One of my favourite writers and thinkers these days is the great educator Parker Palmer. He talks a lot about vocation and the need to be thoughtful in our choices if we wish to be fully alive — especially in the culture we live.
Here’s what he says:
“One of the great threats to full aliveness is the sleight of hand practiced by our egos and our culture to keep us from seeing things as they are. Contemplation happens any time that we catch the magician deceiving us and we get a glimpse of the truth behind the trick.” – Parker Palmer
I love this quote. I feel like that’s when I’m able to write a song — when I see the magician. Just for a moment I see some clarity in life. But days, weeks and sometimes months roll by and I’m just watching life pass — numb to the tricks that are being turned.
Perhaps the key is mindfulness and trying to be aware more often what it is that’s happening in a given moment. Perhaps this is being fully alive.