Being in Love

Monica, a young co-worker, shared with me her story of how she found joy, Jarvis. She's so taken by him. His charm, his intellect, his depth, his authenticity, his honesty. She says when he said "us," she almost melted. He lives his beliefs. He walks his talk. He's real.

I asked her: how sure are you that he is for real, that he is not pulling your leg? She says she's not blinded by her feelings and emotions. She can think clearly and analytically about this relationship. She practices discernment.

I ask her what qualities they share, and where they part ways. They share honesty, a love of learning, a passion for service. And in situations where her anger surfaces, he is calm, and open.

They enjoy deep, meaningful conversations that can last for 2, 3 hours. And I mentioned that this is like being in deep prayer or meditation. Being in the Divine Presence. Being in Love.

How about you? When did you last feel 'being in Love?' When did you last feel deeply understood, totally accepted as you are, and so utterly empowered and protected?

Eat, friends, drink...

and be drunk with love!

-Song of Solomon 5

Kosi r'vaya... My cup overflows... always.

If the only prayer you say

in your entire life is

Thank You,

it will be enough.

-Meister Eckhart

This past week was especially rich. My cup overflowed. The dam of God's goodness, beauty, and truth broke!

Welcome to my banquet table:

• Annie: it was her birthday this week. And our 35th wedding anniversary. Anyone who can stay with me for 35 years and still smiles is an angel. And I said so in my dedication of my book. Thank you, Annie!
• Praying with the Body DVD: It's finally out and listed at amazon.com. Paraclete Press think so highly of the offering in the DVD that it's listed at $44.99! It contains 9 prayer sessions (3 for the morning, 3 for noon, and 3 for the evening). So help the economy recover and get a couple. Thanks, Paraclete Press!
• Memphis, Sybil, and Ellen: Paraclete Press is sponsoring workshops featuring the 3 books of their Active Prayer Series. Sybil MacBeth authored Praying with Color, and Ellen Prewitt Making Crosses. We have our first workshop in Memphis on December 5. Thanks, Jon Sweeney, and Sybil!
• Seattle U and Christine Valters Paintner: Last Friday, I led Christine's class in morning prayer using Alleluia 8 from my book, and gave a 45-minute sharing about how I try to live the Benedictine Oblate life. Thanks, Christine!
• Child Pose: Before I went to Christine's class, I visited the sanctuary of my favorite Ignatian Chapel, and went onto child pose in total surrender and receptivity. See image above. I stayed like that for about 5 minutes feeling the Divine Presence all over me. I recommend it. Thank you, God!
• Chants for Peace: I went with a couple of friends to Great Vow Zen Monastery in Oregon and participated in chanting for peace led by representatives from Buddhist, Hindu, Christian traditions: Kirtan, Universal Dance for Peace, Sutra chants, Gregorian Chant... "Kosi r'vaya" is Hebrew for "My cup overflows" which we chanted for about half an hour! Awesome place and people. True place of joyful peace. Thanks, GVZM!

How about you? What are 3 things you are most thankful for this past week?

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

my whole life long.

-Psalm 23 (nrsv)

When in doubt, just give thanks.

A week ago, I found out a fellow yoga teacher suffered a stroke. She didn't look like someone with a pending stroke. I always saw her as Wonder Woman, physically, emotionally, psychologically.

Today, at yoga, a student shared her deep frustration in her dealings with a bank. Normally she is cool, calm and collected. This obviously pushed her button. After yoga, a long time student shared with me her constant struggles with her 15-year old son. Then coming home, there's a message from my sister in California. She said my mom fell while getting into a car and had to be hospitalized. She's now in rehab and will come home in a week and a half. And then my wife shared an office mate's niece woes. Ahhh, yes. Life.

On the other hand, I received happy news today that I might be going to Memphis this winter to kick-off a series of maybe 10 one-day workshops called Active Prayer Day being set up by my book's publisher, Paraclete Press. I will join the 2 authors of the other books in the Active Prayer Series, Sybil MacBeth of Praying in Color, and Ellen Prewitt of Making Crosses.

How about you? What has been life-draining, and what has been life-giving for you recently? Can you hold both in thankfulness for the privilege of being alive?

Let everything that breathes -

Praise the Lord.

-Psalm 150

Paul

Getting off the freeway on my way to the office this morning, the red light stopped me. Standing on the sidewalk is Molly, with a sign not unlike the photo above, but with her name signed at the bottom. I knew of her from her boyfriend, Paul, whom I met at the same corner about a year ago. I was stopped, opened my window and handed him a couple of bucks I had in my ash tray. We chatted and even gave him my baseball cap because it was drizzly. Then green light intruded on our light conversation and I drove off. From that little chat, I found out his name was Paul, and has a girlfriend who was sick at the time, Molly.

Back to this morning, I gave Molly a couple of bucks from my ash tray. Then I asked: "How is Paul?" She said "Excuse me?" She was stunned I knew Paul. She answered: "Paul died after last Christmas." Then green light. She gave me a beautiful goodbye smile and said 'thank you for remembering Paul.'

Tears came up as I drove to the office. And thought about the big stories about Michael Jackson life and death. For Paul? This story is the only one published in the blogosphere about a guy named Paul.

How about you? What story will they write or tell about you when you finally go? How would you prefer to be remembered: for what you've accomplished, for what you've accumulated, or for how you affected the quality of their days, maybe even their lives?

Do not be afraid when some become rich,

when the wealth of their houses increases.

For when they die they will carry nothing away;

their wealth will not go down after them.

Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy

—for you are praised when you do well for yourself—

they will go to the company of their ancestors,

who will never again see the light.

-Psalm 49 / nrsv

Let us cross to the other shore.

"Let us cross to the other shore," Jesus said to his followers. Then while on the boat, a violent storm raged. The scared disciples woke Jesus who was sleeping. "Master, do you not care that we might die?" He stood up and commanded the sea: "Be still. Be calm!" The sea obeyed. Turning to the shaken men, he said to them: "You of little faith!"

I am invited by God to cross this river of life to the promised land. The unpredictable river is life itself. The boat is this body and its senses, the mind, the heart, the soul. And within this boat is the Divine. But I forget this Presence when dark clouds, or storms overwhelm me. The oars are my prayers. My strength, my endurance, and my determination come from my longing to be with the Beloved.

How about you? When was the last time you were afraid? What was your conversation with God like? What makes you keep the faith?

Here's a breath prayer for those uncertain times:

On your inhale, pray "I Am with you..."

On your exhale, say "You are with me."

Repeat until the prayer comes from the heart,

then 'be still, be calm' and feel the Love.

Thy will be done: A Meditation from St Cyprian

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

This is not that God should do what he wills, but so that we may be able to do what God wills. For who could resist God in such a way as to prevent him doing what he wills? But since the devil hinders us from obeying, by thought and by deed, God’s will in all things, we pray and ask that God’s will may be done in us. For this to happen, we need God’s good will – that is, his help and protection, since no-one is strong in and of himself but is kept safe by the grace and mercy of God. Moreover, the Lord, showing the weakness of the humanity which he bore, said Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, and showing his disciples an example, that they should do not their own will but God’s, he went on to saynevertheless, let it not be my will, but yours.

But it is the will of God that Christ both did and taught. Humility in dealings with others; steadfastness in faith; modesty in words; justice in deeds; mercifulness in works; discipline in morals. To be unable to do a wrong, and to be able to bear a wrong when it is done; to keep peace with the brethren; to love God with all one’s heart; to love God because he is a Father but fear him because he is God; to prefer nothing whatever to Christ because he preferred nothing to us; to adhere inseparably to his love; to stand faithfully and bravely by his cross; when there is any conflict over his name and honour, to exhibit in discourse that steadfastness in which we proclaim him; in torture, to show that confidence in which we unite; in death, that patience in which we are crowned – this is what it means to want to be co-heirs with Christ, this is what it means to do what God commands, this is what it is to fulfil the will of the Father. (Universalis.com)

Praying with the body:

Standing or sitting on a chair, raise your arms heavenward on your inhale with the words "Thy will be done..."

On your exhale, bend forward touching earth, or your knees, saying "on earth" then swinging up on your inhale, praying "as it is in heaven."

Then sit quietly, hands on your lap, and listen to the Breath of God in you.

Bloom recklessly!

Everything is blooming recklessly;

if it were voices instead of colors,

there would be an unbelievable shrieking

into the heart of the night.

-Rainier Maria Rilke

Yes. Springtime. Everything is blooming. Everything comes back to life. It's a time for birthing, for being born, for waking up. It's a time for stepping out into the light.

Look at this fence flower. Ponder the effort it must have taken to squeeze through that teeny space. Maybe because it caught a glimpse of light, a promise of life. Imagine it doing everything it can to breathe in that life, that light, that freedom. It sought the light and was awarded with the joy of blooming, of being able to yell... I Live!

How about you? What keeps you from fully stepping into the light, with both feet, with your whole being? What do you need to do to be what you love, to do what gives you life?

Standing, sweep both arms toward the back,

palms open, and lift up your chest as you inhale,

gathering Divine Light into your heart

saying inwardly:

You are my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Swing your arms up, hands in fists,

with a steady and fearless heart say:

You are the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

-from Psalm 27