Choosing Light

by Julie Poore

In these days when every few minutes, something unbelievable comes across the news that infuriates, irritates, or frightens, it’s puzzling to know how to react. It’s challenging to discern a way to respond that’s poignant and meaningful without going off the deep end.

As a person who practices yoga as a spiritual discipline, sometimes I feel I walk a fine line. My gut reaction to some of the absurd situations popping up all around us is to put signs of protest in my yard; adhere bumper stickers to my car; march at the Capitol; go to town meetings and ask our legislators, “What the heck do you think you’re doing?;” and have intense, provocative conversations with people who disagree or who choose to do nothing.

But, I cannot always do those things, or sometimes I choose not to do them.

By seeking to live this way, I feel I’m better prepared to be open to all people; to be better able to discern how to respond to the situations that I encounter in the chaos […]

I’m not only a yoga instructor, but also a pastor of a mainline church. This makes my decision about how to respond to the world around me even more difficult at times. I have this inner dialogue about being authentic to myself as a yoga-practicing progressive Christian, and speaking and acting in a way that allows my yoga students, my parishioners, my family and friends, and the world to continue to see the light within me and around me. I want to live in such a way that light and love are the auras around me, so that others may be blessed by that same light, love, and peace.

My children, niece, and nephew have lovingly accused me of being a “peace, love, and joy flower child.” I gladly accept that designation. That’s what I seek to be through my yoga and faith spirituality. I move through my daily practice of yoga, meditation, and reflections so that I may come to know Spirit more completely and be that peace, love, and joy.

By seeking to live this way, I feel I’m better prepared to be open to all people; to be better able to discern how to respond to the situations that I encounter in the chaos; and to live and love with the heart of the Spirit. Sometimes that means I march at the Capitol. Sometimes it means I spend time in solitude and meditate. Sometimes it means I have intense, meaningful conversations. And sometimes, it means I simply have to live through the chaos and the puzzling twists and turns of our world with the peace of the Spirit.

This article was originally published in YogaIowa’s Spring 2017 issue.