Logs and Splinters

In spite of the fact that work has been crazy, I managed to make it to 5:30 yoga this afternoon with time to spare, thanks to very forgiving traffic. As we stood in samasthiti, Nikki challenged us to listen to our bodies and meditate on what we needed in that moment. We then began a very difficult series of postures, and were shortly asked to think of one person who is bugging us. She then challenged us to send what we felt we needed ourselves to that person.

I'm a believer that life's teachers are those who arouse intense feelings in the core of our being. These people are a mirror, showing us what it is we ourselves need to work on. It's a take on Matthew 7:3, "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" The speck helps us identify the log...so that we can begin to learn, and finally move on.

Class was extremely difficult, not only because we were challenged with tricky postures and transitions, but because intense effort was required to send loving, peaceful energy to someone who was actively arousing the opposite feelings. Interestingly, I'd never before considered that what we feel we need for ourselves, is exactly the thing the person who is bothering us also needs. By directing love...peace...hope...forgiveness...grace to our adversaries, we direct the same to ourselves...and in doing so, find healing.