Sunday, January 10, 2010

Commitment

I have been looking at what Commitment means in my life for a long time. There are so many nuances to the concept that are played out in every day life. I will not delve into all the meanings for me, as that would probably be a whole book and one that I would love to write, but I will not commit myself to that endeavor, as yet.

What has arisen is that aspect of commitment that finds me in the most mundane of circumstances. It is in the waking up in the morning when I commit to be on this planet yet another day and the intentions that I set as I come into my body. I take some time with that, as I am able to function much better if the clarity is consciously present when I, literally, roll out of bed. I am ready to meet life more fully and be as aware as I can be. Within that, however, is the wish to live that Presence even a little more each day. I have my inner exercises that I made a commitment to doing forty years ago and have added onto through the years as my awareness increased. Many times it has been difficult and sometimes downright impossible, but that impulse was always there that rode me through the challenges. It is, in fact, those very challenges that increased the power of that commitment and brought me to unexpected benefits.

Yesterday, I was preparing for our annual celebration of George Gurdjieff’s birthday. Groups of students celebrate this event all over the world. (December 13th is the day he chose as his birthday because it is St. George’s day). In the afternoon of the preparations, I was asked to tell a story about transformation. What would I relate? I said that I would do it and in that moment of committing to an unknown element in my day, I opened myself up to the possibility of something unexpected arising within me.

As I was working on the decorating team, I was bemoaning the fact that God only made us with one set of hands and that another set would have been a much more efficient design. Suddenly, I realized that God had, in fact, made us with multiple sets of hands because we can work together to create a common objective. We only have to work together. There, in an instant, was one of the tenants of Gurdjieff’s teachings. The work must be done in groups, as we help each other in ways we, often, do not recognize. Then, the possibility of help from higher sources is available to us. I knew that this would be the essence of my story.

As the time approached, I filled in some more elements to illustrate the teaching through the characters and created the outline of a scenario. But then, in the moment of the telling, I opened it up to complete improvisation. What would actually come through? I was committed to the process and in trust that the creative spark would be there when I needed it. It was. Now, I see that there is story there that I can turn into a children’s book and I am excited about the possibility and further commitment to the unknown.

It is like jumping off a cliff into the ocean. Once you jump there is no turning back, you are committed to the fall. Whatever happens is the result of that commitment.

Of course, we can take this example into many different areas of our lives. People usually look at commitment in terms of a relationship or a job without recognizing the part it plays moment by moment. It can be a great ally if we see how much it influences so much of what we do. We do not have to be afraid of commitment. Commit and trust and much is made available to you.

Prema Rose

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