Meditation: Standing alone

Our destiny is unity;
together in God.
This longing now, a pebble in our shoes,
is a nagging reminder of what we were made to be.

We are born for community,
longing to be together, but inevitably 
we live on our own.
In our heads. 
Busy. 
Doing things.

When we think, we are walled in a prison of cranial bone
and even though we try to share our thoughts, inevitably 
we are misunderstood, misinterpreted through the events of our listener's life.
Thinking is a solitary experience.

We hide our aloneness in lively tea parties, 
enthusiastic social contacts, 
passionate Church liturgies, helping sisters and brothers.
But we trick ourselves, sustained by hints of unity, glimpses of common purpose.

Only in our loves can we have a true taste of unity;
in our thoughts we each live alone.
Our thoughts can be original and are always unique,
seeming to define us, nurturing our perception of individual singularity.

But we long to share our insights, to unite with others.
Some of our best thoughts are so infused with passion
that others do indeed follow, but the tyranny of thought
cannot sustain unity: new thoughts intrude and distract.

Love is the difference.
We mostly live alone with our individual thoughts,
savouring our individual rights and entitlements.
Only in our loves may we truly come together. 

Only that love can satisfy.

Only through love:
love of God, love of others, love of creation, love of ourselves,
can we glimpse the unity of eternity: our destiny 
when the sons and daughters of our Creator will be reunited 
in Love as the single body of Christ.

Our destiny is unity;
together in God.
This longing now, a pebble in our shoes,
is a nagging reminder of what we were made to be.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest 1 John 4:7-8,16-21

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them. Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage on the Judgement Day; and we will have it because our life in this world is the same as Christ's. There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

We love because God first loved us. If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.

Read this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word LOVE. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Meditation: Gift of time

What is more precious than anything in the world?
Time!
And what do we waste uselessly and without being sorry?

Time!
What do we not value and what do we disregard more than anything?
Time!

When we waste time, we lose ourselves … Time is given by God to use correctly for the salvation of the soul and the acquisition of the life to come … The Lord will call us to account for having stolen time for our own whims, and for not using it for God and our souls.

Sebastian of Optina Monastery

O God, you are my God,

but I live separate from you.

When I was young

I saw our separation as an issue of place,

but now I know that it is an issue of time.

You have gifted me a seemingly unlimited

number of moments to know you in myself.

You are there with me each moment,

but because I live in time and not in your eternal moment

I fail to notice you as I look to my next moment.

Created in your image and with your kingdom in me,

I taste hints of your presence in

moments of prayer,

moments of beauty,

moments of insight.

But when I reach to prolong the moment

I have moved away and you have not. 

I lose time when I distract myself with foolish entertainment,

when I stop being alive because I am "waiting until",

or when my best plan fails and I frustrate myself,

ignoring the new opportunity not of my making.

My Creator, you have given me 
time - to discover,

time - to grow in your image.

Moment by moment you guide me; but

moment by moment I surrender to distraction and frustration.

Your kingdom is within me, and I just don't notice when

I entertain my whims, or to resent the thwarting of my plans.

O God, you are my God. You live within me,

but I live separate from you.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest John 17,20-23 - Jesus' prayer ...

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

1. Read this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.
2. What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?
3. Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.
4. Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word ONE or UNITY. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock. 

At the end thank God, and return to your day

Meditation: Sparkle!

A friend recently returned from a business trip to China full of enthusiasm for a contact she had made with a big company. She had "hit it off" with them. As she left she asked them what made the difference, and was told they always deliberately looked to work with people who "sparkle". 

Sparkle [spahr-kuh l]: to shine or glisten with little gleams of light, glitter.

We know so many people: friends, acquaintances, 
children, family, who sparkle with life - 
people on trains, people at work and play: 
people unable to contain their spirit,
alive with the sparkle of creation.

Adults, darkly dressed and with important tasks, 
others relying on their decision, experience, or whim,
always self aware and making the right impression
trying to conceal their spirit, but still
alive with the sparkle of creation.

The dancer or composer or artist or physicist seeing 
the light of creation, records without words directly on each soul;
aware only of the wonder, not seeing the rest,
overflowing with life, not caring to contain their spirit,
alive with the sparkle of creation.

Young parent's light flickers, exhausted by work 
and worry and children. But the glimmer of a tired friend 
or partner revives hope and re-kindles the gleam, 
re-ignites the dream of love and new life, 
resurrecting in all the spark of creation. 

Children, full of energy, full of light!
always running, charged with energy and vitality.
Care-less and taking every thing for granted: 
of course I am full of life! watch me fly!
alive with the sparkle of creation.

Young animals bounding with life, leaping stiff-legged,
hanging still in the air for long moments,
turning to check mother was watching,
overflowing with life-spirit,
alive with the sparkle of creation.

And as well, take joy from those who reflect 
our light; people who take the little light 
twinkling out from our gloom, and glitter it back, 
reminding us we too must see ourselves even
from our dark, still dazzling with the sparkle of creation.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest John 10, 7-10 ...

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All those who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

1. Read this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.
2. What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?
3. Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.
4. Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word LIGHT or LIFE. 
5. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock. 

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Meditation: How does God?

How does our Creator let us know that God is always with us
in our humdrum lives, in our moments of happiness, and our difficulties?

God, who lives in each of us, lives only in the eternal moment, while we,
who are gifted with a span of time, do not.

How does God "speak" with creations who leap from past to future, 
but find nothing in the now (other than an opportunity to worry about the future 
or replay our past moments of defeat)?

Say aloud the name of that feeling of warmth, 
the peace, the uncontrolled welling of emotions 
that reminds us our Creator is very 
very near. Its name is JOY.

A child at home, aware of nothing but the moment,
having no past, still unaware of future failings and shames,
that child is a gift from God. 
In trivial but momentous achievements: 
a step, a word, a smile - God speaks joy in us.

So name that feeling of warmth, the peace, 
the wild welling of emotions that reminds us 
our Creator is always near. 
Its name is JOY.

A busy day, conflicts and successes, 
getting our tasks done, going home in the cool 
of the winter evening in the blaze of 
orange gold and royal purple sunset; called 
into that moment, surprised by joy.

So name that feeling of warmth, the peace, 
the wild welling of emotions that reminds us  
our Creator is always near. 
Its name is JOY.

Each day of our adult life we strive with responsibilities
and tasks we must complete; torn 
between work and the people we love. 
But consider this: we are called then into 
moments of love heightened by separation, 
moments of peace possible because of tension.

So name that feeling of warmth, the peace, 
the wild welling of emotions that reminds us  
our Creator is always near. 
It is JOY.

God shares beauty with us in perfect moments:
storm clouds behind sunlit new willow leaves,
the smile of a stranger, birds in flight, singly, 
or the telepathic instant turn of a million birds in flight.
We are called into that moment, delighted by joy.

So name that feeling of warmth, the peace, 
the wild welling of emotions that reminds us  
our Creator is always near. 
Its name is JOY.

The fumbling movement of baby animals, alive! 
Gifted with life. 
A moment glimpsed by me: brimming full with the gift, 
living in complete trust, unaware of danger or threat.
Called into that moment, awed by joy.

So name that feeling of warmth, the peace, 
the wild welling of emotions that reminds us 
our Creator is always near. 
Its name is JOY.

God gives us moments of unconditional love from babies;
the tightening of arms around our necks,
the hand grasping a finger to take a step,
the delighted smile of recognition after absence,
calling us by name! Ambushing us with joy.

So say aloud the name of that feeling of warmth, of peace,
the wild welling of emotions that reminds us 
our Creator is always near. 
Its name is JOY.


If today you hear God's voice, harden not your heart. Psalm 95


Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest Psalm 8, 3-9

When I look at the sky, which you have made,

    at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places—
    what are human beings, that you think of them;
    mere mortals, that you care for them?

Yet you made them inferior only to yourself;
    you crowned them with glory and honour.
You appointed them rulers over everything you made;
    you placed them over all creation:

    sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too;
    the birds and the fish
    and the creatures in the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

    your greatness is seen in all the world!

1. Read this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.
2. What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?
3. Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.
4. Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word HEAR. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock. 

At the end thank God, and return to your day.