Friction, friction

My dearest friend is a very wise woman. She has a fondness for the saying, "All friction is a cry for help," and that the way we help is through prayer. It's one of those things that you intuitively nod in agreement to, "yes, I agree," you say. but what I have found is that this truth reveals itself again and again. Truth is like that.

What is friction? Anything and everything that irritates, annoys, angers, frustrates or otherwise nudges you away from equilibrium. Any thought, any interaction, any word, any action that aggravates in anyway your equilibrium - is friction, and on a much deeper level, it is a call for help. Something, somewhere (usually tucked quite out of sight) there is something that needs your attention.

And why it needs your attention? So it can be released of course, so that it no longer can affect your equilibrium at all.

My friend uses a powerful 5-step prayer - here is my rough interpretation, but please visit her blogs where she has detailed it out...(www.myspace.com/wakipaurnamasi)

1. Call to order your spectrum of helpers: saints, guides, prophets, angels.

2. Call to focus the friction.

3. Ask for what you want instead of the friction

4. Ask for the helpers to help release it, and hold the space so they can.

5. Say thank you.

And it never fails. Never. I have never encountered any situation that was distrubing my equilibrium that couldn't be helped through this prayer. This morning, while driving a long trip for work, I got to reminiscing over some rather unpleasant thoughts - the ex-spouse type thoughts - uncomfortable, irritating, infuriating, frustrating, etc. I simply addressed it with the 5 step and within minutes, every vestige of frustration, anger and irritation were gone.

It was one of those "Aha!" moments where I could recognize that the friction was there, because something was needing to be released. Simply thinking about forgiveness (that's what I tried first!) wasn't enough. The friction was calling to attention the need and the 5-step was a great method. You can use whatever method you want, prayer, meditation, mantra, belief system work - whatever works for you is good, just as long as the friction is given the attention it deserves.

It is, afterall, a wonderful liberator - yet another wonderful gift in the process of life. Friction will always appear when there is something you need to look at and address. Friction in a love relationship is pointing to the need to address an issue. Friction in the relationship with a child - same thing - some need is not being addressed and the friction is calling attention to it. Everywhere - even in mundane daily routine, friction is the call for help.

If you are willing to see the friction and know help is needed, your prayers are enough. Love can heal the world.

Blessings.
- Darshan

© 2008 Darshan F Jessop