“Everyone must believe in something. I believe I’ll go canoeing.”
(Thoreau)
Thinking about this reflection has been a gift to me. Let me explain: I was raised in a United Presbyterian Church, and we didn’t make much of Lent, although my Catholic friends did. The sacrifices they made seemed insignificant.
Now, late in life, I realize that this Lenten discipline can serve as a means to deepen my relationship to God, which I want.
So how? As my mind ran over the common spiritual disciplines . . . fasting, meditation, giving, study, simplicity, service, etc., nothing seemed to have energy for me at this time, although all are worthwhile.
Then I found my “canoe.” Because the “something I believe in” is that God is within and without us, and in every person creature and creation, I recognized that “deepening my relationship” to God, meant spending time with God. This is true in any relationship, by paying attention to the person speaking to me, the kitten on my lap, the good meal set before me, the smile of the service person, the wisdom of other friends of God.
To cultivate this awareness I need to practice quieting myself, realizing my breathing in and out, releasing tension in my muscles, and when my thoughts run away like monkeys, bringing them back to the stillness with a chosen word (God, love, Jesus, peace, etc.).
I believe I’ll practice being quiet for a set time daily. Then I’ll paddle into my day, my life, my Easter.
Jane Welch
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