How to meditate in a mess

So this Taoist book I’m reading says that real meditation can only happen in serene enviroments–a quiet room, a still garden–without distractions.  Well then I’m screwed.  My life is constant noise and distraction–and that’s when it’s quiet around me.  It’s my mind.

In some instances I find serenity most in screaming squealing rock pounding songs–it distracts my mind and my heart can be still from the continuous nattering of the brain.

Perhaps it is called mindfulness, but my practice these days is to find myself walking hurriedly from one meeting to another, or trudging from a long day into bumper-to-bumper traffic and finding the stillness within.

It only takes a couple long deep breaths to find You there, to find the You in the trees in front of my office building.  To find You in the movement of the branches, to see You in the eyes of a co-worker, to watch You reach through to me in an email.

I just breathe into the center of peace which resides in my heart and keep my eyes out for You.