What does your inner voice tell you?

I have been very fortunate to be part of an 2-year Jewish study program called The Wexner Heritage Program funded by the Abigail and Les Wexner Foundation and The Jewish Federations.  We have studied the history, scripture, philosophy and culture of the Jewish people which will hopefully make us better leaders in our community.

This week's session titled "Visions of Abyss and Redemption" was taught by Emory Professor Don Seeman and focused on the philosophy of Martin Buber (1878-1965).  Though I can go into further detail about Martin Buber and his different theories on existentialism, religion, Israel and philosophy, there is a particular passage from his book "The Way of Man" that I thought was very poignant and worthy of a post on the LIVE AS IF blog.

"Everything now depends on whether man faces the question.  Of course, every man's heart, like that of the chief in the story, will tremble when he hears it.  But his system of hideouts will help to overcome this emotion.  For the Voice does not come in a thunderstorm which threatens man's very existence; it is a "still small voice," and easy to drown.  So long as this is done, man's life will not become a way.  Whatever success and enjoyment he may achieve, whatever power he may attain and whatever deeds he may do, his life will remain way-less, so long as he does not face the Voice." --Martin Buber

The Voice that Buber is speaking of is the Voice of God but I found it quite interesting how he just referred to it as "The Voice".  I guess it would be easier if God showed up as burning bush, a thundering cloud or Morgan Freeman but many believe that our inner voice is God's way of speaking to us and giving us guidance.  The question is whether we are listening.

The LIVE AS IF blog has always been based on the premise that whether you believe in a God, an energy or some other connection that binds us, you should LIVE AS IF that God, energy or connection is real.  So, if you have made it this far in this post, my question to you is...

WHAT DOES YOUR INNER VOICE TELL YOU?

It may seem like a simple question but with all the "noise" going on in our everyday lives, it can be difficult to hear our inner voice and more importantly, to listen to it.  My first recommendation would be to take the advice of Craig Cohen's recent post titled "It's all in the breaks".  It's all about taking the time from your busy schedule to listen to your inner voice.  Take a walk, pray or just find a few minutes on the way home from work.  Your inner voice is there to guide you on your journey through life but only if you are listening.  As Martin Buber says, "it is a "still small voice," and easy to drown."  Only if we let it Mr. Buber.  Only if we let it.

It’s all in the breaks

It’s all in the breaks

 

I’ve come to realize as I approach my 4^th decade of life that it’s what happens in between events where life actually exists. As an avid cyclist and a newly hooked trail runner, I find myself taking breaks just to find the in betweens. I find myself gazing more at the water in the bay and the sun rise over the ocean.  I imagine I’m in a valley and the bay is a retaining lake at the base of the million years of geological evolution we call mountains or watching the sun rise over the spectacular Rocky Mountains.   

Now don’t get me wrong. I love the feel of the wind as I crush a trail that has bested me in the past or the sensation of my body working as if all cylinders are firing together.  There are few experiences where you find yourself in full motion meditation.  Where all else in life is pushed to the side and you are totally focused on the trail underfoot or tire. But the best moments of my day – my favorite moments – are the ones that happen between all the others.  When the pounding of my heart and the labor of my breath quiets and I come to rest just to the side of the trail.

Turns out, the best part of the ride or run is the time I spend not riding or running at all. In a place between the hammering of the legs and poignant end of the day there exists the pimple perfection of a mid-workout break.  Where the view it spectacular and uninterrupted and I can take time to look in between the events of life.

Since my first breaks along the trails I have been fortunate enough to travel to places where the mountains touch the sky and the lakes reflect the landscape around them. And when I was old enough to realize the enormity of the beauty of that first mountain top I saw, I remembered the bay and the sun and the invisible mountain tops I had seen in my head.

Some breaks are as much a part of the ride or run as the trail itself, occasionally obscuring the rest of the experience. One of my favorite stops is a bench that sits on a small rock outcropping just off the trail.  It’s here that I can sit and slow it all down, if only for a moment.

I nod and smile as runners and riders pass me as I sit on my favorite bench looking out at the bay. On thoughtful days I’ll see the same ones on their second loop as I sit on my look-out bench.  The bench placed by other hikers, riders, joggers or another person just looking for a good place to rest.  I sit on the bench to appreciate what life has given me thus far.  I’m thankful and grateful for my life. It’s the moments between the all the running that I feel like I’m finally living life to the fullest, if only for a short while at a time.

As much as I want to take off riding or running down that trail head and enjoy the challenge that it provides, I know that life is too short to spend it racing from here to there to somewhere more important.  If I don’t hold on these moments right here and right now, the ride might be over before I get another chance.  And so I sit a little longer watching the beauty of the Bay from my little bench, taking in all of life’s insignificant striking little details.