The symbol for the virtue of equanimity is a woman holding the balance scales, blindfolded, that she may judge without prejudice. (She is not allowed to peek!). One quality that is an opposite of equanimity is that of being judgmental.
How wonderful it would be if I didn’t have any judgment about my challenges. Instead of saying, “Oy vey, not another one!” if I could really live the song: “I like the sunshine; I like the rain; I like the good times; I like the pain, ’cause it’s all the same when you’re livin’ the life!”
Yes, I can see life as a journey of hills and valleys designed by Love for my growth and for my joy. God is with me. God, is for me. This is truly possible when all I want is to be close to God. Rumi wrote, “The snow brings me closer to Your lips.”
When I am sad, I am close to God. When I am happy, I am close to God. So, what do the ups and downs of life matter? I am always close to God! All I need to do is remember this.
Beloved God, I receive my challenges with an open heart, knowing that they make me strong and wise. I embrace the times that are difficult because they bring me closer to you. Today, through your grace, I hope to make someone else’s load lighter. Amen
In hard times, may the Sufi story of “The Good Gardner and the Pea” help to bring us into peace and equanimity.
There once was a Good Gardner who planted the seed of a pea bush. He first chose a spot in his garden where the light would be just right for the bush to grow strong and healthy. He amended the soil and carefully planted the seed. Then the good gardener watched over it, watering it every day and keeping away the weeds. Under his care, the little bush grew until it had large pea pods all over it.
One day, very pleased, the Good Gardner went out and picked his peas. He boiled a pot of water on the stove and shelled the peas into it. One little pea cried out from the boiling water,
“Why are you doing this to me! I thought you loved me!”
The Good Gardner looked into the pot with all love and answered the little pea: “Because, little pea, I’m about to take you into myself.”
May all of us who are facing difficult challenges understand that our pain and suffering is growing us, tenderizing us, and making us ready to be consumed by the Divine Gardener.
Father-Mother God, I thank you that I am on the path homeward. Make me ready for union with you; to see as you see; to love as you love; to be fully united unto your very existence, consciousness, and bliss. Amen
In this month of Libra, I am endeavoring to practice equanimity. Another term for it is “being centered.” It’s not so easy to stay centered through all my life’s challenges, especially if I resist them, and try to push them away as if God has just served me a plate of something I detest. I’ve found the practice of acceptance to be key. I can accept the challenge, the heartbreak, the disappointment, if I realize that it’s part of my journey — an opportunity to be transformed into someone who is ready for Divine Union. God is with me, cheering me on, supporting me, and being my true and ever-present helpful friend.
But why only paddle to keep my head above water when I can walk on water through adding the practice of gratitude into the mix. It brings a great beacon of joy into the nightlife of challenges. My own mother took this biblical practice of gratitude, “giving thanks always, for all things, unto God…” to heart in a profound way.
When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her quiet prayer unknown to anyone at the time was: “Thank You, God.” She knew that God was with her, and that “God causes ALL THINGS to work together for the good of those who love God.”
I recently read another powerful statement: “If the only prayer you ever prayed was to say ‘Thank You,’ that would suffice.”
