• About The Sophia Center

The Sophia Center for Spirituality

~ Spanning the denominations in NY's Southern Tier

The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Tag Archives: radiance

Sleep Medicine

25 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by thesophiacenterforspirituality in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

angel of the Lord, Christmas, light of Christ, radiance, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Somewhere in the middle of the night, I read a paragraph from the Brothers of St. John the Evangelist. I had already been in bed for some time and sleep wasn’t coming. If I were a young child I would have said I was awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus but at this “older age” I knew that wasn’t the issue. I simply had too much on my mind that wouldn’t go away, I got up then and checked my e-mail (something never advisable!) and it was there that I found what I felt was worthy of sharing on this Christmas morning. Then I went back to bed and fell asleep immediately.

The angel of the Lord speaks these words to us tonight: do not be afraid; do NOT be afraid. We may live in dark times. We may be afraid of the dark. We may be afraid of the darkness of the world and of our own lives. But the light of Christ shining forth this night from the manger in Bethlehem promises to banish that darkness with the radiance of God’s glory. (Br. James Koester)

Today the sun is shining brightly and the darkness has truly been overcome so I send blessings to you on this special day. May your burdens be light and your hope abound!

Jan Minus Nine…And Counting

19 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by thesophiacenterforspirituality in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

balance, harmony, Jan Phillips, joy, light, love, No Ordinary Time, radiance

janphillipstree

Because we are anticipating the Jan Phillips concert and workshop at the end of next week, I decided this morning to see what she had to say to me from her book No Ordinary Time. I’m never disappointed with what I find in this book. Here’s what found me today.

“Imagine that when we’re born, each one of us comes to earth with the radiance of, say, a hundred watt bulb. That’s our natural state – 100 watts. As we go through life, our job is to maintain that brightness, and even improve it if we can. What dims it, we learn through experience, is negativity, anger, resentments, regrets. What brightens it is harmony, balance, joy.

If you consider the people you encounter on a regular basis and reflect a little on their energy level, you could probably bring to mind a few who fit the 100 watt category, and others who are in the 50-60 watt vicinity. And you probably encounter 10 watt people every once in awhile, though chances are you don’t linger long. It’s the 100 watt-ers that keep your attention. These are people who don’t complain, who don’t say negative things about themselves or others, who are the first to offer help and the ones who stay until the work is done.

Hundred watt-ers laugh a lot, they draw people in like bears to honey. They’re the ones you wish you were more like. And now, you can choose to become one, if you want. All it takes is a little practice. First, you must become an observer to your own thoughts and words, so you are conscious of your thoughts and the words that you speak. Second, you must speak as if your words were materializing into your very life. This means no self-deprecating remarks and no negative comments about others. In other words, you must actually love yourself and love others as yourself.

If we operate from this premise, then we have a good chance of keeping our light bright. If we speak positively, think reverently, then we maintain our original state of grace. If we enter into a meeting imagining that every person there is a peer, then our encounters will begin to change. Once we start noticing our thoughts, becoming aware of their power, letting go of judgments, resistance, opposition, then we experience a more radiant energy. As we think, so shall we create.” (p.74-75)

(Learn about Jan’s visit to Binghamton at www.thesophiacenterforspirituality.org/events.html)

O Radiant Dawn, Come!

21 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by thesophiacenterforspirituality in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

birth, Christ, daily miracle, dawn, God, light, Messiah, metaphor, O Antiphons, radiance, sunrise, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Winter Solstice

asolsticeThe workings of the universe are often confusing for some non-science minds like mine. For example, we are approaching the Winter Solstice, the time of the shortest day and longest night in the northern hemisphere (and the opposite, of course, in the south). Sometimes it is the 21st of December, sometimes the 22nd. I just read that the solstice begins tonight for my time zone at 11:48PM – which is 4:48AM GMT (Universal Time). It’s all about the tilt of the earth’s axis, you see, and the angle and length of the sun’s rays hitting the earth. The  confusion comes because there are reports as well of the fact that the solstice doesn’t signal the day of the latest sunrise and earliest sunset because “solar time” – measured by the spin of the earth – isn’t exactly the same as clock time, which always measures a day as exactly 24 hours.

That’s enough science for me – or too much, really – at this early hour. All I need to know is that at this very moment (7:16AM EST) the sky outside my window is turning pink on the eastern horizon and I can expect (because the pink complements beautifully the blue that is also appearing, heralding a clear day) that the sun will burst forth in radiance if I sit here long enough to wait for it. Sunrise is a daily miracle, whether or not it is visible given the weather conditions of the day. It always happens and it is a wonderful metaphor of birth, splendid in its beauty and hope-filled in its consistency.

The O Antiphon for today reflects the nearness of the Messiah and the longing soon to be fulfilled. If you live in a place where the dawn has yet to “spring forth” and you have the leisure to do so, watch for it. Be aware of the coming of the light and note the moment when the sun appears, giving thanks for another day. If tomorrow is the arrival of the solstice in your time zone, like in mine, spend this day in conscious waiting, in gratitude for what will surely come.

O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and the Sun of Justice, come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Dayspring, you bring God’s light into our darkness. You are the rising sun, the morning star that brightens lives and lifts spirits. Come, blaze in us and cast out all fear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donate to The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Donate

Our other websites

  • Main website
  • Facebook page

Visitors

  • 103,374 hits

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,045 other subscribers

Recent Posts

  • The “O Antiphon” Meditations
  • Memorial to be held this Sunday
  • Mark your calendars
  • A note to readers
  • “Hope Springs Eternal…”

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Archives

  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • The Sophia Center for Spirituality
    • Join 559 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Sophia Center for Spirituality
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...