What Would It Take?

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A Deep Breath of Life, Alan Cohen, Celtic Benediction, courage, go all in, goodness, graces, J. Philip Newell, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, worthiness

Sometimes two ideas collide in my early morning moments pushing me to look deeply for readiness. (Shakespeare said: “The readiness is all.”) Here’s what I mean.

First, I read about a woman who sold her house to buy a Stradivarius violin. The commentary about that exchange said the following. The breadth of passion, joy and beauty that she brought into the world through playing that violin far exceeded any gifts she might have offered by inviting friends to her house for tea…Give me the knowledge of my worthiness and the courage to invest in myself. (A Deep Breath of Life – Alan Cohen)

Then, a morning prayer: The world is alive with your goodness, O God. It grows green from the ground and ripens into the roundness of fruit. Its taste and its touch enliven my body and stir my soul. Generously given, profusely displayed, your graces of goodness pour forth from the earth. As I have received so free me to give. As I have been granted so may I give…Pray for the coming day and for the life of the world. (Celtic Benediction – J. Philip Newell)

The challenge of selling all to have what would create the deepest willingness of soul so that transformation resulted is clear in the example of the violin. The question then remains: Am I as willing to “go all in” in my prayer for the life of the world and in my work for this day? What would it take of consciousness, resolve and time? Do I have it in me?

Saturday Morning

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Celtic Benediction, J. Philip Newell, prayer, rebirth, renewal, thank you, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

There is so much to pray for these days – so many distresses and sadnesses to endure – that sometimes we forget the words “thank you.” As we come to the end of another week, it is good to remember gratitude, even in our asking, so I turn again to J. Philip Newell who has a wonderful way to lead us there.

For the night followed by the day, for the idle winter ground followed by the energy of spring, for the infolding of the earth followed by bursts of unfolding, thanks be to you, O God. For rest and wakefulness, stillness and creativity, reflection and action, thanks be to you. Let me know in my own soul and body the rhythms of creativity that you have established. Let me know in my family and friendships the disciplines of withdrawal and the call to engagement. Let me know for my world the cycles of renewal given by you for healing and health, the pattern of the seasons given by you for the birth of new life. (Celtic Benediction, p. 76)

Aftermath

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Celtic Benediction, J. Philip Newell, morning silence, silence, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, utterances

The silence around me this morning is broken only by my typing. There is (thankfully) no wind. Even in North Carolina, the hurricane has been downgraded to a category one storm. While still grieving for the inhabitants of the Bahamas, I offer a prayer of hope in the stillness of the morning.

“In the silence of the early morning your Spirit hovers over the brink of the day and new light pierces the darkness of the night. In the silence of the morning life begins to stir around me and I listen for the day’s first utterances. In earth, sea and sky and in the landscape of my own soul I listen for utterances of your love, O God. I listen for utterances of your love.”

(J. Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction, p. 74)

Tending the Fire

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Celtic Benediction, Easter, fire, healing, John Philip Newell, Octave of Easter, soul, strength, sun, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

“Wednesday within the Octave of Easter” That’s what today is called in Church circles. It feels very much like “Ordinary Time” to me today. There is my list of tasks to accomplish, sitting on the right arm of my chair to assure my attention to their completion. How is it that we keep the fire of Easter alive through each hour? I think of all sorts of adages that speak of that effort: Steady as she goes! One step at a time. Fake it till you make it. (I always hope it won’t come to that one!)

What about this short prayer from John Philip Newell?

O Sun behind all suns, O Soul within all souls, grant me the grace of the dawn’s glory. Grant me the strength of the sun’s rays, that I may be well in my own soul and part of the world’s healing this day…that I may be well in my own soul and part of the world’s healing this day. (Celtic Benediction, p.41)

Morning Light

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Celtic Benediction, John Philip Newell, light, morning, see, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

For today, a post as short as yesterday’s entry was long. From J. Philip Newell, a prayer:

For the first showings of the morning light and the emerging outline of the day thanks be to you, O God. For earth’s colors drawn forth by the sun and its brilliance piercing clouds of darkness and shimmering through leaves and flowing waters thanks be to you. Show me this day amidst life’s dark streaks of wrong and suffering the light that endures in every person. Dispel the confusions that cling close to my soul that I may see with eyes washed by your grace, that I may see myself and all people with eyes cleansed by the freshness of of the day’s new light.

And the author’s closing counsel: Pray for the coming day and for the life of the world.(Celtic Benediction, p. 40)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-October Morning

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action, Celtic Benediction, creativity, God, health, hope, John Philip Newell, new life, prayer, reflection, renewal, rest, rhythms of time, seasons, stillness, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, unfolding

On this dreary Saturday morning it is clear that the earth has shifted into the season of Autumn. As the rain taps out a wake-up call on the roof, I wonder if we will see the usual splendor that accompanies October. Some say because of the hot, wet summer we had, the trees will not provide us with that gift this year. I always hold out hope though, and it will last in me for a few more days. For now, I am relaxed into morning by a prayer of John Philip Newell that expands the rhythms of time and the seasons into a God-like view.

For the night followed by the day, for the idle winter ground followed by the energy of spring, for the unfolding of the earth followed by bursts of unfolding, thanks be to you, O God. For rest and wakefulness, stillness and creativity, reflection and action, thanks be to you. Let me know in my own soul and body the rhythms of creativity that you have established. Let me know in my family and friendships the disciplines of withdrawal and the call to engagement. Let me know for my world the cycles of renewal given by you for healing and health, the pattern of the seasons given by you for the birth of new life.   (Celtic Benediction by J Philip Newell, p. 76)

 

 

October

Tags

autumn, awaken, Celtic Benediction, foliage, goodness, J. Philip Newell, life, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

As I was mowing the lawn yesterday I woke up to the shift in the season. The colors are changing, the smells and earthiness on the breeze in the back field are different and there is a wistfulness that bubbles up in me to know that once again we are moving away from the lightness of summer. At the same time, I am now alert for the glory to come as I search the trees for the tinges of color that announce the autumn miracle of the leaves. It’s always a risk that the summer was too wet or too dry to allow much color in the autumn leaves but we are usually wrong and nature puts on a lovely show. I found a little prayer this morning, just right to accompany me this day.

In the beginning, O God, when the firm earth emerged from the waters of life, you saw that it was good. The fertile ground was moist, the seed was strong and earth’s profusion of color and scent was born. Awaken my senses this day to the goodness that still stems from Eden. Awaken my senses to the goodness that can still spring forth in me and in all that has life. (J Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction, p. 26)