German philosopher Martin Heidegger believed that there are two basic ways in which we can exist in this world. One, he called forgetfulness of being. The other, mindfulness of being.

Forgetfulness of being is the surface-type life. We may be very busy, immersed in work, diversions, and much idle chatter, but we are disconnected with the mystery of life. We are chiefly concerned with the way things are. He calls this kind of surface-life an inauthentic one, a tranquilized one. It has minimal depth and meaning. We're living horizontally like a stone skipping across the water.

Mindfulness of being, on the other hand, he calls the authentic way of life. We marvel not just at the way things are, but that they are. We are aware of much more of value than the surface of life. We appreciate nature, people and ourselves -- and our ability to grow to greater depths in our thinking, feeling and loving. We are not living the mystery of life mindlessly. Instead of living horizontally like the skipping stone, we live vertically, often going into the depths like a snorkeler to discover the colors and expansiveness of a greater world.

¶ 3:46 PM