The Deepest Itch
I remember a story about a person who was injured in Viet Nam and who had a curious thing happen for many, many years afterwards. Out of the blue, he would begin to feel an initial itching here and there on his body. The itching was soon followed by the emergence of a sharp piece of shrapnel that had worked its way to the surface and could then be pulled out with tweezers.
This made me think: isn't this similar to how consciousness works? Despite ourselves, there is something within us that wants us to be whole and happy. Unfortunately, we are often not willing or aware enough to take the time to really check out what is going on inside us that may be causing discomfort on the outside. So we begin to experience an “itch” that is hard to ignore.
Our "itching" might be a moment of uneasiness with how we have traditionally perceived other people or situations. It might be a questioning or moment of increased insight that then gives us the opportunity to mindfully seek out the corollary between the itch and a belief held within consciousness that is not True.
Remember, if something gets our "attention" (be it in the physical body, our relationships or the world around us) by disrupting our peace of mind, a piece of "shrapnel" could be present for us to find, discard and replace with a Truth. It is the process of all life.
Spiritual maturity allows us to lament not that we have been wounded, but with loving awareness seek the belief that is supporting unhappy effects in mind, body or affairs.
Love is then a very effective tweezer.