Opening to the Spirit

Today’s Word: Light-heartedness

Let love be what lightens our hearts.

2) What a wonderfully evocative word is light-heartedness. It is the recognition that when things are going well and life is rewarding, when we are happy, there is an actual physical sensation that occurs in the region of our hearts. It is an exhilarating feeling that somehow gives us a sense of liberation. Life is good and all's well in the world.

As we all know the opposite sensation is also possible. We feel heavy hearted when the woes of the world or our own personal anguishes become overwhelming. In my experience these are conditions that we cannot change ourselves. We cannot decide how we will remove the burdens from our hearts. We cannot make our hearts lighter. However we can bring about the conditions that encourage this lightening.

Prayer and meditation are the best ways I know to mitigate a heavy heart. For those who believe in a higher power, when we establish a regular prayer/ meditation routine, we may eventually begin to sense this presence. It can lighten a heavy heart just knowing we are not alone with our problems. But we do not have to hold this belief. Simply learning to quiet the outer noise of society and its expectations on us can become a way to distance ourselves from the dramas we live. To become an observer to ourselves can create just enough space that we do not hold our stories so tightly.

Contrary to our natural tendency to try to ignore whatever is making our hearts heavy, if we can find a friend to share it with or if we can bring it to God, we may find that the intensity of our anguish is diminished. My wish for each reader is that you are able to create the conditions that your heart may know the liberating feeling of lightness.

3) If you are like me, sometimes you worry. Small worries carry us through our day and help us get things done: “Have I transferred enough money into that account?” “Is there enough milk/bread/tea at home?” “Do these pants look all right?” Mediumsized worries tug at our heart and prove our love: “Have I made the right decision about my mother’s care?” “Will my friend be OK?” “Have I done too little/too much/ the right or the wrong thing for my children?” And, then, the big worries that can sometimes consume us: “Why do the wicked prosper?” “How can every political system be fixed so that justice will be known and love will flourish?” (Yes, I must figure out and fix them all!)

And, so, light-hearted comes like a surprise. Like a gift from above, or below, or from wherever it is that we are reassured that we are enough and all is well. The sound of children laughing, at their games at the church picnic, wafts across the grass and everyone is smiling. The most perfect flower appears in the garden and you stop to notice. The hug. The joke. The unexpected romance when you think you are well past any of that. The deep knowledge and freedom that comes from remembering we are not in charge. That all we need to do is love the people around us and to do our best, whatever that best might be.

Yesterday, I forgot the milk and got a notice about an unpaid bill, and the world did not end. This morning, I receive a happy text from my son, who seems to think I did OK after all, and wants to share some good news and make plans to get together. Tomorrow also will be perfect.

4) There was a movie a few years back entitled “The unbearable lightness of being.” I never saw it but was always intrigued by the title. How could “lightness of being” be unbearable. Light-heartedness, for me, comes when the burdens and cares of life are unloaded, one by one, till our heart is able to be free and open again. When we are light-hearted we are able to see humour and joy in every situation.

We recently had our Sunday School picnic, and my favourite job is getting the water balloons ready. We make a line and children and adults alike enjoy tossing the balloons back and forth, at ever longer distances, till they break. One five year old girl's balloon was punctured and she went around lightly spraying peoples faces. On a hot day this was quite delightful. Sunday school was over for the summer so there were no cares, no deadlines or burdens, and we could enjoy a bit of silliness.

There are times to be serious, times to be responsible in word and action. I value those people who are diligent and carry heavy burdens. Every leadership team needs to work hard to make positive change. However, a little light-heartedness goes a long way. We all need our water balloons from time to time.

I think if I was making that movie I would call it “the wonderful lightness of being”. What do you think?

One word, four voices - now it's your turn: What does it mean to be lighthearted?

Rev. Mead Baldwin pastors the Hatley, Waterville & North Hatley United Churches; Rev. Lynn Dillabough is now Rector of St. Paul's in Brockville ON. She continues to write for this column as a dedicated colleague with the Eastern Townships clergy writing team; Rev. Lee Ann Hogle ministers to the Ayer’s Cliff, Magog & Georgeville United Churches; Rev. Carole Martignacco pastors Uuestrie – the Unitarian Universalists in North Hatley.