From “JB” by Archibald MacLeish

“Blow on the coal of the heart.
The candles in churches are out.
The lights have gone out in the sky.
Blow on the coal of the heart
And we’ll see by and by…. ” (Sarah, Scene 11)

Like Pamela, I found that the Welcoming Prayer came to mind while I was reading the following quote: “… Even more strongly, [the inner observer’s] purpose is to bring you into a state of unconditional presence, so that you not only believe but know that no physical or emotional state has the power to knock you out of the presence … presence can be sustained regardless of what inner or outer storms assail you.”
– Cynthia Bourgeault, “Working with an Inner Observer,” Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening.  As much as I would like to in the state of unconditional awareness regardless of what assails me, I often find that the best that I can hope for is a sort of double awareness much of the time.  To paraphrase CB in her explanation of the Welcoming Prayer, sometimes the best that I can hope for is to be able to lovingly wave goodby to myself as I watch myself go over the emotional waterfall.

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