Sunday June 4: In the Fierce Embrace

To Practice: Experiment with one or more of these interpretations of the commandments that could be a part of your rule of life. Journal or share in other ways how these helped you live out Christ love.

• • Be still-how many places can you be still?
  • Trust yourself-what does this feel like?
  • Speak with love and understanding in your voice. Remember times others have spoken this way to you.
  • Honor your Christ self by doing something that brings joy to your heart. And from this joy, what can you give that brings joy?
  • Let go of resentments and appreciate life.
  • Keep your heart open.
  • Be happy with what you have now.
  • Act honorably – notice any tiny or big deceptions in your actions. How can you redirect yourself?
  • Don’t take your opinions as facts – notice opinions arising. Imagine not having that opinion. What does it feel like?
  • Remember everything you need is already within. God’s love has always met and will always meet all my needs.

You may wish to re-read the full reflection here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/word-of-the-week-june4

hoping , wanting to trust….

 

I just embroidered this on the front of a t-shirt: Trusting what is emerging…on the back, I embroidered a crysalis with a butterfly emerging.

In Thomas Merton’s wonderful tome “The Wisdom of the Desert” is a timely bit of advice that I have taken to heart as an answer to “Don’t take your opinions as facts – notice opinions arising. Imagine not having that opinion. What does it feel like?” The saying: “Abba Joseph asked Abba Pastor: Tell me how I can become a monk. The elder replied: If you want to have rest here in this life and also in the next, in every conflict with another say ‘Who am I?’”

This reminds me that I am Christ’s beloved, disciple of the King of Humility. My opinion is just that: an opinion. And judge no one: allow others’ opinions to be opinions as well. This is hard work, and worth the effort. <3 linda

“Notice opinions”:  The daily news is filled with opportunities for internal opinions. I talk to myself, judging the games that make playthings out of migrants. I get caught up in the game, define who is right and who is wrong. Step back, get out of myself, see the price that we all play for the poverty and violence all around us. Pray that I can put compassion and understanding into my heart and let it move outward.  Give thanks for models of compassion. Move from head to heart.

I just did cp. the practice teaches me that each moment is a world unto itself , and that is where God is . We curate possible narratives, and allow culturally determined narratives to go to the edge of consciousness. Doing lectio and Visio divina every day informs my narratives.

I have to be really careful about how my environment is shaping my beliefs about what is. A big one is to forgive myself and the other. To see perpetrators of evil as God sees them.

I like the example of pope Francis, Teillard, and Merton ….Mary…to see what is as it is. In perspective.

[Adeline Behm]

I was/am touched by the  arrangement leaves in Lucia’s Trinity drawing the viewer into the life of the Trinity – the flow of the relationship – Movement of the greatest and only greatest Lover into the Beloved and only greatest Beloved into the greatest and only greatest Love, that continues the flow within and into each and every human person.  As this week advanced I let this Loving Movement reveal and release resentments into appreciation of the complexities of my life; the movement through opinions (mine) that muddy what is real; the movement through deceptions that imprison my spirit.  My vivid dreams connect me to my deep unconscious, dreams that quickly vanish propelling my into praying the Welcome prayer through the feeling I am left with. I know. The movement of the body prayer suggested a few weeks back, this movement: I await, I allow, I accept, I attend… centers me.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Adeline Behm.

I am being deeply touched by the sharing of each of you this week. As I sit back and take a deep breath into the Spirit of the Ever Living God, some nameless awareness holds me on a gentle descend down very long water slide into oneness. So very deeply grateful.

I am noticing that allowing is another name for consenting.

Adeline, that ressonates with me , what you said..

I have this fantasy that everyone is swimming in a huge ocean and we are swimming to the other side. The only way we arrive is to get to the shore. Some of us are ahead of others but only in the sense of that arrival, which is death.

somehow going up that spiral staircase,  dying before I die, getting to the top of St. John of the cross’s Mount Carmel , makes no difference in the final analysis.

one of the highlights of this arduous journey called life is when someone swims up and accompanies another for awhile. We, here, are  swimming close to each other, keeping each other company. Despite how long we have been following the spiritual path or what experiences we have, we  are all vulnerable And nobody needs to be fixed. Nobody needs to be analyzed. Being present to what is, in this moment, we have no need to analyze or fix ourselves. We are exactly where we need to be.

not to say we don’t acknowledge our self judgment and feel the deep grief that is ours, and feel the annoyance we have when what we want to have or do is blocked. We are just human beings after all and don’t have control of our mind, or emotions or body. We just keep taking the next stroke.

and pray for each.

 

Be still: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to practice mindfulness or meditation, to take time each day to sit in silence and reflect on one’s thoughts and feelings. By doing so, one may be better able to connect with God and develop a deeper sense of inner peace and calm.

Trust yourself: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to listen to one’s intuition and inner guidance, rather than relying solely on external sources for guidance. By trusting oneself, one may be better able to discern God’s will and act in accordance with it.

Speak with love and understanding: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to practice empathy and compassion in one’s interactions with others, to seek to understand their perspectives and communicate in a way that is respectful and kind. By doing so, one may be better able to foster loving relationships and build community.

Honor your Christ self: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to pursue activities that bring joy and fulfillment to one’s life, and to use that joy as a source of inspiration for acts of service and kindness. By doing so, one may be better able to share God’s love with others and uplift those around them.

Let go of resentments: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to practice forgiveness and gratitude, to let go of negative emotions and focus on the blessings in one’s life. By doing so, one may be better able to cultivate a sense of inner peace and contentment.

Keep your heart open: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to practice vulnerability and openness in one’s relationships, to be willing to share one’s thoughts and feelings with others and to listen to their perspectives with an open mind. By doing so, one may be better able to build deep, meaningful connections with others.

Be happy with what you have now: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to practice contentment and gratitude, to appreciate the blessings in one’s life and to avoid the trap of constantly striving for more. By doing so, one may be better able to live in the present moment and find joy in the simple things in life.

Act honorably: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to practice integrity and honesty in one’s actions, to avoid even small acts of deception or dishonesty. By doing so, one may be better able to build trust with others and live in accordance with God’s will.

Don’t take your opinions as facts: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to practice humility and open-mindedness, to be willing to challenge one’s own beliefs and consider other perspectives. By doing so, one may be better able to grow in wisdom and understanding, and to avoid the trap of dogmatism and rigidity.

Remember everything you need is already within: This commandment could be interpreted as a call to practice self-reflection and self-awareness, to recognize the divine spark within oneself and to cultivate a sense of inner peace and contentment. By doing so, one may be better able to live in alignment with God’s will and to share God’s love with others. bubble shooter

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