Being Here - Being present in every situation

In the film and novel Being There (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Being_There), Chance the Gardener has lived a simple life gardening for a wealthy homeowner and watching television. The lessons that he has learned, organically and unconsciously, are all he needs for life and prove to be irresistible to the power elite of Washington, D.C. when he has an accidental encounter with them. There is something of value, that you can use, that is right here and now in that situation that you are resisting. We all will find ourselves in less than ideal scenarios throughout our lives. How present and open we are to the unexpected revelation and inspiration that we may encounter is key to our enjoyment in that moment and to deriving future benefits.

Hazrat Inayat Khan, the Sufi teacher from India wrote in Mastery Through Accomplishment, “It is better to get a small thing than nothing” and “In every gain in life a person takes a step forward”. This is another way of saying “Do not despise the day of small beginnings” Zechariah 4:10. Again, in the New Testament in Luke 10, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” The idea is to be diligent, conscientious and engaged in whatever your assignment and you will be promoted (spiritually, mentally, emotionally). If you always want to be somewhere else, doing something else, you are never anywhere, doing anything. This goes for space and time. Some people live in the past, others fret about the future. The only thing real - is the present.

Years ago, I reluctantly attended an extended family reunion in Tampa Florida with my parents, brother and sister. I would have preferred to stay home, write music, practice, etc. One evening, as I stood overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, I saw a seagull perched on a single wooden piling, creating a silhouette against the setting sun. I was inspired in that moment and heard music in my head. I grabbed a recorder that I carried around with me and sang 2 complete compositions into it. When I got home, I transcribed and harmonized my beautiful melodies and the 2 pieces are 2 of my favorites to this day. It was effortless. It was organic.It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t, on some level, been willing to be present. You never know where inspiration will originate. You have to be receptive all the time.