Keeping Nothing Between
In a restaurant a little girl in the next booth turns to look at you. It is an open look, direct from her – to you. She doesn’t know that strangers are not supposed to connect. She does not put this knowledge between herself and you. There is nothing in between. You look back. Her parents make her sit down and face forward. But then, when they all leave, she turns around at the door, to look again. After all, you and she have met therefore she wouldn’t just leave.
In first grade the children look at the teacher searchingly, openly, reachingly. They put nothing between. The teacher is concerned with the eight levels of reading ability, and does not look back.
Do only little children keep nothing between? Or can adults do that too? We can, but for us it is a special case.
If you came to see me now, I would not look at you like that, nor would I notice if you looked. You would find me in a certain mood in my private struggles. I am also preoccupied with writing this paper. If you suddenly walked in, a third cluster would come: The social set for greeting someone properly. I would respond to you out of that set. Or if you are an old friend, I would respond from the familiar set of the two of us. If you then wanted to relate in some fresh, deep way, it would take me a minute to put our usual set aside, to put my concern about my chapter away, and to roll my mood over so that I am no longer inside it. Then I would be here without putting anything between. But it would be easier to remain behind all that, and depend on my automatic ways.
If I really want to be with you, I keep nothing in front of me. Of course I know I can fall back on the automatic ways. If need be, I can also defend myself. I have many resources. But I don’t want all that between us.
If I keep nothing between, you can look into my eyes and find me. You might not look, of course. But if you do, I won’t hide. Then you may see a very insufficient person. But for contact, no special kind of human being is required. This fact makes a thick peacefulness.
Extract from You and I - The Person in There by Eugene Gendlin.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What do you understand by "keeping nothing between?" Can you share a personal story of a time you kept nothing between? What practice helps you keep nothing between?
Add Your Reflection
13 Past Reflections
On Oct 27, 2020 Hope wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Jun 28, 2016 Bec wrote :
Simply beautiful.
These small reminders speak to some of the most core issues plaguing society today. Our learned reaction to ignore, look away, avoid eye contact, or even respond mechanically, how we 'should' respond rather than how we feel, are the barriers that are contributing to skyrocketing rates of isolation, depression and suicide worldwide. Humans are social creatures by nature, we crave connection; and it really is not hard to share even a moment with a stranger. You never know, that one smile or genuine greeting might be the only one that person receive that day; it might be just the hope, the glimpse of warmth and human compassion they needed to see the light and soldier on. Be kind, and remember we are all simply one part of the whole human race.
Genuine, small gestures won't make people nervous, rather open their minds and hearts to s softer, kinder world.
1 reply: Amy | Post Your Reply
On Jun 28, 2016 Judith wrote :
I'm still like that and it makes people really nervous:-)
Post Your Reply
On Jun 28, 2016 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
Keeping nothing between means being your real self, authentic, no masks. It also means creating a space to allow the other person or people to be real as well. I feel it is a bit easier than we think; we needlessly complicate. One of the phrases that helps me to be in this state is to think of us all as Tall Children, not in a demeaning way, but in that innocent, open way. A personal story of nothing between happened last night as a group of us broke the fast for Ramadan. We were from at least 2 dozen different cultures and yet there we were together seeing each other with openness and humanity and heart. It was a wonderful experience of building bridges of understanding. Hugs to you all! Let us keep nothing between!
1 reply: Amy | Post Your Reply
On Jun 28, 2016 Jennie Shirey wrote :
While on my daily walks in the park, I pass other walkers...some alone, some with someone else. Invariably, I smile and attempt to look them in the eye as I speak a brief greeting. For those who dare to meet my gaze and also speak in return, it seems as though for a brief moment nothing is between us and we are connected. Some pass by without speaking or even looking at me, however, and I feel that we missed an opportunity to be real to one another out of fear of stranger or fear of vulnerability. Surely, we are meant to be present to one another, even in passing.
Post Your Reply
On Jun 28, 2016 Sidney DeKoven wrote :
In a spiritual group I'm in, there is one person that when we look at each other there is nothing between. It happens after one of us has shared a personal spiritual insight. We then look at each other openly with surrender and love. It is a very beautiful moment of 2 souls connecting and becoming one with nothing in between. The gazing into each other's eyes may last only a few seconds but a circuit has been closed and love has found expression on this earth.
1 reply: Me | Post Your Reply
On Jun 25, 2016 david doane wrote :
"Keeping nothing between" is simple and basic and we make it so difficult. It means to keep the line of connection between me and another clear and open, free of obstructions such as thinking, expectations, prejudices, preconceptions, predictions, objectives, preoccupations. Such obstructions get in between two people and interfere with connecting. When nothing is between, we can meet, person to person. Actually, I strive to keep nothing between, and am usually successful for a few seconds at a time before some obstruction slips in and I find myself talking to my thinking or expectations or some form of obstruction instead of connecting with the other. Then I catch myself and have a few more seconds of nothing between before I again allow something between. Being present, paying attention, being aware and mindful help me keep nothing between.
Post Your Reply