Well, the past few weeks have been anything but normal. Glad that I am in retreat for the time being. Dan the observer, are you there?

Yes, Dan in retreat, what’s up?

Today I had a meditation session related to Hildegard of Bingen.

You mean that mystic from the Middle Ages?

You got it. She was a pretty amazing human.

All right. How did it go?

Well, let me tell you about some of what she wrote, and I think it will be obvious.

Okay. Shoot.

The topics of light and love recur throughout her writings. She also writes of being good stewards of what is on earth. In fact, she took my breath away when she said that if humans misuse their place on earth that the divine justice of God is such that nature is allowed to “give a reminder”.

What’s that about?

Well, I can’t read her mind from here, but I expect this corona virus has given us all an opportunity to think about whether we are being good stewards of what we’ve been given on earth to use. And how we wish to be with each other-especially now that we are somewhat quarantined from each other.

It does make me think.

Yeah, me too. In fact I asked those meditating with me tonight to meditate on her words. We did, and my insight was that “Love is easy and easeful when I let it be. Also that there’s no time to wait to be loving, and finally, that God or the Universe is always ready to support us in what we do.

So that’s what you were up to

I hope others can have their own insights and share, too.

I noticed, Dan.

Noticed what? Dan the observer of me in retreat.

Well, you look concerned. Are you?

Shouldn’t I be? All of us are supposed to stay at home under the threat of unwittingly spreading the COVID-19 virus.

Yeah. It makes sense to be concerned, but.

Well, I’m trying to prepare to carry out work online and have so much to do…

So does everyone.

Of course. You know, I am really enjoying how much those I work with are collaborating to get things done.

So what’s the problem?

I guess there’s really no problem as such…

And? … I guess, I’m wondering about when you sit in meditation. By the way, good job getting in extra meditation each day. You’re coming along good with that.

Thanks.

When you sit in meditation, what are you noticing?

Well, if there’s really nothing wrong, then what could it be?

Good question.

…

Oh, I remember now. Anytime I am concerned it is from giving up a sense of taking care of business from within. You know, that is what I haven’t been noticing.

What do you mean?

That the concerns I have are about what is coming at me from without, not within.

You mean, things are okay?

Yeah. Mostly. Of course, concerns related to the virus and the need to be vigilant, responsible, and careful are all real things, but the concern comes from taking cues from without.

And, therefore, not what?

Acting within, including allowing myself to be calm. But I’m reading a book that gave me another insight related to that.

What’s that?

Dan, the observer, this is Dan in retreat signing off.

Hey?!

Don’t worry. That insight will be in my next blog.

For now, I’m going to get back to taking care of business.

Hi There, Dan. It’s Dan. I am watching and learning about you. Love your intention and effort. Good idea to use your time away from work as a retreat. (Note to self: you can bring this intention to your life even if things change again.)

I’m writing because I noticed that you have an intention to use time away from your physical work space, school, to use more as a retreat, but ran into a speed bump yesterday.

Here’s what I noticed about your day. Your idea of bringing a retreat like atmosphere to all you do got crowded out by your concern for your job.

You spent some good time in the morning yesterday meditating in a way that grows your meditative experience. “Good job,” as your teacher might say.

What happened later was that you continued to work, work, work, on your job–not a bad thing in itself, but by the time you got to the evening and ready for bed you hadn’t taken the time to meditate in the evening that you were planning to do.

It’s all learning. Keep with it…..