Thought for the Week

St. Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content, knowing you are a child of God...Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

From the Meditation Series

For the last two weeks we have been focusing on Inner Wisdom. Whether you believe this inner voice is that of God or some higher self, our focus for our evenings has been trying to access this intelligence. The first week we worked on opening ourselves to this wisdom and listening to what it was saying to us. The second week we concentrated on asking this part of us a question in the hopes we would receive some sort of answer.

The idea was floated that our daily decision-making does not necessarily come from this place; but from reacting to our circumstances and a mentality of 'putting out fires' or keeping ourselves afloat. When we tune into what our hearts are telling us, we remember what our overriding intentions and goals are. Reconnecting with this part of us allows us to keep those big goals in mind as we go through our days, and, hopefully, make lasting decisions that help us achieve our potential.

Thought for the Week

But I want first of all...to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out [my] obligations and activities as well as I can.

from Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

From the Meditation Series

Perspective

Something we all aspire to maintain in the midst of all manner of crises. Last Thursday we discussed that, although we cannot control the stressors that surround us, we can choose how we move through a difficult time. Slowing down and taking time to breathe helps a person remember what their priorities and desires are: a necessity when we feel we are spinning out of control in a crisis. If we yield to the pressure and speed ourselves up to match our surroundings, we forget what our true motivations are.

The practice of meditation was likened to practising first aid. We practise and practise in a neutral setting so that it becomes the first response when we are in trouble.

The importance of breathing was discussed with reference to self-defense. In self-defense classes students are taught to say "NO" loudly to their attacker, partially to draw attention to themselves and scare off the individual, but also because saying no forces the person to exhale, requiring them, then, to inhale. This inhalation is important because you can't think without getting oxygen to your brain.

So - the practice of meditation teaches us to breathe, and helps us to slow down, so that we can fully appreciate our situation and discern what is needed to help us navigate through difficult times. We can't change the events but we can choose how we cope with them.

Thought for the Week

When we are high up, everything looks very small.

Our glories and our sadnesses

cease to be important.

We have left whatever we won or lost down below.

From the top of a mountain

you can see how large the world is

and how wide the horizon.

From The Fifth Mountain by Paulo Coelho

From the Meditation Series

Last week we discussed the idea of balance in our lives: in terms of the activities of living (family, work, exercise, spiritual practice) as well as balance within ourselves (heart, soul, mind and body). We reflected on the idea of sabbath as a gift - rest as a gift - to us and for us. A gift that we neglect, thinking if we just get one more thing done, THEN we can rest. But the truth is, we need to build the practice of 'restoring our souls' into our every day lives.

In our world and its fast pace, it has become increasingly difficult to be out of touch with the world and really take a break. We explored, through guided imagery, the idea that this time of quiet, sabbath, rest, is an opportunity to reconnect with our deepest needs and desires. That stopping in the middle of the everyday busyness is essential for us to figure out where we want to be going. How can we possibly get there if we don't know where we're going?

Thought for the Week

It's a little late in the week, but I thought I'd put this up anyway:

"You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

from Return to Love by Marianne Williamson