Sunday March 10: Step Into The Light

To Practice

• Pray these passages again in the manner of Lectio Divina, speaking them out loud to engage your senses and affirm them in your being. Can you see Light, even with your eyes closed in prayer? Can you sense into the goodness being shared as you come alongside God?

• Reflect on a time you were in darkness and journal about the moments of Light that you can now see, looking back. Enjoy some silent gratitude with God as you read through and journal about any new insight, thoughts, or feelings that emerge.

• Light a candle and sit with God near it. Play around with your experience with this light. Try closing or opening your eyes, praying silently or aloud, or singing or humming. Notice what feels illuminated. Journal about this experience and how it relates with stepping into the Light with God.

You may re-read the full email reflection here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/word-of-the-week-march10

 

 

 

It was 2011. Extensive hip surgery had landed me in a nursing home for seven weeks with my future mobility uncertain. I was on disability leave from my job, not sure that I would be able to return.   The future looked dark.  One Wednesday evening, a friend picked me up from the nursing home and brought me to the weekly Taize service. When we pulled into the church parking lot, two friends were waiting to greet me. As soon as I got settled into the front pew, they hugged me, saying ,”welcome home”.  That started the tears flowing. In that moment, in a darkened church, there was light. It was the light of the sacred, a light that is always present and can light up the darkest of moments.

My journey with light/darkness began a long time a go, an experience with a persistent cat, days of morning fog. It was at this time John 8:12 became my companion scripture. Moving forward many years to yesterday, following several of the hours of  United in Prayer Day March 8-9. One of the groups led us into and through an embodied Welcome Prayer experience. The Welcome Prayer has become a faithful and significant companion for me. Usually I pray the Welcoming Prayer when something particular has been triggered. During the embodied prayer experience it was like I was in freefall stirring up debris in my unconscious self through layer upon layer down into the crusty depths. In this whirlwind experience there was this luminescent presence, dancing,  irrupting into a joyful recognition, awareness, affirmation at each pause of letting go of security, approval, power and embracing the moment just as it is. A luminescent presence of one-ness! I have been experience significant fluidity between the unconscious, semi-conscious and conscious part of myself these last years. I am deeply grateful for this guided experience, something one can’t do for oneself. I am wondering, well really hoping that Contemplative Outreach might make available some of these guided experiences.

I am deeply grateful to Contemplative Outreach for organizing this kind of event, such a massive undertaking! One group led us in a Visio Divina of block by block of persons gathered in experiencing a  ” global unity of silence as God’s first language”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adeline, I also thought the guided Welcoming Prayer practice was extremely powerful, so much so I asked for and received the script that the person used for the meditation if you would like to see it.

So glad the United in Prayer day was so powerful for you.

Yes, Pamela, forward it to me: behmadeline95@gmail.com.  Or should I email you?

Many thanks with blessings.

The often-heard sentence from Father Keating calls me: “The way to become divine is thus to become fully human.” It brings light to dark areas of my soul that allow me to bring them to God for discussion. Ah! Such dark areas now light! Thanks be to God! <3 linda

Many, many years ago, when I was in training as a teacher. Our art teacher who went on to become a renowned artist, Wynona Mulcaster, taught an art class on Saturdays to youngsters 4-7 years. This was an non elective, but it nurtured something deep within me that set me on the path of Visio Divina as darkness/light became a major theme in the unfolding on my life. I developed this sense of seeing in the dark embracing the glimpse’s of light. Mike Moyers, image this week has led me to profound places. Sitting with the image as given the hands with long bold fingers holding/guiding the light. Below the hand I am sitting in this luminous presence. I turn the image 90 degrees. This luminosity flowing from the right,  turns in to the blue of serenity, beckoning me into the darkness, I turn the image 90 degrees again,  a white resurrection figure immerges, red fire to the right and the left above signify a coming through something intense; the red below to the right and to the left supporting the immerging luminous Presence, held up by the blue of serenity. Another 90 degree brings me back  to what I saw initially. “For you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.” Ps.36:10.When I awake these mornings, I sense presences walking though my being.

 

 

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