“GOING DEEPER”
A Practice for Lent
Observing this time in our calendar, as the days of Spring lengthen, and all the earth awaits transformation, we remember Jesus’ journey toward the crucifixion, resurrection and transformation we celebrate at Easter. Many of us seek to mark Jesus’ journey and our own with a practice.
The practice I have chosen to “go deeper” is to periodically become aware of my breathing, a prelude to another practice, centering prayer.* It occurred to me that my breathing, the constant exchange of air, could also be a conscious exchange of thoughts and feelings, noting a concern and releasing it with a blessing. Let me give you an example of what I mean. I could breathe in my own or another’s delight, fear, or uncertainty, and breathe out God’s and my love, assurance, healing and peace. I can conceive of this practice because I believe God is within us, without us and in between, and we are all part of the hoped for healing of the world.
Finally, I thank you for spending this time with me, and I leave you with some lines from Psalm 131 that I find most comforting:
I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with his mother;
my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.
*You can learn more about Centering Prayer at www.contemplativeoutreach.org
Jane Welch
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