Abandoning the Dog

Choosing a Generative Path to Cultivate Love Within Oneself

In The God's of the Copybook Headings, Rudyard Kipling concludes his poem by saying that a few things are certain.

The Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire, And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire

Each instance depicts the cyclical nature of folly, cleverly suggesting that a fool will always return to the thing he knows, even when it is not beneficial, even detrimental.

But what each of us returns to is different.

For me, I return to a negative, critical headspace that can spiral downward into a black hole. 

The crazy thing was that over those few months I knew I was in that place. Yet, like a dog returning to his vomit, a sow returning to her mire, I continued to consume and wallow in this negative space to my detriment.

Maybe you have had that experience, as well.

It takes humility to recognize and admit what is destroying you. Even more, it takes courage to step away from the cycle and to choose a kinder, more generative path.

In understanding from my previous post that prayer is any interior journey that cultivates faith, hope, and love, I knew that I had to push back the dark clouds surrounding me and create a clearing for this holy inner work.   

That may sound like a super-spiritual exercise that only the most pious can undertake, but let me underwhelm you with how practical it has been for me.

Each morning before any other undertaking, even before WORDLE, I read one passage from Richard Rohr's daily meditation book. While the coffee is brewing, I stretch rather than scroll on social media.

After work, I take a walk outside. I am intentional in not thinking about anything from the past or in the future. I remain fully present, listening to every breath and giving thanks to God for everything I see. Even more recently and as I have mentioned before, I have begun carrying a trash bag to collect litter along the way.

At bedtime, I started the year by reading Letters from the Mountain by Ben Palpant and am now reading The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben.

Lastly, I have made it a goal to encourage at least one person each week. I want the people in my life to know what good I see in them and how thankful I am for them.

Question

1. What is one generative practice you can begin doing today that will cultivate faith, hope, and love in your life?

Peace,

Brandon