Namaste

After an hour of full on heat blast, sweat, and plank, the instructor finally had us resting in corpse pose. Hands facing upwards on our sides. Eyes closed. Mind reaching for nirvana. A firm yet gentle voice cascaded over the humid room.

"The divine light in me recognizes the divine light in you, have a wonderful Forth of July, Namaste".

It was beautiful.
After pouring a gallon of sweat onto the yoga mat. Enduring through planks in different poses. Bypassing the initial irritation at the partner for even suggesting spending the morning of a national holiday sweating with twenty strangers. My whole being was at peace.

Mind, body and soul. 

All this new age talk coming from someone groomed in Chinese Christian American culture for the past twelve years. Almost ludicrous. Yet it was the only place I felt recognized by something bigger than a mere human, doing his or her best of telling you to "just follow and trust in deity, verse, or book". 

The light within me was finally lit. 

Maybe this is why we need to reinvent and redefine what faith looks like, outside the familiar boxes of traditional story books and translated Bible verses. 

We forgot the debt was paid in full, and continued to carry the cross. Seeing only the sinner in all, and recognizes nothing else. Forgoing openness, acceptance, and vulnerability, for perfection, seclusion. Rejecting all who does not live up to be a Pharisees.

The divine light was snuffed out, while the sinner hung out to dry. 

We fear going outside the box. A place created to keep God familiar, and others away. 

We forgot to turn on the light, as we have received the Spirit, the divine. 

Spiritual self-multination. The "Always a sinner. Never good enough". 

I lost my faith in strive, until Namaste lit the light. 

I recognize the divine in me, and the divine in you. 

To be mindful, not perfect. 

To empower, not decimate. 

Namaste. 

Namaste.