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- Using the Sacred Glance in Centering Prayer
Sunday December 4: Midwives to The Inner Well
Gazing upon Mark Geard’s “Thresholds” I see a pair of hands cupping the inner, brighter central light. Protecting the new soul-life coming forth, providing calm guidance to a soul entering tenuous new territory. Hands of Love, guide me on my soul-life journey. Amen. <3 linda
Sunday November 27: Be Vigilant
For my Advent intention I am revisiting Gayle Boss’ wonderful tome “All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings”. Gayle dives deep into the resting lives of creatures great and small; how they die to self via hibernation, trusting spring’s warmth awaits. A turtle’s secluded rest or the honeybee community united to warm the queen bee both reveal my need to balance solitude and solidarity. May creatures’ intuitive natures teach me to follow my Advent path. <3 linda
Sunday November 20: Awaken in Christ’s Body
I have spent so much of my life avoiding our suppressing pain and woundedness. Father Keating’s words resonate deeply: “The contemplative journey is the most responsible of all responses to God because so much depends on it…It’s basically a total acceptance of the human condition in all its ramifications, including its desperate woundedness.” Consider what courage is garnered worldwide to sit in centering prayer, twice a day, day in and out. Looking on not only our desperate woundedness, and that of humankind, entrusting to God’s presence and action. Co-healing with God humanity’s wounds past, present and to come. Thank you for your work in prayer that heals the world’s woundedness. <3 linda
Sunday November 13: Our private, self-made worlds come to an end
“The blessing will not fix you…mend you…give you false comfort…it will simply sit itself beside you…and turn your face toward…the light…gathering itself about you as the world begins again.” Thank you, Jan Richardson, for reminding me it is in the shards, when I sit with my friend Job, that we are gathered in a blessing meant to sustain a new path through the pain. Can I bless the shards of my old life in order to see the direction from which the light will come? I pray Thy Will. Amen. <3 linda
Sunday November 6: Jump, children, jump!
What is being called forth as my creative response to the summons of surrender? God in the present moment because God’s presence and action in me is only available in the present moment. To be mesmerized by a flock of starlings alighting on my yard in search of grubs brings my soul to the point I jump with joy. It is these moments I seek as I seek God’s face each day. <3 linda
Sunday October 30: Hiding
“The prayer of silence…is a moral imperative.” Vincent Pizzuto’s words remind me my moral imperative of great urgency is to pray, then do the next practical thing: vote. View my ballot from God’s eyes and vote my soul’s deepest prayer. Then, trust God’s will is being done – whether I like it or not. <3 linda
Sunday October 23: Praying: Relating to God — and Each Other
“Perhaps the teaching is acknowledging that any ‘us versus them’ contradicts the generousness and inclusiveness of God’s love.” A.J. Levine embraces God who loves both tax collector, Pharisee and me as beloved. No distinctions, just love from the Eternal Wellspring. “All in all” implies we, too, are include. “They” merge into “us” over time and with much prayer. “God would like to see through our eyes and have us see through God’s eyes toward one another in love.” Geoffrey Butcher sums they morphing to us. When we are called to love, our work is sometimes difficult – my eyes need God’s lens to see clearly. May it be so. <3 linda
Sunday October 16: My All in All
“Come, true light…You transform and change with a single gesture of the hand…I have become nothing for You All to shine in my soul.” Deep peace, know that I know God is here, leading me into the narrow path that leads to life. My prayer this week: Come! <3 linda
Sunday October 9: Ambushed by Big Love
Rilke’s poetry strikes to edge of the singing bowl that is my soul, sounding a call for all creation to come, pray with me. We hold a collective breath, exhale as the bowl’s tone ebbs into Love’s silent embrace. All Creation and I know we are beloved. <3 linda
Sunday October 2: The Vision Has Its Time
This passage from Habakkuk was given me at the same time a writer’s vision was bestowed. As years delayed Moses, preparing his leadership, this vision is also delayed. God’s promise “though it tarries, wait for it” does not mean just sit back and do nothing. I prepare by honing my craft, doing the next practical writing assignment given me, and developing my leadership skills in order to be ready for the vision’s arrival. <3 linda
Sunday September 25: Love is a Daily Practice
With a week’s reflection in my heart, what I learned my choice to love is often hindered by my choice to be unloving. I cannot yet unify my capacity to love as well as my capacity to unlove. Somehow it almost seems easier to show mercy than it is to truly love. My intention moving forward is “Mercy, lead me to love.” <3 linda
Sunday September 18: Beckoned Beyond Our Vision
My initial impression of the first full paragraph of questions is the answer to them all is “yes”. Jesus’ listeners related to that parable deeply. Under Roman occupation, shrewd dealings with unjust officials and dishonest tax collectors were the norm. The rich were being squandered from so that some may stay alive. The crowd would have deeply related.
What strikes me is I also sense in the hearing, new levels of appreciation for “the other side” were opened, being “shattered” as Father Keating wrote. Perhaps shrewdness was why the steward was hired in the first place, it being his spiritual gift. Upon learning of his pending end of tenure, that same gift being repurposed is what Jesus commends. <3 linda
Sunday September 11: Loved in The Midst of Everything My prayer each day is that my words be used to edify another in some way. Daniel J. O’Leary’s poem takes that prayer to a deeper level. “I wish I could take language and heal the words That were the wounds You have no name for.” This is my mantra. <3 linda
My apologies, the quote is from Julia Cameron.
Sunday September 11: Loved in The Midst of Everything
My prayer each day is that my words be used to edify another in some way. Daniel J. O’Leary’s poem takes that prayer to a deeper level.
“I wish I could take language and heal the words
That were the wounds
You have no name for.”
This is my mantra. <3 linda
Sunday September 4: A Prayer for Wisdom
“Your body is in the soul, and the soul suffuses you completely.” John O’Donohue’s words remind me my soul expresses herself in my flesh. When my soul needs rest, my body rests. My soul leads my body beside still waters for prayer. Led by Lady Wisdom, I trust being able to put aside what “needs doing” in order to do what my soul informs should be done instead. Thank You, Lord, for allowing Your mercy to flow through me, a sinner. <3 linda
