Moira- In the Moment

Contemplative Prayer

moira-in the moment — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:24:54 +0000

Started a new series with Pam. Wow, today blew me away. Like Prayer Part 1 and 2 it is more on how to be in God’s presence and care for our soul.

Contemplative prayer is a spiritual practise where one sits with God and the only intent is being in each other’s company. To help with this we were invited to take a word that God gives us, or visualize being with God and to sit in openness for 10 minutes.

As I was gifted a visualization many years ago by a compassionate counselor I turned to this familiar visualisation. It was something I had not done in a long time.

Here is the visualization: Viewing God as a kindly father I crawl into his lap and rest my head upon his breast; with his arms gently cradling me I rest. It is a practical example of Matthew 11:28. “Come unto me you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Every once in a while I look up into his face and we smile at one another glad to be in one another’s company.

In doing this exercise I literally stopped and rested; and with cleansing tears I let go of the anger, the fear and the fretting of late and rested in Gods lap as his child.

In addition to this there was a U-Tube clip shared.

Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf5kDVCuHII

It felt so good to stop running around the table in circles and sit down in the chair ready for change.

Thank you for sharing Pam.

The Practise of Prayer – Part 2

moira-in the moment — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:44:00 +0000

In part 1 of the practise of prayer with Pamela Welle we discussed quietly listening for the small still voice of God. Over the next two weeks we added the tools of: prayer of the heart, and two ways to pray with scripture.

Prayer of the heart, from my understanding, is a way to be in God’s presence without words or images. It is simply being; it is a non-doing.

God desires intimacy with us. This means consciously choosing to set aside regular time to hang out: hangout at the beach, in a park, or a quiet nook at home. Think about it. If you have a friend who calls only when they need something from you where does that relationship go? But if you have a friend who just wants to be with you because they enjoy your company and want to get to know you better where does it go? It’s the same for God. God simply wants to be with us in order to develop spiritual intimacy. I thought that was pretty cool, because to hang with God, who I am in this very moment is enough. I don’t need to be more.

In the final week the gift given to us was praying with scripture. Two ways this can be done are divine reading and Ignatius. Divine Reading originated with the monks and is compared to feasting on the word.

It was explained in this way – you take a bite of God’s word and mediate on it in order to prepare the heart to hear God’s quiet voice. So we learn to be comfortable with periods of silence. This is a reverential listening for God’s personal word.

In practise it looks like this:

1. Read a scripture and listen to what resonates for you. What jumps out at you?

2. Read the same words a second time. How does the scripture touch your life? What is God saying?

3. Read a third and final time – contemplate and notice three things:

What is God’s invitation? What action is he asking for? What does he have for you?

The second way to pray with scripture is called Ignatius. It originated with a Jesuit priest with this name. He used visualization. Ignatius would take a story from scripture and personalize it by becoming one of the characters. He would see the story in his mind through the eyes of that character and learn from it.

To practise this choose a story, image your there as one of the characters in that particular story and look at it from that characters perspective. This last tool I’ve not used yet, but it is another practical way to practise prayer.

In summation I found these three weeks very valuable and was encouraged to take time to deepen my own personal relationship with God. But like anything worthwhile in life I know it will take a commitment of time and consistency.

The Practise of Prayer- Part 1

moira-in the moment — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:23:26 +0000

Prayer for some conjures up the image of being on ones knees or prostrate on ones face pleading petitions from an omnipotent being. Others view prayer as an ongoing dialogue with a loving father. I had the privilege of attending a three part discussion on prayer in a very open and non-judgemental environment. It was led by Pamela Welle whom I found to be very warm, open, and created a safe inviting environment. The aspects of prayer discussed through these weeks began with that of listening. Even though this was familiar to me it was not being practised, petitioning had become a habit. I was reminded to listen to the small still voice within, listen to those around us say, and listen to the chatter in your own head. What do you hear? What is it God is saying when you stop, take a step back, and listen? We were informed that there are messages not only in the positive but in the negativity that one encounters. When we beat upon ourselves what is the root, what are we truly saying? Yet being creations of God are we not wonders? When life is tough and bleak is it not attitude and resting in the eye of the hurricane by trusting God that brings us out in one piece? To help us on our path we were given tools. One was a book of blank paper with a photograph at the beginning, and the other, questions to ask ourselves. The photo on my book was extremely appropriate. It was an ugly pointy purple plant in a forest of lush green leaves. It reminded me of how excessively independent I’ve become; and how isolated I’ve allowed myself to be. Being filled with pride and an “I can do it myself” attitude is a cold and friendless place to be. The second tool was a list of questions to ask ourselves. The questions that resonated were: what makes you feel alive? And, what drains your energy? These are what I took into my week as I began this new prayer journal. I woke the next morning with “come to me you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”(Matthew 11:28); and “…lean not to your own understanding.” This was encouragement because I had been on my own personal default of trying to force things to happen in my life and they weren’t happening fast enough. It’s an old way of being in the world, but it’s time to put on a new coat.

A Snippett on Patience

moira-in the moment — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:54:25 +0000

One of those moments at 3AM that was just what was needed -

“Be patient with yourself and others as we are all works in progress.” – MITM

Communication

moira-in the moment — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:40:42 +0000

Assumption is one route to miscommunication. Clarification is one tool that helps us take another route.

MITM

On Reenergizing

moira-in the moment — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:55:40 +0000

The words of Oswald Chambers …”If ever we are going to be
made into wine, we will have to be crushed; you cannot drink grapes. Grapes
become wine only when they have been squeezed. … God is producing the kind of …
wine that will benefit others.”

This explains where I’ve been while in transition. Working
two jobs, writing, looking into re-education, it’s that old bankrupt pattern of
busyness. But today I’ve been given the gift of some time off. So I’ve been
sitting back and indulging in one of my favourite reenergizers – sitting and
pondering. Oswald Chambers, whom I’ve
quoted above, is one of my energizers and friar tuck’s post here http://networkedblogs.com/nNiWN was another bit of poured out wine for me that
sent me back to Isaiah 40:31 to renew my strength and soar on wings like
eagles, or in my case to run like the wolves who happen to be one of my
favourite creatures.

Alpine Hunter-Artist Darren Haley - http://www.artcountrycanada.com/haley-bio.htm

When you allow yourself to stop what reenergizes you?

Who are we really?

moira-in the moment — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:00:21 +0000

Pondering again and reading through 1 Thessalonians.

After reading Chapter 4 vs 14 on and looking at my commentary (Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee – Volume 5 pg 395 – 399) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Vernon_McGee this is what I realized.

Dr McGee uses an analogy I liked. He talks about our bodies as being the frail tent in which we live. We are not our bodies, the real us is inside. If I spent as much time on tending the real me inside as I do my physical body I’d certainly shine a lot more, beam more, and spread more love.

Think about it for a second. Look at all the time spent shopping and caring for our cloths, shopping for groceries and then preparing and consuming. Then there are showers, hair care, and make-up for some of us. Add to this the time spent to earn the income required to meet our physical needs – All this to maintain a tent.

How do I take care of my spirit do I give it soul food? Do I clean it up now and again? Do I let go of what I need to let go of so it’s as beautiful inside as my favorite green sweater? How do I mend it when it’s broken?

This really puts life in perspective, and I realized I devote way to much time on what is temporary and not enough on what is eternal. Of course we take care of our tent as it houses our spirit, but all too often the spirit is dry and neglected as we race through life.

How does one tend the spirit? Is it a walk in the woods, some inspiring music, encouraging word, or simply sitting quietly? What do you think?

An Everyday Hero – #1

moira-in the moment — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:43:59 +0000

She watched a hero go by today. He carried a heavy bag of groceries in one hand and French bread in the other. Following along behind was his aged mother with groceries filling the basket of her walker, which she was slowly pushed along the street. This man found a bench on which they could rest. His patient attentiveness and quiet demeanor were refreshing and encouraging. This quiet gift given to the elderly woman was also absorbed into the life of the observer.

This may not be the world’s image of a hero, but this is a hero none the less. This bit of courage found in the day to day moments of living.

What everyday hero’s do you encounter?

Head Chatter

moira-in the moment — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:13:06 +0000

She comes back full circle to the practice of mindfulness, that state of cultivating awareness, of simply being in the moment one moment at a time. Today she arose with monkey brain – a head crammed full of thoughts zinging this way and that.

Here is how the head chatter began: “I’m worried about this one and that one, I want to help but can not. Do I stay or go, write or give up. I’m such a dreamer it’s time to get real.” Breathe and have a little faith, go to practice, go to prayer says her calmer side.

Sitting she writes, for she knows if she listens in the stillness, the answers will come; but to get to stillness she must stop. Stop all but the breathing. The head chatter continues, “do not run off willy- nilly. Simply be ready to move, but be still first – listen, know with an inner knowing.” You can not force it says her calmer side.

…Then upon reading a devotional something came, a Daily Bread quote, “If you want to be wise, listen to Jesus.” She wrote on and on.

“Stop all this doing,” shouts her head, “even this act of writing, go to stillness, and listen hanging onto the breath.”

AFTERWARDS

Finally, stillness, and out of the stillness - ”wait patiently, it will come, this answer you seek. Go into the prayer closet and be patient with both yourself and God. Simply be, the answer will come quietly, naturally. It will be a knowing. Until then, patiently abide,” the calm won out in the end.

MITM

A Note on Boundaries

moira-in the moment — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:10:35 +0000

Boundaries, those flexible fences that keep us safe. When to say yes, when to say no, to ourselves, then others.

MITM