Welcome to those who are of the mindset that the path to healing in the world begins within.
Those who know us best reflect us. Being known over time provides us the gift of being fully seen. When an other truly sees us, we see ourself. The same is true of our reflection of God. As our soul is made smooth like a reflecting glass or mirror, it shines with the image of God. Achieving this smooth surface is the work of our lifetime. Removing the ruts of habitual patterns of thinking or behavior. Noticing & releasing the lofty thoughts that are beyond the present moment. As we allow this process to smooth us, we provide a visual & experiential presence where others may experience the Divine presence. This often occurs without our knowledge which is always best.
Contemplative Activity:
Take a deep breath & picture a dry landscape with deep ruts. Imagine a light rain that naturally flows into these well worn grooves. Now imagine the surface being gently pushed from beneath lifting the ruts to create a smooth, flat surface. Take another deep breath & picture painted mountain peaks. Imagine the artist's brush stroking over the tops of the mountains leveling them to appear as a plush field. Take another deep breath & picture a crooked road. Now imagine grasping the road as you would a long cloth that you lift & lay down gracefully to cover a table. Enjoy deeply the images of the raised ground & leveled mountains as well as the straightened road providing a constant surface.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Welcome to those who are of the mindset that the path to healing in the world begins within.
Currently the world is facing threats from what British Prime Minister David Cameron described this week on 29 August 2014 as "the ideology of Islamic Extremism". This is not a physical force, but a belief. If our greatest enemy exists in the form of belief, then our best defense as well as offense resides there as well. What if we choose to believe that all living beings share a common destiny? Isn't this in fact true? Death is the one certain & shared experience of all. Perhaps we shape our beliefs to pacify our fear of death & in doing so develop stories surrounding the ritual & belief of the meaning of death to comfort ourselves. Our identity with others who share this story calms our fear & yet it separates us from "others" who gather around a different story. What serves to unite us, we instead use to divide us.
Contemplative Activity:
Breathe deeply. Focus your attention on your body. Experience the movement of your breath through your body. Allow yourself the freedom to release your thoughts & fears, accepting your "self" simply as a body for the moment. Your body is real, it is truth. All life is real, it is truth. Staying connected to simply being a breathing body releases you from your story, your beliefs & unites you to all of life. Common ground is found in this space.
Currently the world is facing threats from what British Prime Minister David Cameron described this week on 29 August 2014 as "the ideology of Islamic Extremism". This is not a physical force, but a belief. If our greatest enemy exists in the form of belief, then our best defense as well as offense resides there as well. What if we choose to believe that all living beings share a common destiny? Isn't this in fact true? Death is the one certain & shared experience of all. Perhaps we shape our beliefs to pacify our fear of death & in doing so develop stories surrounding the ritual & belief of the meaning of death to comfort ourselves. Our identity with others who share this story calms our fear & yet it separates us from "others" who gather around a different story. What serves to unite us, we instead use to divide us.
Contemplative Activity:
Breathe deeply. Focus your attention on your body. Experience the movement of your breath through your body. Allow yourself the freedom to release your thoughts & fears, accepting your "self" simply as a body for the moment. Your body is real, it is truth. All life is real, it is truth. Staying connected to simply being a breathing body releases you from your story, your beliefs & unites you to all of life. Common ground is found in this space.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Welcome to those who are of the mindset that the path to healing in the world begins within.
The need to communicate with another may not offer a mutuality or reciprocity. The desire to deepen connection may not be shared. In these moments of aloneness, rejection, despair or frustration, consider another path of thought or action. Consider that this provides the space to deepen the connection within. The silence from the other enables you to occupy a quiet expansion where you can more clearly listen. Take advantage of this time. Welcome the opportunity to be before becoming. Additionally, know & trust that the Holy Spirit is always speaking. Listen for the still, small voice of God. Attend to the leading. Beyond this, know that the Holy Spirit is also involved in the other that you are wanting the connection with. Here too, trust that the voice of God can speak directly & clearly beyond words.
Contemplative Activity:
When you experience the "silent treatment" of another, at the moment when you feel the loss or anger of the experience, breath in. Recognize this as an opportunity. An opportunity to know more deeply yourself & the other. Allow yourself to join with the Holy Spirit in exploring within you the source of your feelings & together, with this awareness, bring healing. Freely accept the posture of the other & know that this time is valuable for them as well, whether they are aware of it or not. Trust that the work being done in you is being accomplished in them as well.
The need to communicate with another may not offer a mutuality or reciprocity. The desire to deepen connection may not be shared. In these moments of aloneness, rejection, despair or frustration, consider another path of thought or action. Consider that this provides the space to deepen the connection within. The silence from the other enables you to occupy a quiet expansion where you can more clearly listen. Take advantage of this time. Welcome the opportunity to be before becoming. Additionally, know & trust that the Holy Spirit is always speaking. Listen for the still, small voice of God. Attend to the leading. Beyond this, know that the Holy Spirit is also involved in the other that you are wanting the connection with. Here too, trust that the voice of God can speak directly & clearly beyond words.
Contemplative Activity:
When you experience the "silent treatment" of another, at the moment when you feel the loss or anger of the experience, breath in. Recognize this as an opportunity. An opportunity to know more deeply yourself & the other. Allow yourself to join with the Holy Spirit in exploring within you the source of your feelings & together, with this awareness, bring healing. Freely accept the posture of the other & know that this time is valuable for them as well, whether they are aware of it or not. Trust that the work being done in you is being accomplished in them as well.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Welcome to those who are of the mindset that the path to healing in the world begins within.
The events currently on display in our daily lives, both domestically and globally, cry out for a deeper understanding of human connection & acceptance. Where better to start than in our own lives, personally within ourself & with those we share our day to day living. These encounters provide the training ground for our relationships in our communities & the world. Learn well here & the effects can transfer outward in ways we may never know. We can trust that charity in fact does begin at home & that all politics indeed are local.
Contemplative Activity:
If you experience a negative or hostile or critical opposing idea or opinion from another source, at the instant when you would defend or explain or correct, instead, breathe in & harness your most sincere curiosity. Curiosity as to how they formed the idea or opinion, what path of thinking they followed, where they retrieved the information and how they formed it into this way of being expressed. You are not required to accept or adopt their idea or opinion, simply allow it to exist in your awareness. Gently contend with it & if you have the opportunity to inquire, then take that step graciously and sincerely. Asking with genuine interest how their idea or opinion came to be.
The events currently on display in our daily lives, both domestically and globally, cry out for a deeper understanding of human connection & acceptance. Where better to start than in our own lives, personally within ourself & with those we share our day to day living. These encounters provide the training ground for our relationships in our communities & the world. Learn well here & the effects can transfer outward in ways we may never know. We can trust that charity in fact does begin at home & that all politics indeed are local.
Contemplative Activity:
If you experience a negative or hostile or critical opposing idea or opinion from another source, at the instant when you would defend or explain or correct, instead, breathe in & harness your most sincere curiosity. Curiosity as to how they formed the idea or opinion, what path of thinking they followed, where they retrieved the information and how they formed it into this way of being expressed. You are not required to accept or adopt their idea or opinion, simply allow it to exist in your awareness. Gently contend with it & if you have the opportunity to inquire, then take that step graciously and sincerely. Asking with genuine interest how their idea or opinion came to be.
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