Think On These Things

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daily practice, gracious, honorable, just, life, mindfulness, Philippians, pure, qualities, spiritual growth, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, true, wisdom

I’m interested this morning in the lectionary text of St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians (4:6-9) as he is ready to conclude his message to them. He exhorts them to keep in mind certain qualities that will help them remain steady on the path of spiritual growth. He calls them to what is true, honorable, just, pure and gracious. I think that is a noble bundle of traits for the spiritual person. Living from that list, I can see myself acting in ways that will assure deeper wisdom and the peace that Paul promises them today.

So what will be required to develop those qualities for consistency in practice? Just that: practice! And in addition, I will need to stay awake when I begin to fall away from truth-saying or graciousness, etc. so that I can call myself back to mindfulness without delay. A big order. A plan for life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Blessing of Your Words

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affirming, gentle, healing, love, resilience, safe, silent listening, surprise, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, true, voice, Word made flesh, words

I read the following reflection this morning and thought it a good start for the day and a worthy companion all the day long.

O Word Made Flesh, stand guard at the gate of my mouth. Be my voice this day that the words I speak will be healing, affirming, true and gentle. Give me wisdom to think before I speak. Bless the words in me that are waiting to be spoken. Live and abide in my words so that others will feel safe in my presence. Surprise me with words that have come from you. Oh, place my words in the kiln of your heart that they may be enduring and strong, tempered and seasoned with love and resilience. Give me a well-trained tongue that has been borne out of silent listening in the sanctuary of my heart. May my words become love in the lives of others.      (Macrina Wiederkehr)

Perspective

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abundance, clear, consciousness, just, perception, perfect, precept, psalm 19, right, the law of God, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, true, trustworthy, understanding, unity, Wisdom School

In reading this morning’s psalm response from the lectionary (PS 19:8-11) I was taken by the refrain (The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.) Even more interesting, I thought, were the descriptive words in the whole text – adjectives to describe the law of God (perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, true and just) and even more, in the last verse, the analogies. (They are more precious than gold, than a heap of precious gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.) I started thinking that the psalmist’s attitude toward law was very mature and developed and wondered which laws, exactly, he was discussing. Then I played with the word precept which would have been an interesting interpolation if I had inverted the r and the first e. I would then be on my way to speaking of perception which I think has a lot to do with our attitudes as well…

Trusting that God’s laws exist for our good and flow from love, I can see why the psalmist described them that way. Would that all earthly laws would show us the same face. Still, I think there is a message here, on this day when I am halfway through a “Wisdom School” event where we are attempting to go to a deep place in consciousness in order to see from a stance of unity and abundance rather than duality and scarcity. Perhaps I might do well to reflect on some precept that I find distasteful or annoying and see if I can, by going to the root purpose of it, have a better and more appreciative understanding and acceptance. While probably not a life-changing process for any major laws of the land, this exercise might prove a worthy practice for seeing things more often in a positive light.

Love is the Reason

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character, existence, God is love, Kathleen Deignan, love, name, self, selflessness, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Thomas Merton, true, true identity

“To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.”

~ Thomas Merton
(from Thomas Merton’s Book of Hours by Kathleen Deignan)