The Power of Attention

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faith, focus, goal, Jesus, Matthew, Peter, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust

Today’s gospel is a lesson in trust and focus: trusting in ourselves and God at the same time as getting the task done. It’s one of the familiar scenes of the apostles in a boat (MT 14: 22-36) and is clearly a test for them as Jesus is not with them. Rather, he has sent them ahead while he goes away – as is his custom – to refuel spiritually on a mountain alone.

Everything is fine until a serious wind comes up and rocks the boat so much that it is in danger of capsizing. Enter Jesus walking on the water toward them creating a double reason for distress: the possibility that they’re seeing a ghost as well as the danger of drowning. Jesus tells them not to be afraid. “It is I,” he says, and Peter tests the vision by challenging Jesus to have him walk to meet him in the water. Jesus obliges by the simple command: “Come!” Peter, ever the impetuous one, climbs out of the boat and is walking until he realizes that he is, in fact, walking on top of the water – an impossible thing to do. So, of course he starts to sink. As we expect, Jesus catches him, saves him and then remonstrates with him for his lack of faith.

Peter would have been fine if he had just kept walking…if he didn’t lose focus on his goal which was getting to Jesus. Losing focus and allowing our fear of failure – sometimes by over-thinking things – to be the actual cause of the failure comes from a lack of trust in ourselves as well as in God.

I’m much more willing to put my trust in God than in myself sometimes. Reflecting on this passage today, however, makes me more conscious that the two efforts are really one if we are living a life of faith. God and I have to be working together in everything. My focus needs to be that of the Spirit of God within me. If not, I will surely stumble and could even drown. So it appears today that the lesson is vigilance: staying awake is a must every day.

(N.B. Ironic that I wrote about paying attention on this date and then commented on the wrong readings! It never pays to skip a day of your chosen practice! It makes the message even more important. VIGILANCE!)

Strange Thought for the Day

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A Deep Breath of Life, Alan Cohen, breathe, COVID19, ending, flow, normal, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust

A common question these days for many of us is: “When will this be over?” or “When will we get back to normal?” Everyone knows what we’re talking about. People are busy making masks and scouting stores for much needed cleaning products and trying not to talk politics. The surprising thing for me is how little of what I plan to do is achieved in a day. Especially now that the temperatures outside are so stifling, there seems little energy for all the cleaning projects around the house or the phone calls that have fallen by the wayside. The answer to my first question seems to be the same each day: Nobody knows when or if there is an ending point to this “season” that we’re experiencing.

While I hesitate to do so, I want to share a short paragraph that Alan Cohen wrote long before we ever heard the term COVID-19. I do so because of the frustration hidden in every day when I come to the evening annoyed by my failed attempts to get anything done. It has given me this morning a chance to hit the re-start button on the day and a determination to be where I am rather than where I would choose to be. I hope you are similarly blessed by his wisdom when trying to see it as valid even now.

Trust that you have enough time to do everything that needs to be done. Love does not worry or force: it flows. Relax into what is happening, and the peace you enjoy will be accompanied by the clarity and efficiency you gain. (A Deep Breath of Life)

I never would have ascribed those thoughts to what we are experiencing now but, having read them earlier, I have begun to feel their relevance. Just breathe into the thoughts and see if you are able to see the value in it at all.

Waiting for the Spirit

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Ascension, grace, let go of fear, Pentecost, psalm 27, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust, weakness

It’s always a wonder when the weather outside reflects a state of soul, like a birthday gift that one has longed for but is not sure of receiving. That may seem like a great stretch as leaving the state of soul to the vagaries of the weather seems a bit shallow, but a glorious spring day can certainly lift one’s spirits and add hope to the daily routine.

Psalm 27 gave me that lift just now as the birds announced a lovely Sunday. This interim time from the feast of the Ascension of Christ to Pentecost is a perfect opportunity to reflect on possibility as we consider what is to come: the recognition of God’s Spirit lighting up the world. This “novena” of waiting is building the power of the Spirit in each of us and all of us, allowing us to respond to the call to be the light that we need to see us through the present—a difficult moment, to be sure—into whatever blessed future awaits us if we are willing to find the strength to persevere and create it.

The psalmist sings out: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom should I be afraid? Though the enemy should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear, though war should rise up against me, even then will I trust. One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the loveliness of the Lord.

Can we spend this moment—this week of grace—gathering our willingness and trusting our ability to let go of fear and any weakness that clings to us, recognizing that God is indeed doing something new, readying us to step into a future that calls us together for the life of the world?

May it be so at Pentecost.

Decisions

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decision makers, path of wisdom, prayer, stay home, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust, wisdom

As I came to semi-consciousness this morning I felt an urge to pray for the courageous people whom we have come to know as those “on the front-line” and/or “first responders.” Not only was the impetus there but even the words of a prayer came at the same time. It was very early so I stayed in bed allowing the text to edit itself as I went in and out of waking and sleeping. As there was a very persistent and very loud bird outside, I finally gave in and now here I sit with all the words erased! Poetic justice, I guess, for not acting more quickly in answer to the creative angel who woke me up in the first place.

What I’ve realized in this empty space and time, however, was that my original consideration of such a prayer really came from a wonderful zoom call on Wednesday. After a wide-ranging discussion we reached our conclusion with our usual question: “What are you taking away from this gathering?” One of our lovely deep-thinkers responded by saying, “I’m taking the decision-makers…”

Today is May 15th, the day when New York State is scheduled to begin to “open” again from the “Stay home” order. So all New Yorkers need to listen to directives from government leadership and their own hearts to know what is safe and what is not in relation to Covid 19. For this, and for all citizens of our country going forward, I pray simply:

Grant us, O God, the generosity of spirit to follow the path of wisdom today and all days. May we act from care for the whole rather than simply comfort for ourselves. May trust be our strong companion and hope lift us up to know what is best in every situation. And may love be the motivation for all that we do or do not do on this day and in the days to come. Amen.

Monday, Monday

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Alexander Wollcott, morning prayer, morning ritual, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust

Here I am in the kitchen at 6:30 AM, having made the coffee and recognizing that nothing much has changed toward the immediate future. Oh yes, “the curve has flattened” somewhat and there are small businesses that have re-opened. Most people are wearing their masks and are able to gauge a distance of six feet if there are no markings on the sidewalk or the floor of the grocery store – if there is a grocery store with food on the shelves. I find myself singing the old “Mamas & Papas” song, “Monday, Monday, can’t trust that day…”

As I reach for my coffee mug on the small table beside my chair, a small unfamiliar picture frame catches my eye. There’s no picture, just a quote which will have to serve as my impetus to greet the day. It says:

There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day. (Alexander Woolcott)

I’ll try to remember that as I go to my virtual morning prayer…and beyond.

What Do You Mean?

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compassion, consciousness, courage, frustrated, Jesus, Mark, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust, understanding

Jesus seems somewhat frustrated with his disciples today (MK 8: 14-21). Having just come back from an intense four-day retreat/workshop where the presentations were challenging, I can understand. Sometimes when Jesus speaks he is using language from a different level of consciousness and his friends are just not tuned in to what he means. This is one of those times and he seems uncharacteristically frustrated – so much so that he asks, “Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And again when he has reminded them of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves he says, “Do you still not understand?”

It must have been difficult for Jesus as well as for the apostles. It’s a good thing they had the psalms to fall back on (as we do!). And Jesus would have needed to remember lines like those of Psalm 94 this morning when he got frustrated – words like the following:

The God who knows our every thought, how fragile we each are; will not that God in evil days speak words of rest, and instruct our hearts to understand…? (vs. 11-13a)

Take courage when you lack deep understanding of God’s workings in your life or when you feel as if you are missing the point of life in God. Hold on to trust and the overwhelming compassion of the Jesus who was fully human – just like us – and willing to forgive in our moments of confusion.

Choice Words

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, grow still, Lord, Lynn Bauman, master, psalm 37, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust, wait for the Lord

The responsorial Psalm in the lectionary for today (PS 37) is a long one but of the few verses chosen for the liturgy, I was drawn to the first which said, Commit to the Lord your way; trust in him and he will act. I didn’t want to leave it there so I turned to my favorite translation and read the whole Psalm of 41 verses. The sentiments were the same and there are many beautiful encouragements for those of us who wish for the more poetic urging. Here are my favorite lines.

Make God, as Lord and Master, your delight and the desires of your heart God will fulfill. Give up your life to God and for the good of all, commit to the One who acts for you…Grow still, be quiet, and wait patiently within, and in that silence put your trust in God. (4-7, Ancient Songs Sung Anew – Lynn Bauman)

Not only does that confirm the value to myself that relationship with God will bring but includes as well “the good of all,” to which we are surely called. May your day be blessed in the peace and blessing of these thoughts.

Flexibility of Farmers

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farmers, harvest, let go let God, Mark, planning, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust

I have to give farmers a lot of credit for the way they live their lives. It occurs to me because the gospel for today is one of the parables about sowing seeds (Mark 4: 1-20) and all the things that can happen between the moment of planting and the harvest. There’s a lot of waiting that goes on and the extra work when certain conditions appear – like frost in Florida or drought in the mid-west of our country. Farmers are not in control of outcome. They are also not as able to take vacations as most people do. And every year is likely to be different.

I’ve often said that in my next life, should there be one, I would like to be a farmer. The life close to nature and the joy of seeing things grow is attractive to me. I should say that even dairy farming is included in my visioning because of the regularity of the work and the relationship with animals. The challenges may be different but the conditions remain similarly challenging.

So what’s my point? I guess it’s mostly about the trust necessary in any life. My computer could crash this morning and then how would the blog be proliferated? We’re up to 836 people who sometimes read it. I have no names or street addresses or phone numbers and it would take all day to find even some of the readers…you get the picture. The question is about what I would do in that situation. Most likely I would trust that it might be time for me to go on to something else and to “let go and let God.”

It’s a risky business, this life…Today I thank God for the example of those willing to sow and watch and wait…and trust in the providence of God.

Trust

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guide, Romans, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust

Sometimes it’s hard to hear lines from Scripture like this morning’s verse that says: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God…” (ROM 8). That’s especially difficult when things seem to be frustrating our schedules or our desires or the way “things ought to be.” It sometimes takes a long look back to find the reason for what happened along the way. I even suppose I will still have a few questions when I reach the end of my particular “road” in life. It’s very helpful if we can come to see the wisdom in what didn’t make sense when it happened, but sometimes that just isn’t the case.

I have lived long enough to know that we need to trust that line from St. Paul, just as the Romans had to trust it all those centuries ago. It’s helpful if we have some help in looking back from wise people who know us well and it’s a real grace if we can actually figure out meanings that were obscure along the way. For now, however, I’ve seen enough to trust the God I’ve come to know as a good and gracious and loving guide even when I can’t see how everything fits together. I figure it will all work out in the end. Since the end result, Paul says, is good “for those who love God,” I’m safe because I truly do love God. Oh yes, I truly do – no matter what.

“Big Teresa”*

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God alone suffices, patient endurance, St. Teresa of Avila, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust

Today is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, an extraordinary woman known for her untiring work in the reform of her own religious community, the Carmelites, and in the Church of the 16th century, one of the few women given the title of “Doctor of the Church.” She is well-eulogized at http://www.franciscanmedia.org on their “Saint of the Day” page today. For me, however, Teresa has always been the author of a prayerful quote that I was given on a card the year before I entered the convent that has guided me through the past 54 years and that I trust will remain with me for the rest of my life. I share it here in the hope that I am not alone in knowing the strength that that this sainted woman offers as advice.

Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you. All things are passing; God never changes. Patient endurance attains all things. The one who possesses God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.

*”Big Teresa” is a familiar way of distinguishing St. Teresa of Avila from St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, otherwise known as Therese of Lisieux, “the Little Flower.”