great anticipation.

The teacher set up tables in all of the rooms of the farm house.  Each table was covered with a quilt and the place settings, well they simply didn't match.  China plates were all differing patterns. Each polished silver utensil was unusual and every drinking glass was unique.  Of course, no two cloth napkins were alike.

There was so much love gathered at this country home, I don't even remember what was served.  After dessert, everyone wandered outside and explored the magic in the gardens, both vegetable and flower.  It was positively the most lovely lunch I have ever attended.  No boundaries, no back biting, just individuality honored and explored.

Time Out Chair for Ego

"Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self.

There is something that you can do better than any other.

Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

We all need a time out chair, not for ourselves, but for our ego.  Right before we look in a mirror, do self inventory, or evaluate our worthiness, kindly ask ego to sit to the side in the time out chair. Once ego is silenced, we can hear our hearts speak.

Often times, our ego is our worst enemy.  It will stop us before we start, interrupt us in the middle, or sabotage a happy ending.  Ego is like a small child who throws tantrums instead of being quiet. It needs to be confronted with compassion,  "Please, have a seat!"

Before every presentation, important meeting, or creative project, I appropriately invite my ego to sit to the side.  I don't want to be distracted, squelched nor minimized.  I want to dream, succeed, and feel filled with life.  I want all of us to place our ego in a time out chair, so we can listen to the Divine and become our very best self.