Monday, November 29, 2010

"Coming Home with Grace"

Coming home has two sides to the coin. There is the location being left and another chosen point of arrival.  More often at this time of the year than any other parents ask their adult children with hopeful hearts, "Will you be coming home for the holidays?"  But where is home? New families have been busy creating their own homes with their personal traditions that they reluctantly leave.  Is it possible to achieve a balance by leaving one place gracefully to arrive at another with equal grace?   And which one is really considered "home?"  When two are joined together in marriage are there two other "homes" that create unspoken pressure to divide the visits equally?  (If you've been following my blogs for the last two years you may recognize that I've become very adept at asking what-I-hope-to-be, thought-provoking questions.) 
One important factor in "coming home with grace" is to be fully prepared at both ends---the place of departure and the final destination where we arrive.  Preparation involves thoughtful discussion and planning on both ends of the journey in order to stay in favor with both those who are left and those who are anticipating the arrival.  My own lovely daughter has taught me how to graciously prepare for "homecomings" or "visits" as I listen to her explain clearly to her two-year-old daughter the details of when they are leaving, where they are going, and how long they are staying, so that everyone knows what to expect. Everyone concerned is made ready for the transition, and hopefully there are no unpleasant surprises! 
During the entire month of December Christians celebrate a holiday season called Advent.  The word has its roots in several verbs, all meaning "to come."  As we deck our halls hopefully we remember the first time that God came down from heaven.  He actually left His home in paradise to come to us!  He arrived here on earth in the humble form of an infant named Jesus, and those who had read the Old Testament and other signs were prepared for His coming.  During Jesus's 33 years on earth He tried to prepare His disciples that He would be returning home, but would come back again.  Throughout the month of December those who believe God's Words in The Holy Bible can be celebrating and preparing for the time when Christ will come again as He promised.   If we believe that "home is where the heart is," then we can live with the hope that we'll all arrive in our final home someday.  Get ready because no one knows the day or hour!
As we practice connecting/yoking with God in our daily yoga sessions, we are actually preparing for our final "coming home with grace."  We will be made ready physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to leave this life and move on to arrive in a better place---our final destination. Every daily yoga session ideally ends in the symbolic "Corpse Pose" (called Savasana) as we surrender all thoughts of past and future to remain fully present with each breath.  During the active practice of postures (asanas) the brain remains passive, yet watchful and alert, gracefully ready to celebrate the Advent, "the coming."
  • Physically---After every yoga session, no matter how long or short the time spent in sequencing from position to position, traditionally it's important to spend from 10 to 15 minutes (a minimum of five!) resting in "Corpse Pose" (called Savasana) in order to alleviate physical fatigue.  The classic posture is practiced while lying on the back with the eyes closed, but there are variations such as lying on the stomach, or propped up on padded blocks or pillows for prenatal students in the second or third trimester.  
  • Begin by taking a deeper and longer than usual inhalation to center the mind and the body on the mat.  At the top of that first inhalation press gently into the elbows and the back of the head to lift the upper back about an inch off the floor.  Then slowly exhale and release the top of the shoulders down and away from the ears, flattening the shoulder blades onto the floor.  Inhale again and roll both thighs externally (away from center) with the toes pointing away from one another. As the exhalation begins, scoop the tail bone down and then up toward the navel as the sacrum (upside-down, triangular-shaped bone just above the tail bone) is pressed flat against the floor so that the body weight is sinking down into three flat bones---the two scapulae and the sacrum.  Between the next inhalation and exhalation, lick the lips and swallow to release any tension in the mouth or jaw, smiling slightly to feel the cheeks puff as they soften. Then allow the fingers to curl softly and the tongue to broaden in the back of the mouth as all tension is released from the body.  Inhale to lift the eyebrows slightly, and then exhale allowing the eyelids to melt into their sockets. 
  • Mentally---At first the mind will be occupied with regulating a smooth and even rhythm in each breath. You'll notice how the lungs are expanding  three-dimensionally, feeling the back of the rib cage opening out side to side and back against the floor.  Then mentally scan the body from the top of the head to the tip of the toes and utilize each exhalation to surrender physical tension as you sink deeper into the floor.  Allow the mind to remain passive, yet watchful to remain in the present.  If the mind wanders outside of the body to another time or place, be an objective observer by simply bringing the attention back to the breath without annoyance or emotional response. 
  • Spiritually---Practice the surrender of not only the physical tension, but also the cause of that tension as you release everything beyond your control or sphere of influence.  Willfully let go of all desires for personal gratification and commit to serving the Lord as you commemorate His birth in Bethlehem and prepare for His second coming.
Read Chapter 24 of the Book of Matthew to learn all of the signs of Christ's second coming, but remember Jesus's wise words about the timing:
"Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come, But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known is what watch the thief would come, he would have watch, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore, be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh."    (Matthew 24: 42-44, KJV)