The Platform of Our Lives

by Deanna

Here at Focusing On Life we touch on many different subjects and topics and we tend to “focus” on one theme for each month.  Some are specific like the color “red” and others lean to interpretation such as “joy”.   This month we are focusing on one of the most concrete “things” in our life….earth and with the celebration of Earth Day being next Tuesday, April 22 I felt today’s post should reflect that most significant topic, the great Earth beneath us. 

There are those that practice mindfulness of the earth each day by rising every morning, immediately kneel, and touch their forehead to the ground, helping them to begin their day with humility and gratitude for the earth that holds us.

All day we walk, run and drive around the surface of the earth usually completely unaware that the earth is the platform of our life, with a force of gravity that supports our every step and grounding our lives.  

Many times during the day we tend to “be in our heads” distracted and easily thrown off balance.  We can end that distraction by drawing our attention from our head to our feet, and in doing so we can feel more solid, grounded and less swayed by thoughts or emotions.  A Zen Monk writes….

“I like to walk alone on country paths, rice plants and wild grasses on both sides, 

putting each foot down on the earth in mindfulness, 

knowing that I walk on the wondrous earth.

 In such moments, existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality. 

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. 

But I think the real miracle is to walk on earth….a miracle we don’t even recognize.”

So let us always be aware of this great miracle that supports our every step and treat it with the kindness and respect that is the perpetual platform of our lives.