Our beautiful home has at least one unwanted guest. We learned this week that (a?) sewer rat has made its way from below ground up into our unfinished basement. Even typing those words puts a gag reflex in my mouth. Rats make me feel ill. Thank God its not in the house!
Living in the DC metro
area, this is a very common occurrence; but common does not mean welcome. So what to do? (Other than call pest control which is done and being implemented as I type.) Turn this into a yoga theme of course! I might cause mass gag attacks if the actual theme was rats. And there is no ‘rat pose’ that I know of, Praise the Lord!
I found inspiration in an invitation. “A Divine Invitation” to be exact. Hafiz writes:
You have been invited to meet
The Friend.
No one can resist a Divine Invitation.
That narrows down all our choices
To just two:
We can come to God
Dressed for Dancing,
Or,
Be carried on a stretcher
To God’s Ward.
This poem reminded me that all situations are made from our perspective. That my response alone is my own. And from this reminder, The Divine Invitation theme was crafted for class.
We played with a slower flow, allowing time to consider each pose; just as time must be allowed to consider your response to the Invitation. Will you respond with joy? Dressed for the party?That option sounds like fun!
What about the other option? “Be carried on a stretcher to God’s Ward.” ??!!?? That sounds rather harsh. I either dance or be hurt? Kind of.
I interpreted this to be a win – win poem. (Note: I chose this option. It’s one of joy, and I also believe it to be true.)
EVEN IF I DON’T accept the Divine Invitation and arrive on the (scat of rat) scene with joy, I am covered by grace.
EVEN IF I DON’T do as I should, displaying the fruits of the Holy Spirit in my actions and act the Bitter Betty in the corner, I will be carried.
EVEN IF I DON’T receive the gift of the present and am injured by my tightening, I will be healed. Healing happens in God’s Ward.
So, my choices are two: come dressed for dancing and enjoy, or don’t and be healed anyway.
It is a beautiful thought as I am bound still be in my pjs and not my dance clothes at some parties. At some point, I am going to forget the joy option is better. So for you literal rats – I’m still not going into the basement until you are gone and the 1930’s french drain is fully sealed against your ingress. And for you figurative rats that would steal my joy and have me hurting – not in the presence of My Lord you won’t.
He has promised:
*The joy of the Lord is MY strength! – Psalm 28:7
*O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. – Psalm 30:2
Should the Psalms not be sufficient reminder, let’s sign off with some Ecclesiastes 9:7: Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is NOW that God favors what you do.
Atha Yoganushasanam – NOW is the time for yoga, says the Yoga Sutra.
Same – Same.
Win – Win.
Joy!
May you wear your dance clothes in response to the Invitation!