Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 27

Meditation for Monday 7 March
... on today's readings

 











Thus says the Lord: Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. 
Isaiah 65:17

THE ROYAL OFFICIAL'S STORY

My son was dying.

Before sunrise I saddled my horse and started riding. We had all heard the magician was in Cana - and when my physicians told me during the night that my son's life was in the hands of God - he seemed my best hope.

I nearly killed my horses - but it still took until noon. 

And then he wouldn't talk to me. He wouldn't come with me. He seemed annoyed that people wouldn't believe without spectacular magic, but I didn't need that - I just wanted my little boy back.

Finally he told me to go home "your son lives". And I felt it. 

I thanked him and left. 

He clearly was not a magician. No incantations. No flashes of light. No hat passed round for money. No claims of credit. No tricks. Just power I could feel. Certainty.

The horses needed a quieter ride so I had to stable them half way home. Left again before light. And then servants met me. So excited. He lives.

Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. 

Nothing has changed. Everything has changed. 
I started the day a highly evolved animal tuned for survival and winning and prestige. But suddenly I see none of that matters. 

Nothing seems different. Everything seems different.
My house is the same, my job, my wife, my son.
My son lives! How can I go back to that life knowing
God walks with us on the earth?

Everything looks normal. But nothing is normal.
God is here. Power is here. New creation is here. 
Life is here. Open your eyes!
My life goes on. 
But on a new earth of wonder and love and my son! 

Lo, I have created new heavens and a new earth. 

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, John 4:49-53

The royal official said to him,
“Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.”
The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
While the man was on his way back,
his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.
He asked them when he began to recover.
They told him,
“The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.”
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him,
“Your son will live,”

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the phrase CHANGE or CREATION.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Fourth Sunday of Lent

Meditation for Sunday 6 March
... from the readings of the day:

Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
2 COR 5:17

“Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: 

the old things have passed away; look,

new things have come.”

New things have come: we are born in two worlds 

- and must choose to live in the opaque threatening
world of limits, surfaces, sensations - or a mysterious 
translucent universe hinting at life and resurrection.

New things have come; for years we clung to banal

expectations of work, seeking happiness and security,
clichéd superficial experiences for a full life: a

glitzy daydream obscuring soft aura of possibility.

New things have come: we live not in our home;
we are tenants in temporary accommodation! We come to love our squat, but reality of love and awe
and joy await us the moment we know who we are.

“Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: 

the old things have passed away; look,

new things have come.”

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Luke 15:16-20

And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. 

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the phrase CHANGE or CREATION.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 21

Meditation for Tuesday 1 March
... from the readings of the day:

But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received;
Daniel 3:39

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet 
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

My brother is myself. I am washed ashore dead 
or near, fleeing hatred, or greed, or persecution.
Will you carry my body, bathe my wounds, feed me?

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

My sister is myself. I am sold or stolen to work 
in factories, houses, brothels. No escape.
Will no-one love me, hug me, play with me?

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

The deformed beggar is myself, not employable,
not loveable, dirty, alone, angry or desperate.
Will you catch my eye, touch my hand, speak to me?

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

My colleague, neighbour, parishioner is myself, knows 
everything, interrupts, all about himself, herself.
Will your eyes smile when you share peace with me?

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 18:32-35

Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.  

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 

Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word EMPTY or TRUST.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Second Sunday of Lent

Meditation for Sunday 21 February
... from the readings of the day:

While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his 

clothing became dazzling white.

Luke 9:29

On a street corner, on a visit to his doctor 

in 1958, Thomas Merton saw people transfigured ... not Jesus - but random people passing by.

People like me. People like you.

Merton later said: 

we are living in a world 

that is absolutely transparent, and God

is shining through it all the time.

He also said: 

There is no way of telling people 

that they are all walking around 

shining like the sun.

Most of us have never been given such 

a mystical glimpse of the kingdom of heaven,

and that is not the life we have been given: 

we are currently part of the incarnation 

and God allows us only hints of reality 

to encourage us and give us hope.

Like apostles, we come down to earth

the next day and continue our lives - but

forever changed - knowing 
that we are indeed beings of light.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Luke 9:28-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here;let us make three tents,one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word GLORY or the word SPIRIT.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 6

Meditation for Monday 15 February
... from the readings of the day:

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:40

All of us are brothers and sisters 
in the body of Christ,
bound together in a single organism
with many parts, but one.

Many hearts pumping blood but, 
at heart, a single heart, beating love.
Many hands reaching out to push and pull,
to break and create frail, fleeting structures

we dream will live after us. We dream
we are gods and our creations will
last for ever. But everything created of
matter wears and breaks. Only love lasts.

Single minds dreaming of separation
and domination - but finally powerless before
our one mind of love; our one thought
of love, love's true single kingdom.

Our dreams of separation: Syrians, boat people,
separate races, religions, countries, gods, histories -
all dreams, fever nightmares leaving us
sweating, confused, alarmed when we start awake.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me each day closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 25:37-40

Then the righteous will answer him and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word CHRIST. 

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention). 

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: The kingdom is here - now (if we want it)

We read every day of murder abuse terror rape.
Our world seems full of violence and ego; but
while ego and violence scratch us all, many 
many lives are still lived quietly and in hope.

   Spirit am I, made in God's image, and
   only each of us can save the world:
   each one of us is the body of Christ.

The violence of hunger disease cruelty abuse:
people and creation used for quick gain - daily,
but daily too, lives of prayer and good works, people reaching to our Creator in hope and faith and love.

   Spirit am I, made in God's image, and
   only each of us can save the world: 
   each one of us is the body of Christ.

The kingdom is in us, and we are each priest prophet 
and king: blessing, healing, forgiving, protecting - 
waiting for the scales to move -  
the kingdom among us.

   Spirit am I, made in God's image, and
   only each of us can save the world:
   each one of us is the body of Christ.

But first we need more pray-ers, empty seekers,
willing to sacrifice and forgive, speak out, and shepherd.
That is me. It is you. The kingdom is here. Now.
But we must choose to see past darkness, pain, despair.

   Spirit am I, made in God's image, and
   only each of us can save the world:
   each one of us is the body of Christ.

Leaders must lead. Not to entrench power, 
but to create a new earth, a new kingdom.
Each of us must live fully: not to hoard for sham security, 
but to grow our being and our bond with God.

   Spirit am I, made in God's image, and
   only each of us can save the world:
   each one of us is the body of Christ.

Ego must be seen as the devil it is - 
only then will we notice, gently push it aside, 
and live wholly for each other, live wholly for love, 
live wholly for God.

   Spirit am I, made in God's image, and
   only each of us can save the world:
   each one of us is the body of Christ.

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. The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Luke 17, 20-24

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. 

His answer was, “The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ because the Kingdom of God is within you." 

Then he said to the disciples, “The time will come when you will wish you could see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, over there!’ or, ‘Look, over here!’ But don't go out looking for it. 

As the lightning flashes across the sky and lights it up from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 

Focus on 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 KINGDOM or the word GOD. 

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention). 

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: Be still and know (Psalm 46)

Despite all the terrible things you read in your news,
despite the wars and shameful things you do to each other,
despite the earthquakes and storms, droughts and famines
despite even your abuse of each other and my earth ...

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When things fail in your home, when stress and anger
dominate love and gentleness,
have faith. Be strong: even in your pain
I hold you, cherish you, prune and nurture you, and

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When you become ill - or someone you need becomes ill

empty yourself, come to me, I wait to fill your emptiness,
to heal and console, to comfort and calm, and guide you
from the blind uncaring city to the quiet pool of Siloam in the ruins of David's old city.

   All will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When you see people doing unspeakable things to each other, 

feel moments of terror and unthinking anger,
days, months, years of starvation and illness,
when death and disease is all around, even then

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When you see darkness in the actions of angry people

darkness in the eye of the storm, when you see
darkness buried in the earthquake
and fleeing children dead upon the shore, even then

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When people put their own power before the people I created

I will melt their guns and disperse their gases. 

I will breach their fantasy of unscalable ramparts 

and destroy all their dreams of security and safety.

   All will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When you damage my earth and trees and birds and fish,

when storms destroy your cities and drought lays waste your crops,
when the air turns brown and the horizon disappears,
when the waters rise and your security is shattered, come to me, then

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

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 46

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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 GOD. 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. 

In my insights blog last week I suggested another way my wife used this psalm for meditation when she ran retreats.

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: Another dead child

When I look at a new child
   full of life 
   and trust 
   and hope
   and potential,
I wonder about the children in the world
now damaged or lost forever
who were given to us - sent, maybe to save the world.

No child is ever mine. 
I am trusted to be a steward, 
to care for, love, cherish, nurture - but never own.
How can we own a child? How can we own land?
What God created is not ours. 
We are the trusted stewards, appointed by God. 

We own only the immortal things we create - things 
we can take with us when we cross the bridge home.
Our Creator has been gone so long from our lives 
that we have come to assume our God has died, 
and so we have inherited the land and people, 
the trees and wildlife, to use as we wish.

Think again! 
Our Creator never left: always home in the kingdom within, 
but too often ignored because we are deaf to the words, 
too busy to see the beauty, 
unable to confirm the fleeting intuitions 
and hints, and moments of awe we feel, 
but cannot measure or record. 

A child, a tree, your life's path, your very self -
all gifts to point the way to the truth of our responsibilities
as guardians for our Creator:
   to love, 
   to cherish,
   to protect,
   to nurture,
each being that belongs to God.

... for Ihaka Stokes, died Christchurch Friday 3 July 2015 aged 14 months. 

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 Genesis 1,26-31

Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small.” So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, blessed them, and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals. I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat; but for all the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food”—and it was done. God looked at everything he had made, and he was very pleased. Evening passed and morning came—that was the sixth day.

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: The Kingdom of God is within you

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. His answer was, “The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’; because the Kingdom of God is within you. 

Luke 17:20-21

I have seen several recent versions of the Bible that translate this as the "Kingdom of God is among you" as if the Kingdom is separate from me or is a physical thing. Luke is very clear that it is "within" us - and seems to contrast the world we see, with our inner spiritual reality. So, he seems to say, if we are to be on watch for the Kingdom, we need to look inward.

For me, that is a bit of an easy answer. The same Creator made both, and to me inner and outer are linked. Or maybe I become more aware of the world around me when I begin to be aware of the world within!

And what about this: maybe it is a responsibility of each one of us to develop awareness of the Kingdom within us, so we can see it around us. In other words it may be that the kingdom of God is here within each of us right now - but we do not have eyes to see it, or ears to hear it. 

But if we cannot see it within, how can the world around us be anything but ordinary, when it is actually extra-ordinary! As I become more aware of the Creator within, how can I ignore the Creator's work around me?

I am born of heaven

in the image of my Creator,

and if sometimes I am not aware of that

it is still always true;

there is something of God

within me.

Without, the world is daily brighter. 

Within, only glimpses through a warped mirror.

But if I relax my focus,

in the corner of my eye I see 

fragments of the world of God about and

within me.

The world outside sparkles.

My heart warms in response

and I know

my two worlds are linked

by the same Creator, without, and also 

within me.

The picture grows daily more clear.
My inward eye sees more;
my whole awareness grows sharp
within and out ... 

in the presence of my Creator, outside and 
within me.

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 Luke 17, 20-24

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. 

His answer was, “The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ because the Kingdom of God is within you." 

Then he said to the disciples, “The time will come when you will wish you could see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, over there!’ or, ‘Look, over here!’ But don't go out looking for it.

As the lightning flashes across the sky and lights it up from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 

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 words Kingdom or Within me. 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.