Inner Work

For the week of: October 27, 2003

The Petty and the Grand

We spend far too much time and energy concerned with small-minded, self-centered pettiness. Every little thing takes us, from the hurried and discourteous driver to the distracted retail clerk, from the coworker who forgets to consider us to the spouse who doubts our infallibility. Any little thing said or done in our presence may at any time set us off into inner turmoil. We give ourselves up far too easily to the unimportant, losing our opportunities for presence, purpose, and kindness.

Our spiritual practices can help lift us out of petty concerns by giving us a larger perspective, a stronger presence, and a surer hold on what does matter. Conversely, lifting our concern out of the petty must be one of our spiritual practices. Time spent in meditation or prayer quickly evaporates if we descend into quaking over trivialities. Our grand purpose in life vanishes when we heed our egoistic impulses. Our heart of kindness shrivels when we elevate our reactive emotions beyond their true place.

For this week, work to distinguish the truly significant from the insignificant. Notice your moments of pettiness and by contrast allow yourself the peace and space to open to the grandeur.

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