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- Why is 20 Minutes Recommended for Centering Prayer?
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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
Sunday February 12: Greet Yourself Arriving
While utilizing examining consciousness with journaling, I can sit quietly and allow names of emotions/motives to come that I need to explore deeper and unlock my motivations behind them. I agree that insights about myself are humiliating, yet it is in the embracing of those humiliations that I acknowledge my shadow and bring it to light; a turning away from hiding and toward my true nature. This process is ongoing and lifelong and so worth it. <3 linda
Sunday February 5: The Greatest Service
Where can I make compassionate attention my intention this week? I belong to a group of Zoom friends who have been meeting regularly the past three years. Health and wellness goals brought us together and are still important. We struggle to provide enough structure to our time together to challenge our growth areas, while remaining fluid enough when a crisis comes we can support each other. I’m not certain how my compassionate attention will best serve this group, yet I know that it must. <3 linda
Sunday January 29: Broken, Blessed, Given
“We too are blessed during difficult times because even then we are connected to and dwelling in the kingdom of heaven.” I call to mind the eighteen (and counting) times I have moved cross country, mostly without knowing ahead of time what our new domicile looked like. Painful times, especially the move away from our adult children. Blessings that have come out of those experiences have been different and exactly what we needed to bloom where we were planted, every time.
My beatitude: Blessed are those who move, for they shall become movers of Christ’s love.
<3 linda
