Journal of Sacred Work

After young people go through our program, they move differently through the world.    – Village Cultural Arts Center

Love’s One Line: Live Love & you will move through the world with grace.

Water Gatherers, Ghana

   On a large blue mat in the center of a big room, a group of African-American children ages 8-14 are gathered. Some sit in a circle, some sit in a row of chairs playing rhythmic instruments. In the center of the circle, two children face each other. They engage in a dance unusual to my eyes. They circle each other, sometimes jump over each other, rarely touch. "Respect the dignity of the circle," their leader, a man from South Africa warns as one of the children acts restless. The child quiets down. 

   "Yes, we teach West African culture," the head of the Village Cultural Arts Center tells my colleague, Kristen Dinger, and me, "but we are really teaching pride, gratitude, respect, and positive approaches." That’s when her partner chimed in with that memorable image, "After young people go through our program, they move differently through the world."

   How do we, as caregivers, move through the world? What kind of presence do we signal with the subtle movements of head, hands, the way we walk?

   So much is signaled by body language. Social scientists claim that as much as ninety percent of communication happens not with words, but with the language of our movement – slight changes in facial expression, how we sit in chair opposite someone, the raise or lowering of eyebrows, and whether we look the other person in the eye.

   The best people are looking others in the eye are babies. A baby, lacking self-consciousness, can stare into your eyes for a long time. Many adults, of course, have great trouble with eye contact, especially if the other person is of the opposite sex.

   Consider, in this meditation, the difference between self conciousness and self-awareness. Self-consciousness signals awkwardness and ego. Self-awareness suggests wisdom and grace. Similarly, self-centered connotes ego obsession. If we describe someone as "centered," however, this suggests we think of them as grounded and strong.

   The children at the Village Cultural Arts Center are learning about being both self-aware and centered. In the course of discovering their roots, they are grounding themselves in ancient tradtions that help them to value themselves. This strengthens their center. As a result, they make better life decisions.

  Loving caregivers hold in their hands a golden thread that represents a long and hallowed tradition that mixes compassion with skill. Loving care does not involve compassion alone. Caregivers train themselves to deliver the gifts of both competency and emotional presence. It takes discipline, self awareness and centering to become a great caregiver. Just like the growing of a beautiful garden, it takes daily nurturing to enahance our mindfulness so that we may be loving servants to others.

  Reflection: How do you move through this world? Does the way you carry yourself signal warmth, openness and competence all at the same time? Our actions are, of course, informed by our thoughts. Those who cultivate love move throught the world differently than those who live out of fear.

   After I meditate, I know that I move through the world differently than I did before I took that twenty minute break. I know that I am able to listen better, to concentrate better, to be more present to the world and more centered. This is partly because prayer and meditation dissolves some of the distracting noise in the world and enhances my ability to focus on what matters.

Meditation: Take five minutes (or twenty) now, close your eyes, feel the rhythm of your breath.