Lenten Writing Prompt #12
In this era of background noise, comments, white noise, traffic, news and checing the insistent notifications from facebook, twitter, texts and/or your kids in the back seat of your car, how do you quiet your mind and be in a still place to listen to God?
Soulitude
ReplyDeleteQuietude, no-thingness, cosmic center, sacred sanctuary
Meeting the Keeper of All has little to entice or entrap
Setting aside the trappings of culture, of self-ness
Being to the maximum, doing breathing, calming the mind
Energy work comes close to the realm of being Keeper asks
Setting all goals aside, expectantly attending the moment
Noting without fixating the flow of energy as it moves
Allowing a sacred mid-wife to assist the birthing of now
Creator holds all in care, love, mercy, compassion, grace
Spirit actualizes the connective ability to engage Creator
Word brings depth, meaning, substance to the insubstantial
Together, Trinity invites each living, created thing into presence
Emptiness, devoidness, paradoxical intent give a place one can find
Prophets, female and male, have attested to the connection being made
Shamans know the presence of the Other when they have come close
Holy Ones of all religions, beliefs, spiritual practices encourage the approach
Vision quest captures the process quite clearly
Fasting physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually helps
Bringing oneself into a calm, peaceful, serene mood necessary
Allowing control mechanisms to quit their incessant ego driven needs
Prayerfully opening to the mystery that life truly embraces
With a gentle awareness stepping down the path of now
Finding the inner guidance that Spirit lovingly provides
Timeless experience of the now sheds all that encumbers self
In this vulnerability love finds its way to connect with soul
Soul feeds on the nurturing care of the Keeper as a babe at breast
Coming to the sacred sanctuary of soulitude regularly strengthens
Practicing the process brings certitude to the loving core one finds
Fill me Lord with the wonder of your grace and love
Flesh out my anemic soul so that all might see you
Show me the decision-making necessary to meet regularly
Bring about a community of soul-mates who can commune often
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
12-Feb-11 23:40
I don't get to the wilderness as often as I want. There is a special place on Horseshoe Bend trail. Drive on Mt Baker Highway past Deming and when you cross the bridge, there is a place to park. This is a place where Kayakers take the plunge in the river. The trail begins there. Walk until you get to a bench - about a mile, and in the summer when the river is down you can climb out on the boulders and feel the spirit of the water rush around you. This is a special place because a dear brother in Jesus shared communion with me, and prayed the most beautiful words ever prayed over me. I was lifted to heaven.
ReplyDeleteI also find the solace and silence of God in the faces and conversations of people at Woods Coffee. I know it sounds foolish, but I have started the practice of noticing people in the midst of frenzy, and I see the compassion and love of God there. I believe we can carve out a niche of silence in the midst of noise if we so choose. Sometimes silence is louder than noise!
Joel Lohafer
you prompt recognition and our choice to meet God in the day. thanks.
Deleteronaldo
While no one would accuse us of over landscaping our house, part of the way it is put together is to have a sort of sanctuary to sit and look at the roses, the trees, or the antennas. Bring out a soda and contemplate.
ReplyDeleteI also meditate in the garage building things. it quiets me and makes me happy. Sort of a guy thing, I suppose. I should do the latter more. Doug from sunny California.
thank you Doug. Mowing the lawn has always been a time of oasis for me too.
DeleteJoel
Being
ReplyDeleteThey race around and around
and sometimes they are loud
and they are usually interesting -
at least I think so.
They are my thoughts
and they run like horses
except
they don’t stop
they go on and on and on,
on topic after idea after thought
until I focus
on one task
or on one idea
or on one person.
Or
if I am quiet,
if I recognize each busy thought that comes
and gracefully let it go,
my mind begins to slow
my lungs breathe deep
and in that place
I can just
“be”.
I know that God is with me
in the busy times.
I experience God’s presence with me
in the‘being’ times.
ah the space between thoughts, such a safe, sweet spot. thanks.
Deleteronaldo
I love the sound of silence!
ReplyDeleteI love the quiet sound
Of the hushed, quiet rooms.
I love when the house is empty,
TV and Bose are turned off,
And the windows are open to
Lilting birdsong or a soft breeze.
It takes longer
To quiet the noise in my mind.
It takes more than a few minutes
Of soft peaceful silence
To quiet my thoughts,
To prepare my heart.
Then,
In the silence,
I finally begin
To listen to God,
To recognize God’s voice
and let the Spirit flow through me,
I love the sound of silence!
Thank you!
Delete