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For a few months I have been sitting with this wonderful quotation from Basil Pennington’s book on Centering Prayer. "By grace we are Christ. Our relationship with God is that of Christ to the Father in the Holy Spirit."

It is another day in the Lord.
     I step from my room into the silence of the valley –
     an almost audible silence that is the language of God.

You gave me unique awareness
at a very young age
Before I could walk
I knew I was different.
    ~Your Light upon my head

It can be a challenge to remember all those who have asked for our prayers. I wrote this poem 52 years ago while in the 5th grade, but continue to embrace it as I pray for others. It helps me remember . . .

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust,

equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness. . .

let us go adore him
let us go implore him
my soul
to make us whole

let us stop
and just drop
all attractions

In gratitude for all of what Thomas Keating and Contemplative Outreach has done in supporting my spiritual growth...
 

My meditation began with use of the symbol of a cross: My finger began at my lips to trace down a center line of my body forming the vertical line of the cross. Each outward breath, soft S sound, invited release of physical form and spiritual blockages. 

I was on a silent retreat sitting outside having a cup of tea watching a little critter poking his head and periodically I'd see dirt flying up out of the ground as he was busy digging.  I was thinking how afraid animals are...

In his book, Invitation To Love, Thomas Keating writes:

"On the spiritual Journey there is usually someone in our family, our business or in our community whom we cannot endure, someone who has a genius for bringing out the worst in us. No matter what we do we cannot seem to improve the relationship.

Drifting grey,
Rising blue,
Crested white

I am an ordained Protestant minister who has benefited greatly from contemplative prayer.  I speak from experience with a way of being open to contemplative prayer called Centering Prayer. I am well acquainted with some of the resistances Protestants have toward contemplation.

The reptile’s top priorities are few
Full tummy, sunny rock, and babies new
Its consciousness is narrow as its tail
Survival pure and simple will prevail