The nomination of Matt Gaetz to be the Justice Department Secretary pushed me over the edge. I, like many, couldn’t believe it. It made crystal clear to me that the circus is indeed in town. Having studied a little Latin, I wondered if this was indeed the Circus Maximus, the greatest circus of all times. 

A little investigation showed me that the Latin for circus is more about a circle and its size. Circus Maximus was the huge field, later called coliseum, where the chariot races, gladiatorial events, wild animal events and other large spectacles were staged.  Besides greatest, maximus also means the largest. Circus was an event taking place in a circle. The words also came to mean “noisy, confused activity”. 

There you have it; we are heading into a time of great noise and confusion. And yes, I do recall that half of America doesn’t believe the circus is coming. They believe it is leaving and sanity is being restored.

So, what do we do to prepare for the circus? I’d like to continue what I began last week—sharing my reflections and those of a few friends about adapting to the results of the 2024 election. 

One friend responded to the inquiry “How are you doing?” by writing personal reflections on his plan for living in these times. He began with expressing his feelings and frustrations.  He goes on to say that he will nurture a compassionate and hopeful spirit and a humble curiosity about those he doesn’t understand. He concludes by saying he will stay committed to hope and resurrection and will continue to work to make the Beloved Community real. 

Another friend and guest contributor, Shirin McArthur wrote in her recent weekly post about the pain and fear she hears about the election results. She reminds her readers that we are powerless over the past and future. Our hope is in the present. God, in her terms, or the Force for Good in my terms is present now. She suggests: 

“This is why so many spiritual traditions teach a version of contemplative prayer or meditation. That practice brings us back to the present moment, over and over again, whenever our minds wander to future fears or past recriminations. When we are in the present moment, we can connect with and ground ourselves in God. We can listen for wisdom. We can let go of what hasn’t happened or already happened and be present with the only reality that matters: this moment. When we ground ourselves in God, we also gain strength to stand our ground.”

Listening to my friends reminds me to tune into my feelings and to stay in the present. Meditation or contemplation is my friend and guide if I practice it. I find peace and nurture compassion through meditation.  I have written about how hard it has been for me to sit still and meditate. Seven or eight years ago, after a long stretch of periodic and short-lived attempts to develop my meditation skills, I learned about “centering prayer.” It is a practice of sitting in silence twenty minutes twice a day. I adopted it and have had success with it.

It has brought me many unexpected gifts. For years, I was puzzled by how to better give and receive love. The art of being with another in friendship and love seemed quite mysterious. I certainly was loved and loving but still unable to understand or appreciate the mystery of love. Meditation opened my heart to a power and a guide I call Big Spirit or LOVE. This guide has also led me to an understanding of another baffling mystery: how to be in the present moment, to be mindful. Previously I had told myself I wasn’t wired to live in the present. My mind was always somewhere else, and I kind of enjoyed those wandering mind trips!

As I shared in a recent post, I am now using the power of breathing and smiling as a way to be present. Later today I will attend a small Heart Meditation which focuses on developing compassion and breathing and living through the heart.

The Washington Post recently reviewed Simon Critchley’s new book Mysticism, which offers a look at the many people of different faiths and none who have embraced this path of contemplation and its connection to mysticism. Mysticism is described as: “a certain spiritual and intangible quest: the finding of a ‘way out’ or a ‘way back’ to some desirable state in which alone [the mystic] can satisfy their craving for absolute truth.”

In my experience, it doesn’t matter whose circus is in town, practicing contemplation and embracing the wisdom of the mystics offers hope and wisdom. It guides me in what is mine to do today.