Who's In Charge?

Yesterday I had a burr under my saddle. Across the street a jack-hammer ran all day, breaking up a patio. My home is generally silent through the day, no radio, no tv, just the monkey chatter in my mind that attempts to entertain, agitate or incite. The monkeys were pissed about the incessant banging of the jack-hammer upon their playing field in my mind. Wearied of the banging and the monkeys' reflexive chatter, I finally turned on the tv to distract myself and became mesmerized by a wedding ceremony. It was a lovely diversion.

The jack-hammer was still diligently working away when I took Bo out for his p.m. walk. The monkeys fiercely chattered about the noise level and the dust in the air, and the body coughed in agreement. Both the noise level of the jack-hammer and the monkeys diminished the farther down the street Bo and I went. Bo did his thing and we turned for home.

The hammering vibrated all around me and the monkeys screeched in protest as we drew near. But as we walked past the work site, the jack-hammer suddenly ceased. I turned my head to see a dust covered man supporting the huge jack-hammer with one hand while he bent backwards and rubbed his spine with the other. As he straightened again, he turned his head and our eyes met. Automatically, my arm raised and waved. His arm reciprocated.

Instantly, I was flooded with Love from somewhere. Love for the dust-caked man, and great compassion for his selfless willingness to ride a jack-hammer all day to provide for his family. Tears welled in my eyes at his beauty.

Today, the jack-hammer runs again. It has no jarring effect on me. The monkeys are silent. All I am aware of is how much I love the man who rides it. I am so grateful.

And I notice that my gratitude expands, encompassing the man and so much more. It includes all of you whom I've invited to share my journey. Without this blog would I have realized what transpired here? Possibly not.

The Course calls it a Holy Instant, when the world is seen through the loving eyes of Jesus rather than the ego's monkey eyes. I was not aware of making the choice for Jesus yesterday, but am ever so grateful that at some level I obviously did. The sweet result is nearly indescribable. I can almost imagine the deliciousness of living an endless string of Holy Instants... a string of invaluable pearls that transform into a life lived in the Real World, where all that exists is the awareness of Love. How sweet is that!

peace