COMING TO MY SENSES

It seems we have to be a witness to believe something is true. This is why all the rag magazines, at the counter in the market, sell their garbage. If a couple, in the backwoods of Arkansas, has a photo of a summer squash that looks like the Madonna, or a half Martian baby, they could sell more copies. After all, there is a picture, so it must be true. If one of the 24/7 news stations broadcasts how bad something is, it is instantly believed by the majority of the people. On late night television, there is an infomercial marathon, showing and screaming at us we can all have flat abs, make a million in real estate or dieting. We are becoming a society of nonbelievers, because we need proof with our sight, hearing, or touch to know the truth.

We rely on our senses. It gives us security and reassurance on what we believe to be true. The first time you hold your baby is an example of needing to touch to believe. At that very second of touching, the mother and child connect on several levels. At that moment, usually new mothers instantly forget of the recent excruciating pain they just endured. It’s gone, because of that first touch.

There are some incredible musicians in history who have been or are blind. Their reliance on their sense of sound must be so incredibly fine tuned. One would have to be very experienced and talented to share the stage or work with these people. They must hear every single note, including the bad ones. And because of their talent, we can watch AND hear them, and they’ve never failed to impress us.

The old saying, “if a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around, does it make a sound?” will get a conversation going every time. There are those who refuse to answer, because they absolutely need a human witness for proof. The answer is obvious. Of course, a falling tree makes noise. We do not have to be there to know it makes noise. The only way it didn’t make a noise would be if it’s a sapling, and falls on a rabbit, maybe it didn’t make any sound.

There are many times when my senses fail me miserably for proof. There are several words to describe the quiet time in our lives. I mean the REAL quiet time, with no outside or white noise to distract us. Some call it prayer; meditation; alone time; contemplation. It can happen while sitting in a chair, yoga, lying in the sun, jogging, gardening. It’s that moment in time when we sort things out for ourselves. We seem never to be alone during these moments. Some feel it’s God’s presence. Some feel the spirits of others around them. Some even think it’s their previous soul from reincarnation. Just because we can’t see, hear or touch does not mean it isn’t there.

I like this feeling, and wish everyone could attain it. We can touch someone, without a physical touch. We can see people, and not ever look at them with our eyes. We don’t have to rely on our senses to know this. To get into your own thoughts keeps you more aware of what is going on. I do not wish everyone was Christian, nor do I wish everyone was one with God. It’s not possible to expect humans to have the same belief system. The person sitting next to me, in the pew on Sunday, probably has a different perspective of life, and he is hearing and seeing the same as me.

I do wish everyone would take a little quiet time, away from their busy lives, and reflect on the day. It can be as simple as looking on how the day could possibly have been better, and make those adjustments tomorrow. It gives me solace, even if the world is crashing around me on CNN. It seems the more I practice it, the more peaceful I become. I don’t need to see or hear anyone to know someone is with me.