Keeping Our Center ~ Day 79

I broke my favorite mug Sunday night. One second I was putting it in the cupboard and the next it slipped and the handle broke off. I was crushed, which sounds somewhat silly even to me. It’s a mug for heaven’s sake. But it was given to me by a wonderful parishioner who passed away a few years ago. I remembered her, her kindness, and her thoughtfulness, every morning when I had my cup of tea. Plus it was the perfect size and shape in my hands. Gluing it didn’t work, either. It wouldn’t even go back together right. And even if it had, I’d never really trust that it wouldn’t break in my hand.

At the same time I was mourning the loss of my special mug last night, other losses – past, present and future - crept into the mix. Who knew they were so close to the surface?

The lessons I’ve been reflecting on from this experience are numerous; perhaps one of them will speak to you today. Life is fragile. Attachment causes suffering. And why am I attached to a mug when the ones we love reside in our hearts? Sometimes things are too broken to fix. We’re vulnerable in those places where we’ve been broken. We need to work through grief over and over again. Tears are cleansing. Hugs are helpful. And tragedy is great fodder for songs, poems and spiritual reflections.

In the end, life goes on… I reluctantly picked another mug and had my tea.

Love & Light,

Kaye