Practice Prayer, Calm Yourself

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, February 25, 2017

 

Practice Prayer, Calm Yourself

As I read today’s brief reading, I was amazed at how basic and simple were the instructions. If I were to follow Thich Nhat Hanh’s basic suggestions each day, and every day, I suspect I would find even more of a centering. Even more of a relaxation and calmness.

Don’t get me wrong. I am being realistic. I know that I can’t put my head in the sand. However, the teacher’s guidelines are straight-forward and basic. (Not easy, mind you, but straight-forward and simple.) A quote from today’s reading: “There are people who meditate only to forget the complications and problems of life. They are like rabbits crouching under a hedge to escape a potential hunter.” [1]

Oh, dear. This is an incomplete view of meditation and prayer. Of course, for people who are beginning in the practice, this is far better than no meditation and prayer! We may begin at any point. We may begin at any time of the day. And, once we begin, “we are able to see the source of our habits, perceptions, and attachments.” [2] Seeing all of that, I begin to clear away the wreckage of the past as well as to relax and calm myself in peace and serenity.

It works. It really does! Thanks, God. God is so good, and so good to me.

@chaplaineliza

 

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[1] How to Sit, Thich Nhat Hanh. (Berkeley, California: Parallax Press, 2014), 78.

[2] Ibid.

Peace, and Personal Definitions

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, June 8, 2016

Peace, and Personal Definitions

What is your personal definition of peace? What is peace, to you?

I have been gathering these personal definitions together for months. Getting a sample of peace here, a more complete picture of peace there.

Gathering some from here, there, and in every sort of illustration. Here is a quote from the June 7 article by Lee V. Gaines, pertaining to the Peace Vigil in the Chicago Tribune: “Jones said during the months of Lent she also asked her congregation to share their thoughts on the meaning of the word, and then started posting their response on a blog she created earlier this year.

“’People really appreciate my asking them what their personal definition of peace is, what their idea of peace is, so that’s what I’ve been doing,” she said.

“[Morton Grove Village Trustee Janine] Witko said an event like this is especially important given the divisive and polarizing discourse on display during the current election cycle. She said Morton Grove is an example of an incredibly diverse community living in relative harmony.”

I am thinking about all the definitions I have gathered together. What should I do with them?

Still thinking. Asking for suggestions of all of you! Send them to me, please. God willing, I will come up with another great idea.

@chaplaineliza

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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza  And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

Soul Creation—Nourish the Soul

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Soul Creation—Nourish the Soul

Another take on nourishing the Soul. Except, this way is expanding the Soul. This way is experiencing life, in every way. Matthew Fox suggests that “we must work on our souls, enlarging and expanding them. We do so by experiencing all of life—the beauty and the joy as well as the grief and pain.” [1]

This compilation, this book called Handbook for the Soul, offers a number of different aspects and attitudes towards expanding the inner workings of a person. And, with such a smorgasbord laid out for me, I can hardly choose. Perhaps, first one way on one day. Then, perhaps another way the next. And then, a third, and a fourth.

I could go on and on with these various approaches to nourishing and expanding the Soul. But I want to talk more about Fox’s way. He discusses soul work. How to do soul work? By experiencing life fully, deeply, in every way. In every facet.

Fox especially mentions silence and emptiness. Pain and suffering. Yes, sometimes there are great strides forward made at such times, in terms of soul work. In terms of strong emotion running rough shod all over a person, too.

The first thing I think of, when I read Fox’s suggestions, is why he said what he did.

When someone is presently going through some heavy emotion or deep, even raw feelings, sometimes it is wise to have someone to come alongside. Even though I may think I’m dealing with something manageable, things can always come up. Feelings, emotions, reactions, grief, sorrow, anger, grumbling, frustration. Joy, gratitude, relief. All kinds of feelings.

God willing, God will lead me to helpful prayers, nurturing exercises, and freeing meditation.

@chaplaineliza

[1] Handbook for the Soul, Richard Carlson and Benjamin Shield, editors. (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1995.), 151.

 

Seasons of My Soul

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, June 13, 2015

Seasons of My Soul

I enjoy living in the Midwest for a number of reasons, not least of which is the turning of the seasons. But—I hadn’t considered that there were seasons for my soul, too. Ups and downs, verdant springtime, growing summer, hesitant autumn, and withdrawn winter.

Yes, I am very much aware of the concept of the dark night of the soul. Oh, yes. And, I have experienced it a number of times, for periods of time. Definitely a hesitant autumn, or even a withdrawn winter. I cried out to God (or, the Source, or Higher Power, or the Ineffable), and I got next to no answer. Yup. That was me. No answer, God!

By and large, the Handbook for the Soul is helpful to me. And, especially this chapter.

Linda Leonard had excellent suggestions for the ways of nurturing soul, of self-care for the soul. She had a difficult childhood, by her own report. She worked through the stuff, and I suspect she is a marvelous therapist. (Even though one of her specialties happens to be interpretation of dreams. I very rarely remember my dreams, so I would need to find another way of understanding myself, a different kind of interpretation.)

I believe in the changing of the seasons, and the calendar year. Extended into Christianity, I also appreciate the liturgical (or, church) year. Finally, I appreciate the diversity of expressions of soul, mind, spirituality, divinity. Higher Power, God, any other conception people come up with. I try to be supportive and encouraging, no matter what. Even if I’m going through a hesitant autumn or a withdrawn winter.

I will strive to take all suggestions into consideration, whenever I pray, meditate and reach out for some kind of caring, loving Presence. God willing, yes!

@chaplaineliza

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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

Re-member-ing? Or, Putting Together That Which Is Broken?

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Tea bowl fixed in the Kintsugi method

Re-member-ing? Or, Putting Together That Which Is Broken?

Ah, brokenness. Puzzle pieces, scattered far and wide. Or, worse, some delicate figurine or pottery that has broken to pieces. Again, difficult to reassemble.

That’s what I immediately thought of when I saw Margaret Silf’s different prayer suggestions Yes, I know I have been requested to discern my personal faith story. Yes, I realize it is—indeed—a sacred task. Then, WHY do I have the overwhelming feeling that making sense of my faith story/my faith journey through life is so closely akin to re-assembling the broken fragments of some kind of fragile glassware?

The gist of one of her penetrating suggestions runs as follows: “Notice how God has been constantly present, not just in the special moments. Notice especially how, with hindsight, periods when God felt absent may have prepared you in some way for further growth. Notice how periods of difficulty strengthened you in certain ways, as hard exercise strengthens our muscles. . . . Where honesty prevents you from seeing God in parts of your life, tell God so in your prayer, and express your pain and anger to God freely.” [1]

I figured this, so far. My deep-down brokenness comes from several places, not least of which is the evil of a fallen world. (I have no problem believing this. I freely admit where I have fallen far too short.) Yes, society is broken, the family structure is at fault, relationships are (at best) erratic, and my internal and external person and Being is irreparably flawed.

And yet—and yet—I have hope. I hope in the One who loves me. I receive grace through the One who loves me. And, I take comfort in the One who never leaves me nor forsakes me. And, who loves me even when I cannot love myself. I can try to follow the twisted, winding path of my faith journey, and journey myself to wholeness. Wholeness in body, mind and spirit.

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank You for an excellent guide book in Inner Compass. Please, God, help me as I take this journey of discovery and exploration. Be right next to me as I reveal these hidden or forgotten fragments of my journey. Thank You for assuring me that You can handle some pain, anger and disappointment, from me, and from others. Lord, in Your mercy, hear my prayers.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

[1] Silf, Margaret, Inner Compass: Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality (Chicago: Loyola Press, 1999), 20-21.

Reflecting Further on the River. Bittersweet.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Monday, May 11, 2015

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Iceland
credit – I Love Nature

Reflecting Further on the River. Bittersweet.

I didn’t want to leave the metaphor of the river yet. I know, there’s a great deal of the book ahead, and I am only in the second chapter. But . . . the river seems to me to be a telling, insightful way of describing my journey. My life.

The path of my particular river has not always been even and smooth. No, there have been rough patches. I have even lost my way, following beside the river, since it has gone underground or through brambles and thorns on the way.

I appreciated several of the questions Margaret Silf posed, as she gave suggestions for those reading her book. Among those questions, the first significant one was: “What kind of obstructions or hazards has [your river] had to negotiate?” [1]

Ah, this brought back memories. And, very few were pleasant. For example, when I was in school as a tween and teen, I was a lonely child. Extremely isolated and awkward. I don’t often wish to go back there in my memories.

The second question had a more positive spin to it. “As you let your mind wander back along the riverbanks you have known, what landmarks make you feel glad and grateful? Perhaps particular people or experiences? Have you ever told those concerned what a difference they made to your journey?” [2]

Yes, I have let several people know how much they have meant to me, over the years. I am so glad I did. They supported me and encouraged me when very few people did. However, there were those who I never had a chance to thank. I feel so badly. Especially for two seniors, Miss Rose and Grandpa Ray. God rest their souls. They were always so encouraging and supportive to me. I thank God for them, whenever I remember them. Wonderful people.

And, yet. Thinking back on my life—tracing back the riverbanks—I find I am torn. Yes, there have been good times. But, a goodly portion of my life has been negative, for several decades. And, yet. One particularly positive thing I can say is that there are more good things going on now than bad. I am jumping for joy over that. (Modified rapture.) You can be sure.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

[1] Silf, Margaret, Inner Compass: Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality (Chicago: Loyola Press, 1999), 16-17.

[2] Ibid.