Healing Mother
needed that day as “payment” for not being mindful. I leave
Earth
these special bags right in my car. One is stuck right down
Begins from Within
beside my driver’s seat to help me remember. Even so, I have
a nice collection now from not being mindful. Confucius
wrote, “Take care of the root and the fruit will take care of
by Rev. Lana Charlton itself.” When we take care to not pollute the roots of our-
selves - our inner environment, the change on the earth will
w
isdom teachings speak of Oneness which naturally occur.
is hard to grasp since the human/egoic Mother Earth is a good mirror of collective conscious-
mind lives in dualism. We affect each ness. Watching the fogginess of pollution in the air during the
other and our world at large, in ways we can’t recent Olympic games, I am reminded of my inner fog. At
even begin to imagine with this dualistic consciousness. There- the end of the day, upon reflection, I often take time to look
fore when people begin to speak of pollution and the problems at how foggy I lived. How often was I really present? Did I
with our environment, I can’t help but go within: change the feel my morning shower? Did I feel my footsteps as I walked?
inside, and you’ll change the outside. Life is lived from the in- Did I taste each bite of my morning oatmeal or spicy eggs?
side out. Nothing will change until we create a firm foundation How do I pollute my own mind through too much news, TV,
of who and what we are, and how our individual consciousness and most importantly self talk and judgement? Every moment
affects everything. This requires radical responsibility for our self offers the opportunity for cleaning up our inner and outer
and our actions. This requires true mindfulness. Mindfulness is a environment when we live in a web of interconnectedness.
word that is thrown around a lot these days. It surprises me that Life is filled with positives and negatives but it is still life.
even politicians have picked up on it. Mindfulness is multifac- When we take the radical approach to look and then re-look
eted but could be basically described as living in the present at each situation, we will begin to clean up our inner and
moment. The more we live in the present moment the more we outer environment much quicker. This is especially true when
can see the internal and outer aspects of everything. we practice awareness and recognize that many thoughts
Personally, I have really been trying to live more envi- are like an overflowing landfill. Much of our daily thinking
ronmentally friendly on many levels. Even so, I cannot count is about subtle chattering commentary and judgements that
how often I leave my special “recycled” grocery bags in the are nothing more than left over junk and trash from yester-
car. If I cannot run out to the car, due to holding up the line, day or thirty years ago. If we do not take the time for radical
I have decided I must purchase how many ever bags are self awareness, our old emotional issues will not be broken
down, much like a used baby diaper.
It is important to note that there are many factors to envi-
ronmental changes and healing Mother Earth and ourselves.
A small step taken every day for change and awareness both
on the inner and the outer creates less trash. It has never
served me to beat myself up because I’m not always present.
Yet, steps with deep compassion, to take radical responsibil-
ity, create a more response able me. Traveling, in my car or
plane, I take a stainless steel cup. I am always amazed at
how many cups and plastic water bottles are thrown away
during conferences or meetings. I use the cup to remind my-
self that I want to come empty, ready to receive, listen anew,
to what is being offered. If it is too bitter or too sweet, I can
empty it out. If it is just right, I can consume it.
Next Session: October 11, 2008, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Bringing my recycled bags into the supermarket reminds
me to buy what is healthy and good for my body. I often pack
my own bags. Handling all the items again brings a con-
sciousness of how much I consume and how blessed I am
that I can afford good food and good food is available.
Every day is an invitation to open our hearts and soul
to the wonder and oneness of all that is. The time has come
for everyone to offer real attention to the healing of Mother
Earth. As we work on healing the pollution that lies within
the minds, hearts, bodies, and souls of all humanity, male
and female, we will be true-environmentalists.
Rev. Lana Charlton is the senior minister at Unity Gate-
way Church, Coral Springs, and writes for numerous world-
wide, national, and local publications. See ad page 21 & 70.
30 Broward County
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