When I re-enlisted in the Army a dozen years ago, I had a
goal of scoring 300, the maximum score, on the Army fitness test. The test consists of pushups, situps and a
two-mile run. To score the maximum at 55
years old I needed to run two consecutive seven-minute miles. I could run 7:30 but I wanted to run seven
flat or even in the high sixes.
I was a bicyclist and had not run for years, so I had lots
of problems with my form. The way I
fixed my form, as well as I could, and got to my target speed was by running on
a treadmill facing a full-length mirror.
Unlike spot correction by a coach, watching my arms, legs,
shoulders and torso for most of the run showed me deficiencies and allowed me
to practice running as I should.
Three years ago after I left the Army I started meditating.
I am not sure what silly objections I had to meditating for the first six
decades of my life, but now it is a daily habit. When I meditate, I am very
aware there is no moment but now. Whatever my plans or memories, the only
moment I can live in is this one. This
very moment.
During meditation, when I leave this moment in my mind, my breath
brings me back. And I am in the present, alive to now. Meditation, in that way, is like that running
mirror for my spiritual life. I start
running and see my torso tilt to the left or my right knee moving laterally or
my elbows swinging out.
As I run, I straighten my back, I pull in the stray elbow, I
focus on making my stride straight as my speed increases.
And I breath.
Meditation pulls my mind into alignment with my spirit. The
animal/spirit amphibian that is my daily reality comes closest to unity when I
focus on my breath and am aware that there is no other moment than this
one.
The mirror for running and meditation as a mirror for my
spirit came late in my life, but not too late.
