Self Mastery Of The Orange Juice Experience

It was a gray day, the morning sun hidden by clouds. The much-needed rain was here. Everything green awaited nourishment — the opportunity to capture the sky’s nectar for dry hours and dry days to come.

I had just finished enjoying my morning coffee and walked out the door and headed to the local grocer to buy their fresh-squeezed orange juice. I’d been craving their juice over these last couple of days after drinking a half-gallon of it earlier in the week. For whatever reason, my body craved it, so I listened to this intrinsic wisdom. I was at peace this day, as I am on most, settled, grounded, feeling appreciative and aware of the prior evening's restfulness, while also feeling expansive and connected from my early morning meditation.

Walking through the light rain, I noticed the contrast between the wet sidewalk and the dry zone under the trees, and I realized the rain was so new and light it had not yet made its way down through the leaves of the large trees that reached for the sky.

I entered the store and grabbed a bottle of fresh-squeezed orange juice. I felt joy over its clear container and smiled because I not only saw what it offered, I could feel its offering too. I was so familiar with this juice I could determine its sweetness merely by observing its color. Today the juice had an orange so deep I imagined the fructose must be caramelized inside.

The entry door and the orange juice aisle were in line, both on the right side of the store. I continued my path through the store, walked straight ahead to the back aisle, and took a left. An employee to my right, who was wearing a mask, was placing fresh chicken thighs into the meat display. A customer, also wearing a mask, stood silent in this back aisle, head-down looking into his phone, maybe checking his grocery list, or asking his partner if there was anything else he needed to buy.

The next two isle’s leading back towards the front of the store had someone in them. I laughed a small laugh at my continued rerouting through the store. Life was different now that social distancing existed. It was as if all the obstacles I’d ever faced before expanded in size by six feet.

Continuing my trek lead me to an empty aisle, where I turned left and walked toward the front of the store. After emerging I looked to my left and spotted the lone cashier, who looked up and caught my eye as I began heading her way. Suddenly a man pushed by me to my right, speeding in and then stepping in front of me to get to the cashier first. There was no ‘excuse me’, no eye contact, no acknowledgment of each other even though we were the only two customers at the register at that time. There was just early morning grumpiness and solitude.

‘I will make room for you.’ was the thought that involuntarily entered my mind. This single thought phrase ran through my mind a few more times, enough for me to become present to the fact that the thought ‘I will make room’ and my body’s energy were not in sync.

I noticed I was triggered, and irritated.

‘I will make room for you.’ I intentionally thought as I watched the cashier ring up his purchase and noticed him look back at me with a smirk.

My body and mind were still out of sync.

I moved my focus to my heart. Involuntarily I felt a new flow of energy begin, and with it, a felt sense of expansiveness. Focusing on my heart brought me peace. I no longer needed to react to what had just occurred.

‘I will make room for you.’ was the thought, ‘I have room for you.’ was the feeling. The expansiveness I felt created an energetic space for the experience to be just as it was. There was no need to react. I felt this experience as Grace. The experience of not just offering space, but of ‘being” the space offered. I was no longer “acting” graciously, I was ‘being’ Grace itself.

I felt this experience as Grace. The experience of not just offering space, but of ‘being” the space offered. I was no longer “acting” graciously, I was ‘being’ Grace itself.

The man finished his transaction and left. I completed my purchase and as I was leaving the store, I held open the door for the woman entering. She smiled at this simple act of kindness. I was kindness itself.

I realized in that instant, it is within these small interactions in life, within these seemingly unimportant occurrences, that one can discover the subtle realm of reality where peace, kindness, and Grace can be embodied and offered as an experience not just for me, but for everyone and everything I interact with.

I made my way to my car, happy, kind, and gracious all the way through.

The next moment is eternally empty. What I choose to place into it, is up to me.