In the End Is the Beginning

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infinite love, silence, simplicity, spiritual lives, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Thomas Merton, visionary seeing, Wisdom School

As we prepare to end the extraordinary experience that has been our Visionary Seeing Wisdom School at noon today, I am grateful for the level of participation and the quality of the silence that has guided us through these days. The sharing has been deep and meaningful, allowing us to go beneath our words and actions in ways that give new insight and enthusiasm for our spiritual lives. What it feels like to me seems akin to what Thomas Merton offered me this morning when I read the following:

My only desire is to give myself completely to the action of this infinite love Who is God, Who demands to transform me into Himself secretly, darkly, in simplicity, in a way that has no drama about it and is infinitely beyond everything spectacular and astonishing, so is its significance and its power. (Entering the Silence, p. 48)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visionary Seeing

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divine plan, give thanks, listen, Nan Merrill's, open your hearts, Psalm 105, rejoice, sing praises, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, truth, visionary seeing, Wisdom School

Here in Windsor we are in the midst of a four-day Wisdom School whose theme is Visionary Seeing. I just read Nan Merrill’s translation of Psalm 105 and found it quite appropriate for this middle day, giving us impetus to wake up to new and deeper ways of knowing. I thought it worthy of consideration for a broader audience as well so here is a lovely modern rendition of PS 105:1-6 in paragraph form. It is especially the last line that seems to me consonant with visionary seeing.

O give thanks to the Beloved, and open your hearts to Love. Awaken! Listen in silence for the Voice of the Counselor. Sing praises with glad voice, and give witness to the truth with your lives! Glory in the radiance of the Beloved; let the hearts of those who call upon You rejoice! Seek the One who is Life, your strength, walk harmoniously in Love’s Presence! Remember that you are not alone, for through Love doubt and fear are released; O people of the earth, ever bear in mind the unity of diversity in the Divine Plan! (Psalms for Praying, p. 217)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just One

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all may be as one, heart-meld, Jesus, John, mind-meld, one, open our hearts, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, unconditional love, union, visionary seeing, Wisdom Schools

We have a chant that we sing sometimes at our Wisdom Schools, especially when we are speaking about “visionary seeing” and although it’s better when sung, you will get the idea by just reading it. It says: You the one, one in all. Say “I am; I am you.” It’s very easy to sing – simple words, simple tune – but far from easy to grasp.

The deepest prayer of Jesus as he was departing this world (JN 17) pleaded with God: “Holy Father, I pray that all may be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us…I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one…” As I was trying just now in writing those words to find a way to comment on it, I thought of Mr. Spock from Star Trek and the concept of a “mind-meld.” But the oneness Jesus is so earnestly desiring is not a simple mind-meld. Closer to the reality, I think, would be the concept of a “heart-meld.” How is it that we could come to be so united that it would be clear to all those who observe us that we are one with God? I believe the proof would be in the quality of our love, our unconditional love for one another and for all of creation. I slipped in that word unconditional because that is, I think, the key to everything. We often put conditions on our willingness: “I’ll be nice to her if she’s nice to me…” That doesn’t even get us in the door of “unconditional.”

We can only conjecture about the oneness quotient of the love Jesus had for God and the union it brought into being, but it would be a worthy subject for reflection on this Sunday. How might we open our hearts – even one step today – toward oneness? That’s probably all we’re asked – and that is certainly enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graced Time

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John, love, Luke, spiritual practice, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, think, visionary seeing, wisdom, Wisdom School

I am up earlier than usual this morning. My normal tactic of repeating, “Don’t think; don’t think…” did not send me back to dreamland today. As I read that “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand,” from today’s gospel (LK 11:17) I sense that my body is at war with my mind and my mind wins this time, knowing that it is a wiser choice to have an extra hour of time today before activities begin and that my body can, as a consolation prize, take a nap this afternoon during “free time” after lunch.

Last evening we began a four-day Wisdom School* here at the Spiritual Center where I live. Throughout this long weekend 15 seekers (10 guests, 2 cooks, and three presenters) with the prayer support of the Sisters who live here with me will consider through conversation, reflection and different spiritual practices/experiences what Visionary Seeing might mean. For this project, it is necessary for us to consciously put our minds in our hearts so as to see, as clearly as possible, from a unitive perspective: no warring of bodies/minds allowed! This is no easy task but joining as one in our desire to do everything with purpose, desire and attention, we may succeed in touching into a deeper reality than is often our day to day, task-oriented experience. Love is the key and our constant companion is the gospel acclamation for this morning from John 12: Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.

We welcome all virtual participants to join us in this graced time with the hope that eyes around the world may be opened to the peace that comes from the inner light of love.

*For more information about our Wisdom Schools, see http://www.wisdomswork.com.