In November we will be exploring the theme of generosity in worship. A choir member said recently that generosity and gratitude go hand in hand, therefore what a fitting time for us to reflect upon this virtue. In thinking about what is the best gift I can offer to the world I turn, again, to Taoism and the I Ching. In the words of Eckart Tolle he might say that the most significant gift we have to offer is that of presence. The modern interpretation of the I Ching through the Gene Keys modality described by Richard Rudd offers exactly the same answer. Your genes, and your genius expression of who you are, is by far the best gift you have. Growing up and witnessing the state of the world one could say that our presence is in constant demand as well. Any tactics of manipulation, warfare, and oppression require an unwanted and forceful demand on attention. Attention is presence.
So, during this month I invite everyone to express your gratitude by giving your attention to what you are grateful for. Is it your child? A beloved family member? A hobby that you are passionate about? To start my practice a little early I offered my neighbor some seeds to germinate, because he loves spending time with seeds. I want to celebrate his presence by offering to him opportunities for him to do just that, share of who he is. Through my own presence and awareness, I want to foster the presence and awareness of others. I do not want to give a second of my attention to fear mongering, to the media, to thoughts of war, of pity, to violence, and so on, to anything that takes away my presence and rattles my system. If people are coming to kill me, I want them to find me among my flowers gardening or at my piano playing music, among my beloveds laughing and singing. I want to feed the hungry from a place of shared experience, not as a savior to a plight. I want to relate to others as if I am relating to myself, with an open heart and without masks of any sort.
One trick to engage in this practice is to equate should with no. Should means no. If you feel you should hang out with a certain person or do a particular activity, I invite you to not hang out nor do the activity. This is because you are not a “should” in anyone’s lives or any action, you are a miracle of existence and I want you to realize that so that you become aware of just how magnificently generous you already are when you are you, just by being you. Another trick is to recognize when others around you are demanding or manipulating you into giving up your attention. Give it from your heart, not from a sense of guilt or shame. Give it freely, not from a perspective that it is owed. This is a practice that requires care and subtlety because it may seem that the world is not ready for us. Yet who we are is the key for ending all suffering, we only need to embrace and accept ourselves. Loving ourselves will lead you to become enamored. Rather than fall in love, which sounds dangerous and misleading, being enamored means literally to be in love, and from that perspective all violence, corruption, greed, oppression falls apart. Therefore, don’t be generous when you can, be generous because you are. Generosity is your genes wanting to express themselves and showing off your genius. Be prideful of who you are. Be greedy for you. Lust after yourself. Envy your presence. Be a glutton and never satiate of you. Be wrathful in protecting you. And be a total sloth with your attention, don’t give it to anything that isn’t you. In the Old Testament, Genesis 101, the Hebrew word khata, which translates to sin, means to “miss the mark”. You have one life, don’t let fear deter you from being you. By doing that you give everyone the opportunity to be grateful for you. You are the mark.
About the author
Angel de Armendi, Music Director
Angel (he/she/they/any) received his Bachelor of Music degree from New World School of the Arts and continued his study of piano performance at Florida International University. He made his way to Tallahassee through the Music Theory graduate program at FSU. While in school he diversified his piano skills accompanying FSU and Tallahassee City Ballet dance classes. His interest in vocal coaching took him to the Asolo Song Festival in Italy during two summers, as Assistant Director/Pianist and Composer In Residence. In Tallahassee, he also directs the High Holy Days Choir at Temple Israel, and has been their regular pianist since 2008. His love for sacred music and practice has motivated him to go through and graduate in 2015 from the Music Leadership Credentialing Program, offered by the Unitarian Universalist Musicians’ Network. During their 2015 conference in Boston he was unanimously elected as Board Member at Large for the Board of Trustees, a three-year voluntary commitment. He is deeply committed to building a thriving music program at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee.