Dullness

Some (maybe most) days you feel pretty dull to GOD. You rarely pray other than at meal time or when you really need something. Your Bible goes unread. In fact, GOD isn't often on your mind. There's a part of you that honestly wants GOD, an on-going encounter with the Divine that opens you to more than what you're living. But despite your best intentions to live a life more alert to the Sacred, frankly, you don't . . . for a myriad of reasons.

Here's a little practice: let's say right now you feel dull to spiritual things. That sense you have of feeling dull is itself an awakening. That you feel dull is evidence of an inner desire for more of GOD. Pause right now and express that inwardly. "I feel dull to GOD; I'd like to know more of GOD."

That's it. Do nothing more. Let it be.

And the next time you feel dull, do the same.

Intention: Noting the dullness is itself a doorway to change. And rather than dreaming up grand experiences or taking on rigorous spiritual practices, I'll simply be where and what I am.  If I do, I'll find myself increasingly awake to GOD.

Happiness

It's so terribly alluring to look at life negatively--that is, from the perspective of what's missing, what you lack, what you think you need in order to be happy. And there's an unfortunate religious viewpoint that reinforces this pessimism. Somehow we assume that since we're sinners we ought to be miserable people, awaiting the happiness that will come to us in the next life. But Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly" (John 10.10)--that means he intends us to embrace the abundance of goodness coming to us now.

It takes very little faith to view life negatively, to lament all that you don't have but think you need. But it takes great faith to embrace the good news that GOD desires, really desires, for each of us to be happy.

Intention: Today, I'll frequently re-adjust my viewpoint and recall that I'm the happy recipient of the goodness of GOD.

Tickled

Often I get the impression that people think the spiritual life is a struggle, something serious. Clergy bear a lot of the blame for this. I think we clergy make it serious so we can stay in control. That's not just silly, it's harmful. Here's a little poem to help you enjoy God today. It's from St Teresa of Avila, the sixteenth century Spanish nun, who knew more than her share of serious clerics.

How did those priests ever get so serious and preach all that gloom? I don't think God tickled them yet.

Beloved--hurry!*

Intention: Today I'll open myself to playfulness and sense in it the tickle of the Beloved.

*from Daniel Ladinsky's "Love Poems from God"

The fruit of prayer: compassion

People often dismiss the contemplative life, the praying life, as disconnected from the realities of daily life. That's a terribly naive and myopic assessment.  This site is dedicated to a robust and compassionate life lived in public, sourced by Divine power.

Here's a recent book I've come across...an important work on the relationship between the contemplative and active life.  Contemplation ought to lead to the deepest forms of involvement in daily life--especially the struggle for all to live well on this increasingly trouble, yet beautiful planet.

"The key to compassion is conversion of self; prayer enkindles the grace of conversion. As Francis prayed, he became more deeply attuned to the experience of God in his own life which in turn deepened his compassion for others. Through prayer Francis reached the deepest oneness with God; he realized this oneness by sharing in the human poverty and humility of Christ. Compassion transformed Francis into another Christ 'because of the excess of his love.'"

There's a growing emergence of compassionate folks whose acts are sourced by prayer.  You're among them.

For stuff about the book, click on the image.

Prayer is a descent into our true humanity

Prayer is no flight into the extraordinary; it's a descent into true humanity. It's a union of heaven and earth, the sanctifying of the ordinary--the ordinary recovered by God, paradise regained. Prayer, the prayer that follows the impulse of love, that works to forget all else but God, is the reunion of my self, the reintegration of my being. Prayer is not about getting things from God, calling on God to toss me a life vest. Rather, it's the hard journey past all the alluring things that claim me, call me from the path. Prayer is true freedom, which is why prayer is a way of life and not a mere task or duty.