At the End of the Day: A Mirror of Questions

What dreams did I create last night?

Where did my eyes linger today?
Where was I blind?

Where was I hurt without anyone noticing? What did I learn today?

What did I read?

What new thoughts visited me?

What differences did I notice in those closest to me? Whom did I neglect?

Where did I neglect myself?

What did I begin today that might endure? 

How were my conversations?

What did I do today for the poor and the excluded?

Did I remember the dead today?

Where could I have exposed myself to the risk of something different?

Where did I allow myself to receive love?

With whom today did I feel the most myself?

What reached me today? How deep did it imprint?

Who saw me today?

What visitations had I from the past and from the future?

What did I avoid today?

From the evidence, why was I given this day?

                                                      -From John O’ Donohue’s Benedictus, A Book of Blessings

The late John O’ Donohue offers an inquiry that invites us into a deeper reflection into the unfolding of our lives. In this age of technology, where machines have us whirling at ever increasing speed, we do not know the ultimate effects this will have on our neuro-biology. I’ve heard our situation described humorously, as information terrorism. Just imagine the rapidity of which our neurons have to re-calibrate in response to our attention flitting from instantaneous flashes of information. Amidst the wonder of innovation and the exhaustion of full throttle we need to pause.

We need to seek out the sacred spaces to reconnect with our spirit. O’ Donohue offers a lovely mirror to enter into a more intimate relationship with ourselves and the meaning of this life.

Liz Sorensen Wessel

Mandala by ~liz