Living in the Way:

Just Passing Through

Katherine Albin, M.A., L.P.C.C.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7

The scripture above is one of the most comforting in the Bible. There’s something powerful about being simply directed to just relax already! I guess some people can do this naturally, but I need some prompting!

However, I’m sure there are others out there in the same anxiety boat. We keep rocking it around ourselves with our worries and fears, then wonder why we feel so keyed up. Jobs, families, chores, obligations, projects, and all the interruptions and difficulties we face along the way can leave us feeling hurried, harried, and sometimes hurt. When I read the above scripture, I realize—again—that I’ve been trying to be at the center once more. Wrong!

Recently I went to a wonderful seminar on the subject of mindfulness. I hesitated signing up for it, as some topics in my field can have the wrong emphasis. This particular topic was not presented as attached to any specific spiritual or religious teaching, which I appreciated, since I had the freedom to translate it according to my own orientation. And my translation of the subject matter is simply found in Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God. But the seminar helped me get to that place with a little more instruction.

At home there is absolutely no place I’d rather be than on my back porch on a long summer evening. It is absolute peace coming alive. The smell of honeysuckle, the sound of robins splashing in the bird bath, doves cooing on the ground, the color of flowers spilling out of planters, the overall perfect temperature and calmness. Relaxation is practically immediate; and I find myself thanking God automatically for the wonderfulness of the moment and His grace that I even have this to enjoy.

Mindfulness teaches us to be in the moment, to just observe, not judge, to appreciate that things just are, and that there is a certain forward movement constantly—a term called “impermanence”—which is, paradoxically, permanent. Mindfulness also teaches us to tune into our breath, the evidence of our aliveness. Breathing mindfully—listening and feeling our breath as we evenly inhale and exhale—has a calming effect to the central nervous system and therefore to the whole body and brain. When we feel calm, we are better able to think and act rationally. We are literally energized by this calming effect. We feel stronger, more capable. I say this is God’s energy working through us. Frankly, when I feel calm, this is really the only time I’m feeling God’s presence. I love the phrase, “the peace that passes all understanding.” What a wonderful blessing this is! Peace is not rational; but, paradoxically, it can sure make us feel and behave more rationally. And closer to God.

What I was reminded about in the mindfulness seminar is how immediately accessible this calming effect can be. One particular strategy is to practice switching from active states to relaxed states, four each. For example, with eyes closed, recall a disturbing thought, then label it generically, such as simply “talk.” Feel the distancing of your disturbing thought as you then shift your focus to a space you simply label “quiet.” You can also recall a disturbing scene, which you simply label “image,” then watch it fade as you switch to a space labeled “blank,” that brightness or darkness right in front of your closed eyes. Next, focus on an uncomfortable or painful sensation somewhere in your body; label it “touch,” then feel the sensation fade as you switch to “relaxed,” a place in your body that you feel relaxed. Finally, you can recall an upsetting emotion, label it “feel,” then switch to a space labeled “peace.” Experience that peace taking over. Practice switching between any one or more of these active and relaxed states that help you the best. If you practice enough, you need not always have your eyes closed to do this awareness exercise. You can experience this any time, any place, with eyes open.

The idea is that no state we are in has to be, or is, permanent. Pain can pass, stress can pass; even losses can lose their intensity if we practice awareness that things just are, as they are in a moment of time. Imagine if we practiced this kind of mindfulness with all the people and situations that stress, disappoint, and hurt us! That particular moment—no matter how long it may seem—will pass, but we can switch our focus at any time to peace, the peace that passes all understanding. That is, the knowledge that God is ever present, constantly at work transforming us and all of life from one state to the next. Just passing through. Forever. Thank You, Almighty God, for being with us every moment.