Snippets

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convictions, keep watch, light, Matthew, messages, Philippians, psalm 141, reflection, shine, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Kitchen conversation this morning yielded an important lesson. Sister Paula picked up one of the devotional pamphlets from the table next to her and began to read a reflection. Set a guard over my mouth, Lord, it read. Keep watch over the door of my lips. (Ps. 141) A worthy prayer, we all agreed.

Messages are everywhere of how we should be in this world, especially in the USA in the run-up to our national elections. Psalm 141 could follow us around all day, finishing as the light disappears toward evening with the following verse: May my prayer come before you like incense, the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice…

As if that isn’t enough, the gospel acclamation for today fairly shouts: Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life. (PHIL 2) So as the Pharisees go off and plot how they might entrap Jesus in speech (MT. 22), we ought to remember these words and those of Paul that tell us how we were chosen. “For the gospel did not come to us in word alone but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.”

Have a meaningful day!

Right Timing

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creativity, kindness, reflection, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transformation, wonder of creation

I’m always amazed at the transformation in the natural world that happens in the autumn here in the Northeast United States. Somehow, absent a catastrophic event like a hurricane, the “peak” weekend for the splendor of the colorful foliage – the weekend for “leaf peeking” is around Columbus Day (now being named by increasing numbers of people as “Indigenous Peoples Day”). It seems to make little difference whether or not there is good evidence for the timing but this year was a late blooming yet eventually spectacular event precisely on the central date of October 12th. Now it’s up to us to allow the leaves to fall, remembering the beauty of the miracle of transformation that has just happened.

In another example of synchronicity, today’s lectionary readings offer a commentary on this beautiful happening with Psalm 8. It begins: O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! Next is a reflection that could and should move us to wonder. The psalmist puts us directly in the midst of the miracle by a statement and then a question.

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars which you set in place – Who are we that you should be mindful of us, that you should care for us? Yet you have made us little less than the angels and crowned us with glory and honor…

Let us give thanks for the kindness and creativity of our God and revel – perhaps through video and photos – in the wonders that we continue to see in the turning of the seasons throughout the year.

Life Today

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COVID19, let go, new normal, point of view, reflection, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I have sheer curtains on my bedroom window that faces the East. Yesterday at midday I pulled the right side to close off what was becoming a blinding sunshine. We had been expecting rain but I rarely believe the forecasters these days because even if they are correct to a degree, our rain is often a brief interlude rather than an all-day event. The same can be said of sunshine where we live. We take it when it comes but never count on early reports.

As I sat here earlier this morning to consider what might be a worthwhile topic for today, I noticed the drawn curtain. I could see only half of the scene outside and only half of the breeze was kissing my toes, exposed as they were and perpendicular to the floor in my trusty recliner! I had to get up and open to the full view to get the effect of the large maple in shade, towering over my favorite delicate pear tree to the left. She was shimmering in the breeze and everything seemed then to be in balance.

That whole brief experience – narrow view moving to a wider picture – reminded me of the “glass half-empty or half-full” phrase. I have had over 100 days now to make something of the slower pace of life that the COVID- 19 pandemic has afforded me. I hesitate to judge it without a lot of reflection because I think it is more complicated than just a passing thought can afford it. It may be that today is perfect for making one of those “pros and cons” lists to see what has been helpful, what has been challenging and what has been downright difficult in this spring-to-summer hiatus. If I manage to stay with the reflection long enough, maybe I’ll start working on a way to let go of outcome in case this does become what people are calling our “new normal.”

Precious Lessons

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just being, Peace, presence, reflection, silence, stillness, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I’ve just had a 40-minute quiet time with our cat on my lap. It was quite spontaneous. I sat down with my first cup of coffee in hopes of clearing my head and realized I forgot to bring my reading glasses downstairs. I thought just sitting quietly for awhile would be a good thing. Precious (yes, that’s really her name!) must have had the same thought because she looked at me from across the room. I sent her a telepathic “Okay, Come on!” and she immediately jumped down from her perch and landed on my lap. Neither of us disturbed the other at all. I just let my thoughts float through and disappear; she, I presume, did the same. It was as if we had made a pact of silence and immobility as her quiet presence called me to a deeper stillness.

I am grateful for those times of reflection and/or no thought which are more common than ever these days. Perhaps this is the best gift of staying at home. Although I have projects to last a lifetime that I could be doing, I am feeling less and less need to complete them at any particular time because I am learning more than ever the value of “just being.”

If you are schooled in responsibility, I would suggest taking some time (definitely more than you think necessary) to just sit, or go for a walk or, in any way that would be unusual, “waste” some time until doing so can start to feel good and the ensuing peace brings a smile to your face.

Sentiments For Reflection

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COVID19, gift of time, opportunity, pandemic, reflection, Rev. Lynn Ungar, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

It seems as if we could reflect daily on such sentiments that this poem by Rev. Lynn Ungar has expressed. This moment can perhaps be a gift of time and an opportunity to think of others more than ourselves as much as it is a fearful challenge.

The Last Day

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accept the challenge, be grateful, be kind to yourself, New Year, pray, reflection, rejoice, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, time, year in review

Today is the last day of the year. That is not “new news” to anyone but it does invite reflection. My mother used to tell us not to wish for time to pass more quickly no matter what we were waiting for, because as we got older things – time – would seem to speed up and we would wish it would slow down. She was a wise woman and now I know the truth of her prediction.

Today I hope to take some time to reflect on 2019 asking myself questions about the high points and the low points: what were they and why do I see them that way. I will consider the important happenings and the people who figured most importantly into my days. What have I learned from/during this year? Is there anything left “hanging” that needs to be completed and am I willing/able to complete it?

You have your own questions and memories from the year. In your review, should you wish to “accept the challenge,” be kind to yourself in judging it all. Be grateful for all you have learned about yourself that you wish to take into 2020 (a great image for seeing clearly) and thank God for another chance to begin. Rejoice that you are still alive and smile at the people who cross your path today. Pray for those who need your prayer and smile at God who knows how to answer better than we do. Have a blessed new year…

Sunday – All Day

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prayer, reflection, ritual of prayer, Sister Joan Chittister, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Wisdom Distilled from the Daily

This morning I have a sense of recognition and remembrance that feels a bit like Sundays of long ago. It’s very quiet in our house. There was the “coffee chat” – the first sighting of our housemates in the kitchen – but the stillness that feels related somehow to the cold outside has now returned and we are left by ourselves to reflect on this weekly “holy day.” Before work schedules in the world were “24/7” we Catholics had a rule that said “No unnecessary servile work on Sundays.” Happily, that meant no serious cleaning, no heavy lifting…I couldn’t even iron my father’s handkerchiefs – a privilege I dearly loved.

What was the point of all that? Why was Sunday special for us as Saturday for the Jewish people in the next town? In describing the Sunday rituals of prayer in her monastery, Sister Joan Chittister offers the following thoughts.

Prayer is the filter through which we view our worlds. Prayer provokes us to see the life around us in new ways…Prayer is meant to call us back to a consciousness of God here and now, not to make God some kind of private getaway from life…prayer puts us in contact with past and future at once so that the present becomes clearer and the future possible. (Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, pp. 28-9)

While we still honor a day of the week with ritual, as do others in keeping with their religious traditions, it is helpful sometimes to step out of our routines and set aside a whole day for reflection on just what Sister Joan is talking about. I ask myself when was the last time I did this? What about you?

Take-a-Break

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first snow, meditation, reflection, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Up early…moving slowly…letting the day arrive. First snow – just a dusting…sun on snow a vivid light! Listening for the sound of cars on wet roads, happy I am home for the morning.

I think today is a day for all of us to sit in our own reflective space, wherever that may be…Have a lovely day.

The Human Jesus

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acceptance, Brother Curtis Almquist, developmental issues, gratitude, growth, human, humanity, imagination, Jesus, limitations, Messiah, mission, reflection, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, understanding, visualizing

Like many people, I receive a few “thought for the day” quotes in my e-mail each morning. Most often I delete them without too much reflection but occasionally there is something that makes me sit up and take notice. Perhaps because of the Wednesday and Friday gospels this week that focused on the miraculous feeding and healing powers of Jesus, I was led to reflect on his humanity today by Brother Curtis Almquist of the Episcopal Society of St. John the Evangelist in a short post entitled Growth. Here’s what he wrote.

I don’t think Jesus asked to be the Messiah any more than any of us asked for the deck of cards that was handed to us in our birth. But Jesus grew into the acceptance of his humanity, his gifts, his limitations, his mission, and his unfinished business, facing the same developmental issues that we all do in growing up.

Even though in theory I totally buy into Paul’s declaration to the Philippians that Jesus “emptied himself of godliness” and “became like us in all things but sin,” it’s rather stunning to think of Jesus having limitations, let alone “developmental issues.” I must admit, however, to a tiny sensation of relief and gratitude somewhere inside me as I begin to conjecture just what that might mean. I think it will take some time because there are no words that will clarify the sensation. It will take imagination, visualizing Jesus in life situations – in his youth, as a young adult and during his ministry – asking him questions about what he is experiencing in the situations in which he finds himself and then listening for answers.

Trusting that this process is not just a “flight of fancy” but rather a journey into the “imaginal” world may lead to a deepening of understanding and appreciation of Jesus as “fully human.” Why not give it a try?

Postscript

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Advent, authenticity, charity, courage, faith, forgiveness, honesty, humility, Joyce Rupp, kindness, Lent, loyalty, mercy, patience, Prayer Seeds, qualities, reflection, respect, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, understanding

As travelers begin homeward journeys after celebrating Thanksgiving and those of us who enjoyed blessed companionship at home find ways to re-prepare turkey and “fixins,” Joyce Rupp offers a prayer. It is only one paragraph but holds a wealth of reflection should we accept the invitation of the 13 qualities that could take us far down a road of spiritual growth. Practicing one a week for 13 weeks would take us to the cusp of Lent. One a month, if the starting line was December 2, would span 2019 in fine style as a response to the holiday we have just observed. Why not write each one on a post-it note or index card and display it on the refrigerator or the inside of the exit door to your home and watch for how it affects things during its turn as your practice? What can we lose? What will we most certainly gain?

Sower of Seeds, you have placed in our hearts the potential for many gifts of your love to grow and ripen. Charity, authenticity, mercy, honesty, humility, forgiveness, loyalty, patience, understanding, courage, kindness, faith, respect, and other qualities reflective of your goodness dwell in our interior fields and garden…(Prayer Seeds, p. 181)