Sunday November 5 – The Door of My Heart

To Practice: 

– Prayerfully re-read these passages again in the manner of Lectio Divina, perhaps aloud so you can feel them with more of your senses. What opens your heart?

– As you move through your week, notice who or what is your teacher. What do you learn? In gratitude, bow inwardly to each guide or teacher that gifts you with something for your transformation.

– You are encouraged to watch this brief video with Thomas Keating (1+ minute), “Why Settle for Becoming a Saint?”

– A reminder that clocks in North America will fall back one hour this Sunday, November 5. For those of you in other countries, please make note if you plan to attend the Word of the Week prayer groups.

If you wish to re-read the full email reflection, you may do so here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/word-of-the-week-nov5

It is another Tuesday at HOPE Cooperative.  I come here weekly for another lesson in “life on the margins”. Waiting in the lobby are a few mental health clients, each with their own story of homelessness and and survival. There are a couple of companion dogs who offer unconditional love to their owners. At 1 PM, a group of six move into the large room and arrange themselves in a circle  for a movement practice. Although they are all currently housed, they each have  had periods of being homeless, and continue to feel housing insecure. Led by one of their own, they do the practice in silence. This is their time of rest and recovery. They know one another well and often share experiences.and encouragement. I join in the practice and then listen to their conversation. It is my time to listen and learn, for they are my best teachers. They are clear evidence of the transformation that happens in shared silence. It is a transformation that happens slowly with bumps along the way – for each of them and for me.

Thank you for describing this ordinary but beautiful gathering, and your presence among them. – Pamela

Today as I listen to Thich Nhat Hanh, read his poem and as I gaze into the beckoning open door, I continue my awareness examen begun last week that of wishing well to all popping into my life this day, this week….the word “ours” vibrating through my being, “OURS” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The phrase that grabbed me was the basic goodness in human beings. Of course we have all witnessed evil and the terrible suffering evil people, like our pirate in the readings, have inflicted on others. I have hurt others, especially the ones I love.  Most people have, but not like the pirate. Most people are good and most help one another. I am blessed with a loving wife and family and wonderful neighbors on each side of me. We are in the boat together and not by accident. I have stories to prove this, but that would take too much time. I see God’s hand working in everything that has ever happened in my life including meeting Fr. Keating and Mother Teresa. How many people have touched a person who became a canonized saint in their lifetime? God is so generous and I have done nothing to deserve such gifts. I have very little to show God for giving these gifts to me in my life. We’re they wasted on me? I have not become a saint. These gifts were given to me and I have yet to know the reasons why. Perhaps because God is Love and that’s what love is all about. I wish I could love like that, like St. Paul in the readings.

Pursuant to my initial reflection beginning this week, audio Divina ( Thick..), a 5th-step of a woman 35 years in sobriety, my continuing awareness exam of wishing well to others. Thick Nhat Hanh words: “When I hear one of these names I must respond.” My heart not yet capable of seeing and loving” , the pirate and the Mayfly come to mind, one harsh, one gentle; so is my dying ego self. The woman came bringing just her resentments. The list was very long. As we took our time walking through the list, two plus hours later there was this amazing realization, an experience akin to “Please call me by my true names, so I can wake up and the door of my heart could be left open, the door of compassion.” This morning out of nowhere, a woman who lived the floor beneath me  in the 1990’s shows up, the pirate-me looms, the May-fly- me  on the fringe. Both the woman sharing her 5th-step and me came face to face with an experience of ‘Even today I am arriving.”, each in our own way,  our eyes to the Door of Compassion.(Image this week) Of course, this is my acknowledgement of what is taking place in my life. The woman  who did a 5th-step in my presence, does not know my experience. Today I can wish Lorie well, wherever she is asking the Spirit to deliver the blessings she needs. Lorie who lived in the apartment beneath me all those years ago. In the Visio Divna of the door way, the earth is on both sides.

 

 

Adeline, your reflections are like a balm to my soul, because you swim so freely in liminal space. You witness for me the realities and power of this dimension of Reality.  Thank you. – Pamela

My heart resonates with Father Keating’s statement “The whole kingdom is ours for the accepting.” My heart opens to Thich Nhat Hanh’s sentence “…the door of my heart could be left open, the door of compassion.” This past week my teachers have been life itself and medical professionals. Life itself, because of the need to see medical professionals walking alongside a loved one. The compassion experienced by all the medical professionals encountered embody Keating and Hanh’s quotes. My breath prayer: “Keep me open, Lord.” <3 linda

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