Forum Replies Created
- Our “Big Sits” Story
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I have been greatly blessed by this online community of nearly 5000 worldwide practitioners. I have experienced myself as unconditional love, thanks to each of you. This knowledge and your continued prayers wrap me in God’s love and protection as I pack our household goods and prepare to move. My own practice helps “dismantle my own biases, prejudices and self-centered programs for happiness.” This prayerful collaboration is truly transformative. Thank you. <3 linda
These two sentences speak deeply to my journey: “Our work may not seem as miraculous as that of Jesus, but through acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or quiet prayers, we offer what is needed most. In doing so, we become vessels of God’s love, filling the empty jars of the world.”
I have written lately of liminal spaces and find myself closing the door to my time in eastern Tennessee. An immanent relocation to a southern suburb of Phoenix, AZ beckons me forward. My jar filling here draws to a close. I pray my “acts of kindness, words of encouragement and quiet prayers” have aided healing those intended and sparked a bit of joy for God. <3 linda
Active blessing, to be used for any relationship: You are God’s beloved.
Daily goal: believe it!
<3 linda
Keating’s admonition that it is sincerity, submission to God’s inner and outer signals, and perseverance that enables us to transcend, rather than leave the path set before us. The Magi may have traveled lightly, yet they had to prepare for their extended journey. Bring only what is necessary. Trust provisions and assistance will be provided along the way. May we be overjoyed at each Star encounter this year. <3 linda
“A practicing Christian must above all be one who practices the perpetual return of the soul into the inner sanctuary, who brings the world into its Light and rejudges it, who brings the Light into the world with all its turmoil and its fitfulness and recreates it …”
Wow! No small tasks await during our centering times, do they? Perpetual practice (note: not perfection-forgive yourself if you miss a sit). Bring world to Light. Bring Light to world. Repeat: twenty minutes, twice a day. Amen. <3 linda
“To love as God loves requires us to confront the ways we cling to control, security, and self-interest.” What does it cost me to release control, security and self-interest? De-throning myself from God’s rightful place at my center. Ouch. Yet, the spiritual journey is a surrender worth making because the gains of deep peace and trust are very real, eternally lasting. <3 linda
Macrina Wiederkehr’s words speak to me: “Your homework is to be vigilant, sober, lucid, and aware. … Anticipate all the blessing that take place each day…” I must not only be present as fully as I am able, but I am also to anticipate God’s blessings. Anticipating God’s blessings sparks joy in my being. My mindset is something I can control, for the most part, via my daily centering prayer times. Draw deep from the well of silence, pour myself out with joy into all I encounter. Repeat. <3 linda
“Advent is opening to God under any circumstances…believing…that whatever happens is coming from a motive of incredible love…” Lord, open me, keep me open, under any circumstances. Help my unbelief. I know that I know that I know all Your motives spring from Your incredible love. Grant me your peace. Amen. <3 linda
“You do your best to reach out tenderly to touch and elevate as many people as you can reach. You bring your naked love and defiant courage and salty grace to bear as much as you can, with all the attentiveness and humor you can muster.”
Brian Doyle’s words brings to mind one of my foundational parenting phrases: do your best. Times are that my best, along with all the attentiveness and humor I can muster, means yesterday’s best/attentiveness may have been greater than today’s. Today, I lean into the humor. Tomorrow, I vow again to love my best, trusting God takes it and blesses it for my good and for the edification of as many people as I can reach. <3 linda
Father Keating’s words, yet again, provide me a lifesaving flotation stanza for my journey:
“All is possible for the Creator of all,
Who loves to manifest the impossible
In endless configurations.”
Deeply trusting God loves and enjoys manifesting the impossible in endless configurations, I place my impossibles at the feet of the Holy One and rest in that promise. <3 linda
“…there is nothing a blessing is better suited for than an ending, nothing that cries out more for a blessing than when a world is falling apart…”
I live in an active liminal space – rapid change pairs with snail’s pace daily activity. Endings are upon me, and new light and perspectives emerge. Send blessings, Lord, “to sit beside [me] among the shards and turn [my] face toward the direction from which the light will come, gathering itself about [me] as the world begins again.” <3 linda
The widow placing her entire livelihood in God’s loving hands is a situation my husband and I are beginning to navigate. His health concerns have deepened to the point that soon he will have to stop working full time and go on disability. Heart rending discussions and decisions about next steps in living life, once made, produced in me deep peace, a trust God has our whole world in God’s hands, and profound serenity amidst the swirling turmoil of pacing through next steps. Truly, unlikely freedom. <3 linda
I practiced “seeing with eyes in the heart” this week in working with women I encountered while tracing down medical billing information. I called to request my forms, opting to pick them up in person, twice. Each time, I was nudged by the Spirit to take some store bought baked good. What I received at each encounter was the pleased state of shock response. These talented women work in a business park offsite of the medical facility and rarely receive visitors. Trusting Spirit’s guidance let them know how much one person appreciated their expertise. <3 linda
Like Bartimaeus, I find myself sitting on the side of life’s road at times; I wonder if Bartimaeus moped as I frequently do? I confess when Jesus calls, I do not always jump up and run to Him – forgive me. I most want Jesus to teach me to love as best I can, bring all close to God’s heart. I confess my fears loving like this may lead to great rejection, as it did for Jesus. Forgive me. <3 linda
Lord, You alone know me, see my heart, hear my fears. Help me embrace the way of the Suffering Servant with grace. Move me moment by moment from resistance to trust. I believe; help my unbelief. Thank You for everything. Amen. <3 linda
