“Always you invite me to be true, to approach life with quiet integrity.”

How do I live “life with quiet integrity” in a world of noise and confusion? I am grateful for the Spirit’s ongoing and endless promise of peace. I have learned recently hoe important it is to love people while knowing I need to move on and be true to my integrity. Glad to have the opportunity to know them; bless them as I leave to pursue Spirit’s paths. This decision brings with it the peace that passes all understanding. <3 linda

Sunday May 21: Christ is All in All

I hear a call to awareness of “…this unity in love amidst the chaos of the world…”. Much is chaotic in daily living. Centering prayer allows me to descend to my deeper level of interconnectedness and realize I am not the chaos; I, too, am the Christ. This loving connection aids me with facing daily chaos with grace, humor and love. <3 linda

My centering prayer consent to God’s presence and action in me is my return to my desire to feel God’s love in the moment, not only in prayer moments; all moments outside prayer are included. The energy I sense in my body of God’s love brings clarity to my thoughts, peace (deep stillness) in my abdomen and joy in my heart. These moments of prayer help me cope with many moments when others require my full attention. Like Brother Lawrence, I give myself fully to the duty at hand and return to the practice of the presence of God when completed. Returning to God’s love in the moment keeps me whole. <3 linda

Sunday May 7: The Power of Love

What did I learn practicing love this week? Love flows from the well inside me, accessed with the centering prayer bucket, and is poured out as generously as I am able onto whomever I encounter, whatever situation I face. I am always delighted surprised when I feel down, not really wanting to talk to anyone, yet know I need contact, I am affirmed by a call, note or thought from a friend that primes the love to flow again. Now is the time to pour what love I can into our world, for all our needs, as best I am able. <3 linda

Sunday April 30: Everything Belongs

Am I serving to be “a channel of bringing Diving Love into the world”? Twenty minutes, twice a day clears out whatever detritus may be blocking my channel, as a plumber’s snake clears clogs and build up in drainpipes. No, I do not want to see what this unloading of the unconscious clears out, any more than what comes out of a clogged drain. It means I can keep my channel as open as I am able. I embrace Father Keating’s assertion that the Eternal Word may have manifested in other persons, those listed in this reflection and, perhaps, all humanity.  May I be able to retain fidelity to the centering prayer practice. <3 linda

Sunday April 23: Beyond Self

Trusted friend walks in Maryland; I walk in Tennessee. Transformations observed in nature: spring arrived Easter Sunday, when we awoke to a green canopied world that the day before was brown and bare. Steady rains wash away pollen and airborne impurities as baptism washes away sin. Several times a week we sit together to tend to soul work: grief, joy, challenges of child rearing, our spiritual journey. Our conclusion: we need only look to the other as on looks in the mirror, to see our own inner transformations. We help each other keep our mirrors clear, so we can reflect best God’s love through us to the world. <3 linda

Sunday April 16: Christ: Everywhere You Look
Daniel O’Leary’s image of child hugged tightly by her mother is one I have taken with me in my prayer times this week. When restless, i picture my face against God’s chest, my eyes closed, breathing deeply. I find myself quieting, calming. Powerful image. <3 linda

Sunday April 9: Quantum Resurrection

“…death is the collapse of our ‘particle’ aspect of life into the ‘wave’ dimension of our relatedness…The process of my becoming continues.” When I lose myself for the sake of love, I build relationships now that will continue after the death of my physical body. Building stronger relationships, during centering times and all through my life, is being called forth. Lord, teach me how to give myself away. <3 linda

Sunday April 2: Emptying and Listening

I am drawn to Beverly Lanzetta’s sentence “Self-emptying is not an absolute state but the practice of letting go.” From this my active prayer sentence this coming week will be “empty self; let go.” <3 linda

Sunday March 26: Stronger When We Wait

I am in a “wait and grow” season. I comprehend how there is power in patience, a serious “know that I know” that God has heard my pleas. To passionately wait does not mean to cease all activity until an answer comes. It means to prepare one’s inner house, gently decluttering the dross. Wrestle if needed to stay peaceful in patient preparedness. Then, once released to move, I am ready. Father Keating taught one does not learn how to fight during the midst of a battle; but in the time ahead spent in active preparation. So, I wait in joyful hope. <3 linda

Sunday March 19: Live in Light, Walk in Truth

How can I live the path of light, life and love single-pointedly? Silence, so I can perceive the teachers saying “this is the way; walk in it.” With loving action, usually performed outside of any limelight or notice. While it is true that “We have to walk totally alone and follow only the inner guide…”, it is also true that in prayer I unite and open x-ray eyes and see others who are on this path in faith. I attempt to perceive God in all creation. And I trust. <3 linda

Sunday March 12: Come to Living Water

There are times along the contemplative path where life is of survival and sustenance, enabling us to trust Living Water washing over us to sustain. There are times when life calms and allows us to use prophetic vision to see just how nurtured and sustained. Then we can fill our new buckets (wineskins, perhaps?) with this never-ending blessing and pour this refreshment into all we encounter. Who can we refresh today? <3 linda

Sunday March 5: Look Twice

Where am I being called to “look twice” to find the love that dances at the heart of all things? When hurt or afraid I retreat to my heart. Bold and adventurous live in the mind. Can my centering prayer practice make dance partners of fear and boldness, following God’s lead as the Primary Partner? Can an adventuresome love help me dance with my hurts and see God in all things? I will take this image of ternion dancing with me this week in my sits. <3 linda

Sunday February 26: What is Being Tested?

The fasting of the heart that calls to me is “Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course?” The only thing I can control now is my response to life. Everything in my life needs to be sifted through the silence to allow the most vital matters to rise to the top of my awareness, letting the rest fall as chaff. Help me, Lord. <3 linda

Sunday February 19: Place Me at Your Table

God has chosen family, friends, Zoom and online communities, such as this one, to be identified as “my loves”; those for whom I pray and who all remind me I am a child of God. This online community wordlessly holds me accountable to post a weekly reflection. I thank God daily for bringing all my loves to my life so we may remind each other of our belovedness in God’s eyes. <3 linda

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