the lemon song

“You are trapped in time, make peace and live in the now”.

This is a little sign that hangs on the wall next to my computer. It’s similar to what I used to say to the kids when they “couldn’t wait ‘til their birthdays”. If you can’t wait, what’s your alternative? (That’s the trapped in time part.)

Zen-osophically, this brings up the discussion of detachment vs. un-attachment — detachment being a form of denial, un-attachment relating to acceptance (the making peace part). What spurred this comment on acceptance? While shopping in the produce section of the supermarket on Saturday, there stood a sign that read “Lemons-99 cents each” ( one lemon for a dollar), which led me to chant under my breath, “You are trapped in time, make peace and live in the now”. Honestly, living in the now is getting more and more expensive.

And now I hear the master’s voice from an old Zen story, “Why do you still carry the lemons?”  Why indeed?