Sunday August 13: Liminal Pilgrimage

To Practice:

• Building on last week’s practice, make it your intention this week to pay attention to who or what you are trusting and doubting. Where do you feel fear or courage? Might these indicate a need for a shift? Without judgment, notice and learn through this self-inquiry. When you can remember, return your attention to the area of your heart in stillness and spaciousness.
• Pay attention to the liminal promptings of the Spirit, places that feel unknown or confusing. Can you befriend these experiences? If fear arises about the unknown, titrate with doing something pleasant and familiar and notice if this changes your perception of the unknown.

If you wish, you may reread this week’s reflection here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/word-of-the-week-aug13

 

Wow! We have to love today’s readings that speak so powerfully to CO followers. This is the first time I am posting. I don’t know if this is the place where I should post. However, I was so moved by today’s readings that I had to post somewhere. Of course we have to put ourselves in the scripture. I am Peter and I am Elijah, These are not stories about them but about us and how we identify, not literally but metaphorically with them and their experiences. We had the wind, fire and earthquakes with our family, friends and jobs. We have to stop to hear the whisper. I don’t do that. I need to do that.

Likewise, I boldly step out into storms in my life thinking I can walk on water. Then I start sinking. I think we all experience Peter in our daily lives. He is so human just like us. I can identify with him sinking, even after seeing and knowing that Jesus is the Son of God.  Peter certainly knew this when he stepped out of the boat. But that knowledge did not help him. He was walking on water because of faith not knowledge. He was shocked that his faith failed him despite all he knew about Jesus and all the miracles he had seen already done by Jesus. Is it any wonder that all the knowledge I have of Jesus may fail me when I need faith.

I always think faith is the elephant in the room when we spout off all the knowledge we have of Jesus Christ. That is why I think this is the most powerful reading in my life. Faith in Jesus Christ can do so much more in my life, than even knowledge or the experience of walking with Jesus

Thanks for today’s readings and meditations!

Tom Lloyd

Tom, thank you for posting and sharing your enthusiastic and personal response to this week’s reflection. The writing team appreciates knowing how these reflections land in people’s hearts and spiritual journeys. – Pamela

Faith and hope in the love of Christ to guide us in all realms of our being, in our own life experiences. God bless!

Who am I trusting? God. Who am I doubting? Myself. Where do I feel fear? When I think I am absolutely certain about a decision I’ve made being correct. Where do I feel courage? When I remember Jesus’ words, said with deepest love: “Linda, you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Knowing Christ reaches out to me in my fears and courage alike brings peace of soul that passes all understanding. <3 linda

I so appreciated sharings at the Wednesday afternoon group, yesterday was particularly poignant. Carolyn’s organization of the lectio gave me a most helpful focus. The line “liminal space that space between the boat and the reality of the storm” I am taking to a Visio Divina of the image. I see outstretched arms ( I think of Moses praying with outstretched arms during the battle <my tempest>), my body consenting with these gestures: I await, I allow, I accept, I await ( outstretched arms). I see this face ” paying attention to my inner experience in new ways”,  this globe of  light,( in the centre a quarter of the up in the image) is it this me made in the image and likeness of God or is it the light of the indwelling Spirit? Or is it a melding? Lately, my opening prayer to a ‘sit’ is  “I don’t know how to ask, so I just sit here and allow you this Indwelling Spirit to pray in me for what you most want to bestow”

 

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