大象传媒

From Dave Tomlinson, writer and vicar at large:听
You may think I鈥檓 trying to earn brownie points here, but what I most admire about my wife Pat is her down-to-earth, 鈥榡ust get on with it鈥� approach to life. Me, I鈥檓 more of a big gesture person. I want the latest smart phone while Pat鈥檚 happy with one that still works perfectly well. I get an upset stomach and think I鈥檓 about to die, so she feeds me indigestion tablets. I鈥檓 afraid the audience I just addressed hate me 鈥� she says, 鈥楽it down, love, have a nice cup of tea!鈥� Over the past year, through the pandemic, we have both had our moments of anxiety and panic 鈥� for our friends and loved ones as well as ourselves鈥�not to mention, the world at large.听
But we process our emotions differently, and what constantly helps me (though I still rebel against it) is Pat鈥檚 attention to daily ritual, life鈥檚 everyday details: 鈥榃e can only do what we can do鈥�, she鈥檒l say. It鈥檚 always been like this, with us. When I鈥檝e been sweating over theological conundrums, Pat responds (with a twinkle in her eye), 鈥榃hen you鈥檝e decided what we believe, Dave, just let me know.鈥� Because, for her, religion or spirituality does not lie in abstract ideas or pious practices but in living the best sort of life that you can in the circumstances.听
The 17th century monk, Brother Lawrence, had a similar outlook. For him, prayer consisted in what he called 鈥榩racticing the presence of God鈥�. Along with his fellow monks he fulfilled all his required religious practices, but he felt equally close to God pottering in the garden or washing the dishes, serving his brothers. It was his form of mindfulness 鈥� focusing on the wonder of everyday life. I鈥檇 love to wave a wand and make the present situation disappear.听
But Pat and Brother Lawrence show me the way: attending to the little things in order to protect ourselves and others; finding comfort in daily ritual as a pathway toward freedom, staying alive to the marvels of mundane existence even when we wish our circumstances were different. I reckon it鈥檚 the small (often familiar) things in life that bring hope 鈥� once we learn to notice them.