I read Richard Rohr’s daily meditations every day with joy. I am working on contemplative practices and allowing God to teach me to “let go” and hold onto hope in the midst of a chaotic world.
I’m practicing being present in the moment. I work on quieting my mind and opening my ears to hear what God is saying. I find if I focus on my breathing it helps me clear my mind. I breathe in God’s love and exhale a thought of gratitude. Then I recite a simple but hard “Welcoming Prayer” by Fr. Thomas Keating.
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
I welcome everything that comes to me today
because I know it’s for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons,
situations, and conditions.
I let go of my desire for survival and security.
I let go of my desire for affection, esteem,
approval, and pleasure.
I let go of my desire to change any situation,
condition, person, or myself.
I open to the love and presence of God and
God’s action within, Amen
For instance, every Thursday, I help Bill at the brewery. I sometimes feel annoyed at the things he requests me to do but I’ve agreed to help. This week as I helped in the making of beer, I watched Bill struggle to use tools and put on clamps and as I sat and watched I heard the words “opportunity to love” come to mind and I knew I was being asked to set aside my agenda and become fully present with Bill in that moment. I am finding that contemplative prayer is helping me respond to “opportunities to love” that surround me all the time.
- Cindy