Five Minute Friday: Practice

The featured image for this post is of artwork on a building in Chelsea, Manhattan. I took this picture during a recent trip there. I’m sorry I don’t have any information on the artist.

I’m writing this post as part of the Five Minute Friday online writing community. Learn more here: http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/.

This week’s writing prompt is PRACTICE.

Maybe each day—each setback, each terrifying leap forward, each joy, each frustration—is an opportunity to practice what we claim to value, prioritize, appreciate.

It’s difficult to maintain this perspective.

• I’ve consistently failed to practice what I know I ought to be practicing. Therefore, guilt. Piano? Didn’t practice. Clarinet? Didn’t practice. Oboe? Didn’t practice. Really, really needed to practice in order to not sound like a dying duck. Didn’t practice.
• It’s incredibly hard to view those moments of frustration as opportunities for growth. When I was pulled over yesterday for expired vehicle registration tags, it was pretty darn difficult to consider that expensive experience to be a learning opportunity. Cause for embarrassment? Absolutely. Opportunity to practice self-compassion? Not so much.

The beautiful thing about viewing each day as an opportunity to practice, though, is the constant assurance that it’s not going to be perfect. I’m not going to be perfect. I’m not supposed to be perfect. I’m practicing. And in that practicing, there is always room for growth, but always room for failure too. Tomorrow, I’ll be practicing again.

And maybe someday I’ll be able to put a gold sticker by something I’ve practiced day in and day out to achieve, but probably not. Probably even after I think I’ve got the thing down, I’ll mess up. I’ll be given the opportunity to practice some more, like it or not.

So today, I will practice paying attention–to the dew on the greening grass, to the way my body thirsts for water (and not just chai latte!), to the tree branch shadows on the driveway, to the prayers that rise up in my heart.

Today, I will practice dreaming—plotting a marathon training schedule even though my muscles are sore from yesterday’s first run in forever.

Today, I will practice loving those I encounter as they need to be loved rather than as I need to be loved. There’s a difference, I’m learning.

Today, I will practice kindness and generosity, trusting that even little acts make a difference. How might a kind word on Twitter do God’s work in the world?

Today, I will practice breathing deeply—inviting the Spirit to fill me, guide me, shape me, free me.

Today, I will practice living—painfully aware that tomorrow is not a given.

What will you practice today?