Meditation Archives - Page 17 of 19

I sit at the table today, bible open, pen in hand, thinking I’m ready to listen to how God wants to speak to me today. As I sit and ponder, I notice a heaviness in my heart. For some reason, I am less than enthusiastic today, nothing is “sticking”, my patience is thin and my attention span is close to nil. I’m even finding it difficult to sit still long enough to meditate, so I just sit at the table, looking out my front window. It is then, as I notice the majesty of the trees that line my driveway; it is then, as I glory in the beauty of the changing seasons; it is then, as my eyes begin to well up with tears, that I realize God has been speaking to me all morning. God has been telling me to SLOW DOWN – forget about the routine of your day, just BE and feel My Presence! Be still and know that I AM GOD! How grateful I am for the opportunity to be still – it brings me great comfort. There is no guilt in sitting still in the presence of the Almighty.

We know that God is everywhere and in all things. But when I am moved to tears for no apparent reason, I know that He is all the more present, super close, speaking to me! When that happens, I can imagine myself sitting beside the best friend anyone could ever ask for, enveloped in His arms as He whispers in my ear: “I love you, I am here, all will be well!”

Take some time today to be still, let go of your routine, practice listening skills. Do you feel His presence around you? How do you imagine it? What do you hear? Share your images! God bless you!

I’ve learned that an attitude of gratitude is transforming. An attitude of gratitude truly helps me to remain joyful in good times and unfazed and peaceful during trying times. I haven’t always possessed this attitude of gratitude. Do I fall short at times? Of course I do – but there is a sense of awareness that comes with the attitude that brings me back to my center much quicker than before. The various practices I write about in this blog have helped me to cultivate the attitude of gratitude and keep me focused on the positive. Meditation and contemplation on the Word have especially helped.

I read somewhere that the result of meditation on the body and mind can be likened to a movie screen – you can play different movies on the same screen and the screen itself remains unchanged. In other words, through meditation we become centered and whole, so much so that NOTHING can change us, nothing can affect us! Isn’t that encouraging?

Here’s a little something on gratitude I found (I couldn’t have said it better myself):

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance; chaos to order; confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. – Melody Beattie

Click here to watch a moving video on gratitude shared in Vision and Viewpoin t, a weekly e-newsletter by Joan Chittister one of my favorite spiritual writers.

I hope you are inspired to try meditating! Peace be with you.