In Stillness

In stillness
when I decide
attempt
to usher in
quiet
and to listen
noticing as
my heart beat
gently vibrates somewhere
below my shoulder blades
left hand side
pulses a rhythm
a life-force
a gift
a pleasure
I am almost always too busy to notice.

In stillness
when awareness awakens me
to this music,
once in a while
I remember
to just enjoy this affirmation.

In stillness
waiting
and filled up with distractions
wondering,
I might ask a question
or two
like
who am I
or
why am I here
or
in utter boldness and curiosity,
who are YOU
the great I AM?

In stillness
I wait
and listen.

Charlie Kasch 2020

Yes, for me the gradual practice of centering prayer over the past two years or so has produced my life’s most important insight regarding taking risk. Having failed as a business entrepreneur, I have some experience with the downside of taking certain types of risk. At one time, I might have boldly stated a willingness to risk everything for the hope of a certain kind of success. Experiencing the outcome of taking this kind of risk and failing, I now consider a huge stroke of luck! Without this risk-taking and failure I would never have had the slightest impulse to set on a different journey focused on prayer. I most sincerely consider this failure a huge gift!

Now I look for a different kind of risk-taking that some have called becoming a spiritual entrepreneur. The enormous drive and energy that it takes to succeed in business and a willingness to be totally all-in are a set of experiences I can draw from and perhaps try to mirror now in a different realm of life.

I ask myself, what risks am I willing to take? Paraphrasing, as the Gospels ask of us who say we are followers of Christ, “What does it mean to lose my life?” or, “How do I begin to lose my life?” There is a mystery in these questions that I do not understand but I am drawn to. Here are two question for myself about taking risks which I now consider worthy of silent contemplation and action. Without the practice of Centering Prayer, I would have never been remotely interested in the value of these questions or had any desire to consider an alternate view of risk-taking.

Thank you for challenging us with this excellent question about risk and the spiritual impact daring and bold decisions can have on our lives and others.

Charlie Kasch

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