by Donna Chacko,
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about listening and silence. I recently wrote a blog post about listening and soon thereafter attended a weekend silent retreat. I’ve concluded that listening and silence are complementary—they thrive together. When we prioritize silence we can intentionally listen to God, ourselves, and others and, in this way, create a sacred space where love blooms. When we embrace silence and listening, we love.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said: “The first service one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love of God begins in listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God’s love for us that He not only gives us His Word but lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to listen to him.”
Saint Teresa of Calcutta adds: “God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.”
The title of the Diana Ross and the Supremes’ famous song, Stop! In the Name of Love, is enough to make me immediately hear the song in my mind and start singing the words—maybe the same happens with you. Here’s how this song title can help you listen in silence and love more deeply.
None of us can become better listeners unless we take some concrete steps to do so. My friend, Brian Plachta, author and spiritual director, created a useful tool, called STOP, based on this song title. In his recent article, How to Be a Contemplative in Action, he describes our contemplative and active sides and how, when our days are balanced between the two, “we find a natural rhythm that’s life giving… We become a contemplative in action.” For many of us who are not balanced and find it difficult to embrace silence and listen during our busy days, he offers STOP as a spiritual practice to help us stay in balance. Brian uses the gospel story of Martha and Mary from Luke 10: 38-42, the contemplative sister and the busy sister, to make his point. When he gets too Martha-like, he tries to STOP.
“STOP: A Spiritual Practice
S: Stop what you’re doing when the day’s busyness tries to make you crazy. Be present to your body.
T: Take three deep breaths. Calm yourself with the gentle flow of steady air filling your lungs, slowing your heartbeat, and releasing stress.
O: Observe. Notice with curiosity (not judgment) what you’re experiencing. Name the emotions you feel. Let them flow in and through you.
P: Perceive. Ask yourself what you need in this moment. What would be life-giving for you now? A nap? A few more moments of silence? A reminder you are safe and capable, that what needs to get done will get done, and the rest will be there for tomorrow?”
Brian’s STOP practice involves mindfulness and listening to your body and your feelings. But, what do you do if you really want to STOP, but just cannot seem to remember this good intention until after you have snapped at your spouse or worked so long you are frazzled and have a headache? There are preparatory steps you can take that will condition your body, mind, and spirit so you will be more aware and mindful of when you need to STOP—in other words, it will become easier to STOP.
In my forthcoming book, Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey, I describe what happened with me as I slowly became more self-aware, analogizing my changing mind to a sponge becoming softer.
In Chapter 11, I write: “I had to be open to allow the process to happen. It was in that learning to ‘be’ rather than to ‘do’ that I started to be aware of changes in my perceptions. I’m convinced that my Centering Prayer* meditative prayer practice, which I embraced as precious time resting with my Lord, actually had already altered my mind, quieting it, and making it more open to therapy. It’s like my emotional mind was evolving from a hard, scratchy, dried-up old sponge to a soft, expanding sponge that was increasingly able to absorb water. The process started slowly. Initially the dry and dull sponge repelled the water, but it gradually became more pleasant to touch and was flexible—less likely to crack when pressure was applied. My mind was becoming more permeable to challenging memories, perceptions, and ideas. As I became more mindful, I became more aware of my suffering or anxiety in a way that helped me to meaningfully respond instead of automatically reacting to my distress.”
So, how can you become more sponge-like so that it will be easier for you to STOP? Find some time for silence. Start with getting up 10 minutes earlier every day for silent prayer. It’s a small step, but will lead to other steps and more awareness of each precious moment.Slowly, you will absorb the practice until you are able to become more mindful. That’s it— STOP as often as you can, make time for silent prayer, listen, and love.
Thanks for reading and God bless you. If you are interested in learning more about my upcoming book, go to serenityandhealth.com/pilgrimage.
Donna
*To learn more about Centering Prayer check out contemplativeoutreach.org or my recent conversation with Carl McColman, contemplative author.
Image by C. Koch from Pixabay
Want to create a travel kit or sacred centerpiece for this Summer/Winter? Join us for Making Time for a Sacred Summer virtual retreat with Christine Sine and Lilly Lewin!
by Christine Sine
My Easter garden has undergone its final transformation. Last week I splurged on a pack of 100 Different Country flags and over the weekend added as many flags as I could to my garden to form a Pentecost prayer garden. What resonates most with me about Pentecost is that the crowds that gathered in Jerusalem that day didn’t all speak the same language, they understood each other in their own languages across the barriers of culture and race. Pentecost speaks to me of global unity and understanding. As I planted my flags, I realized how few of them I could identify. Even when I prayed for India I had to do a Google search to identify its flag before I could make sure it was prominently displayed. It made me wonder if one important step in reaching for cultural understanding is to learn to identify the flags of our neighbours all around the world. So I went hunting and came up with some fascinating facts thanks to this helpful article. He explains:
Did you know that Denmark holds the Guinness world record for the oldest continuously used national flag? Mozambique is the only country in the world whose flag incorporates a modern weapon – an AK 47 – representing vigilance and defense and South Africa’s flag contains the greatest variety of colours. The UK flag consists of the crosses of St George, St Patrick and St Andrew. Interestingly St George who is the patron saint of England was probably born in Cappadocia to a Syrian mother. He is thought to have died in Lyydia in the Roman province of Palestine.
Flags speak of our identity both personal and national and our feelings towards them tell us a lot about our feelings towards our own country and those of our global neighbours. I realized this as I held my Australian and American flags in my hand this morning and placed them side by side in my garden. I have much stronger feelings towards the Australian flag and towards Australia, in spite of the fact that I have not lived there for almost 50 years. It is past time for me to seek for great understanding of the culture into which I have been transplanted and grown over the last 30 years.
One of the disciplines I have decided to institute as part of my Pentecost celebration this year is learning to identify as many national flags as possible and in the process I plan to learn a little about the countries they represent in the desire to do what little I can for global understanding, peace and unity.
Evolution of a Garden
Contemplative garden – Time for Love
You may remember that this garden began as my Time to Love garden, in which I planted seeds and arranged several heart shaped stones as a symbol of both hope and of the love of God most evident in Easter season. The garden evolved when I noticed that the plants were crowding each other out and so I transplanted most of them into small pots to nurture them until they were big enough to plant out in the garden. This weekend I planted most of them into their permanent places in the garden, hopefully ready to grow and produce blossom and fruit amongst the other already established plants. On that occasion, I commented:
For the seedlings that have sprouted to produce their full harvest, they must be uprooted, transplanted and eventually replanted all around the garden. Maybe they will even take the love stones with them or need some new and bigger “love stones” around them.
As I reread this today I feel as though I want to go out and create a whole garden of heart shaped stepping stones to arrange around my plants. I think that we all need new and bigger love stones around us in order to more effectively work towards the unity that God calls us to at Pentecost. Identifying national flags is only a small step in trying to bridge the gulfs that lie between us and I am wondering what else could I do in the next few weeks to help inspire global peace and unity?
What Is Your Response?
How many national flags can you identify? Or how many languages can you say good morning in? What could you do to improve your understanding of other cultures by simply learning to identify their flags or to say “Good Morning” in their languages.
What are the most powerful symbols of global unity that you are aware of this Pentecost? How could you use these to gain deeper understanding of the cultures around you at this season?
What is one practice you could institute over the next couple of weeks to help further this understanding?
Want to create a travel kit or sacred centerpiece for this Summer/Winter? Join us for Making Time for a Sacred Summer virtual retreat with Christine Sine and Lilly Lewin!
Another contemplative service with music in the style-of-Taize. Carrie Grace Littauer, prayer leader, with music by Kester Limner and Andy Myers from St Andrews Episcopal church in Seattle.
A contemplative service with music in the style-of-Taize. Carrie Grace Littauer, prayer leader, with music by Kester Limner and Andy Myers.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-710-756 with additional notes below:
“In God Alone my Soul (Mon Ame se Repose),” “The Kingdom of God,” and “Nothing Can Ever” are songs from the ecumenical Taize community in France. Copyright and all rights reserved by GIA/Les Presses de Taizé.
“When He Cometh” is a public domain hymn, written in 1856 by William Orcutt Cushing, who was a Methodist minister and advocate for the education of blind children.
by Jenneth Graser,
A Morning Prayer
You will need: a bowl, some small stones and a candle with matches.
Place these before you as you find a comfortable place to encounter God in silence.
Opening reading:
“You lead me with your secret wisdom.
And following you brings me into your brightness and glory!”
Psalm 73:24 TPT
Meditations:
Father I give you my mind, as clouds on the horizon
bending over to wake up the sun from her slumber,
reminding the ocean that under her covers
a parallel world is waking up.
- Place into the bowl a stone of intention. The intention of interior silence.
Spirit, I give you my body, as a temple on a high mountain
where worship comes naturally surrounded by
winds blowing straight out of Heaven
and into my inner court.
- Place into the bowl a stone of worship. Your sound of worship.
Jesus, I bring you the energy in me, as lava in a dormant volcano
currently steaming with vapours and potential,
allowing the heat of your deep-inside love to build new lands
and restore the broken ground.
- Place into the bowl a stone of your dreams. The dreams buried inside of you.
Father I give you my heart, as an orchid ready to open
like a bird swooping
into the holy Trinity of you, always eager
to see and greet me.
- Place into the bowl of stone of your heart. As stone turned to flesh.
Poetry reading:
Walking softly on the surface of the earth,
each step holy.
Breathing together with the breath of
humming birds about their breakfast.
Taking in the dew-drop necklaces on flowers
shining with praise and prayer.
Being to you a friend on days opening wide
with wonder happening within us again.
It is too easy to rush by these gifts,
too easy for a day to sleep before the sun goes down.
Let us wake into your presence,
in one accord with all life is.
Let us create a moment by moment fellowship,
the sharing of what brings joy or pain.
Your hand rests on our temple
with lavish rest in time and place.
We will be kind to ourselves as well,
generous grace is meant for the sharing.
Closing reading and practice:
“Nothing is more appealing than speaking beautiful, life-giving words.
For they release sweetness to our souls and inner healing to our spirits.”
Proverbs 16:24 TPT
Light a candle in closing as you listen to (47) Requiem: The Lord is my Shepherd – John Rutter, Cambridge Singers, Aurora Orchestra, Thomas Barber – YouTube
Feature photo by Stories on Unsplash.
Want to create a travel kit or sacred centerpiece for this Summer/Winter? Join us for Making Time for a Sacred Summer virtual retreat with Christine Sine and Lilly Lewin!
by Tom Sine,
“Don’t Languish, Flourish”
Dr. Laurie Santos, a Psychology professor, reflecting on our emergence from this very disruptive pandemic, stated in the New York Times, “’We’ve all just changed our routines so much’, she said. ‘I think many of us have realized during the pandemic that some of the things we were doing before COVID -19 weren’t the kind of things leading to flourishing in our lives.’”
“With vaccination rates on the rise, hope is in the air. But after a year of trauma, isolation and grief, how long will it take before life finally… feels good?”
Let’s explore how we, as people of faith, can join those who are not only moving from languishing to flourishing… but also discover a much more vital faith. A faith that is also committed to enabling many of our struggling neighbors to flourish as well in our new post-pandemic society. First, I will briefly describe how other forces have caused many Christians to settle for a less flourishing faith even before COVID-19 arrived.
“End of Pandemic Can Be a Restart for Your Life.”
“Studies show that moments of disruption offer an opportunity to set and achieve new goals.”
The good news is the ending of the pandemic is a great opportunity for people of faith to leave our struggling lives of “lock downs”, to join those who are creating a new normal, and to use this welcomed change to create their best lives!
In 2002, Christine and I wrote a book called Living on Purpose. In those days, we weren’t, of course, struggling with the pandemic. However, we were distracted by the unexpected arrival of Big Tech. It enabled our consumer culture to become much more influential in shaping the aspirations and values of us and our young. Shortly before the pandemic reached the US, the tech revolution had dramatically changed all of our lives and the lives of our young. However, unlike the pandemic, many leaders in mainline, evangelical and Catholic Churches did not seem to express much concern.
Looking back on the Influence of Big Tech
As society raced from flip phones to the new iPhones of the big tech revolution, few church leaders seemed to express concern about the difference it was making in our lives, families and the lives of our young. In retrospect, it is clear that this pre-pandemic high-tech revolution dramatically increased the influence of the consumer culture. First, most adults are spending much more time on screens than ever before. We are being influenced by everything from “Instagram envy” to targeted ads using data from our former online purchases.
In 2018, the Atlantic wrote an article titled, “Phones are Changing the Texture of Family Life.” The article reports that “95% of Americans ages thirteen to seventeen-year-olds have a smartphone or access to one…” Reportedly, back in 2019, “US teens use screens more than seven hours a day on average – and that’s not including school work.” Many teens report they sleep with their iPhones. Suddenly, many parents and churches discovered they had virtually no ability to enable their young to be selective in what they were viewing or consuming.
In 2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices for Thriving in a Decade of Accelerating Change, we argue we are facing a crisis of formation for Gen Next. We also argue that Big Tech is also shaping the values of many of us older Christians more effectively than we seem to be aware.
For example, we also document the declining levels of participation we were experiencing in churches in America just before the pandemic arrived. Let me explain a bit of how this Big Tech-empowered consumer culture is increasingly shaping our sense of what is important and of value. Then it will be more evident how it shapes the stewardship of our lives in ways many of us who are committed Christians may not realize.
Anticipating the Shrinking Church & Declining Outreach
Dwight Friesen and I document how many churches were experiencing declining levels of attendance, giving, and volunteering to help those in need. As churches are beginning to welcome members back into their buildings, the declines in attendance, giving, and volunteering appears to be declining even more rapidly. (2020s Foresight, 62-63).
I believe the declining levels of participation are not just a product of the pandemic. I believe that Big Tech has dramatically influenced our sense of what is important, what is of value, and what is the good life for us and our young. I suspect that this growing influence has a great deal to do with shaping our sense of how to steward our lives and resources.
Looking Back… Did We Get Flourishing Wrong?
Is it possible that as we look forward to seeing the horrid pandemic in our rear view mirrors that even people of faith, and our young, will join our neighbors in viewing flourishing as returning to a more consumptive way of life? This, of course, would likely mean that many of us would make a much more modest investment of our time and money in our churches. It would also likely mean we would invest less of our time and resources to those in the US and other countries that are still being hammered by the pandemic and the recession that accompanies it.
James K. A. Smith, in his important book, You Are What You Love, encourages us to become more aware of what we love and how it shapes our notions of what constitutes the good life. He states, “we need to become aware of our immersions: ‘This is the water’ you’ve been swimming in your whole life.” We read, “we need to recognize that our imaginations and longings are not impervious to our environments…”. “To the contrary our loves and imaginations are conscripted by all sorts of Liturgy that are loaded with a version of the good life.” (38).
Looking Forward… Rediscovering Flourishing for the Turbulent 2020s
In our book, Living on Purpose, Christine and I asked the question, “why settle for more and miss the best?” As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, we also need to emerge from all the media influence that seeks to shape our sense of what is important and of value. If as we seek to find a new way of being as we emerge from this pandemic, it isn’t enough to simply have our vaccines and begin our lives over again.
As followers of the servant Jesus, we need to rediscover that the good life of God will never be found in Instagram envy and increased accumulation. We need to join those followers of Jesus who are discovering that we not only have an opportunity to create a new normal but also to create a new sense of what is important and what is of value that is deeply committed to enabling our neighbors locally and globally to flourish as well.
This is the first in a series on FLOURISHING IN THE TURBULENT 2020s
I would value your feedback and push back. Contact me.
Post taken from NewChangeMakers.com. Feature photo by Marvin Meyer and water photo by Anastasia Taioglou on unsplash.com
This week we celebrate the Ascension… Jesus returning to the Father and leaving the disciples to carry out the mission of love that Jesus began. But they aren’t asked to do it on their own. In Acts 1, Jesus tells them to go back to Jerusalem and WAIT for the gift of the Holy Spirit that he has promised to send to them.
READ Acts 1:1-14 NIV (see other translations)
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk[c] from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
What do you notice about the disciples in this passage? What do you notice about Jesus?
THE CUP OF RECEIVING
PICK UP YOUR CUP AND HOLD IT
Consider all the things you’ve been waiting on, and waiting for this year. It’s been a year of waiting. Maybe, like the disciples, you don’t know just what to expect. Maybe you are feeling frustrated by all the emotions of the past year, all the losses and the changes. Talk to Jesus about this. TAKE A DRINK FROM YOUR CUP AND RECEIVE HIS PEACE.
We read in ACTS 1, that the disciples still didn’t really get what Jesus was all about. They wanted to know about times and dates and the end of the Roman rule. Even in their final days with Jesus actually present with them, they seemed to miss the point. Even after three years of being with Jesus everyday, they were still confused about their purpose. Jesus doesn’t shame them, or get frustrated with them. Instead he just reminds them that their mission is to go into all the world and be his ambassadors of love. Jesus believes in them even when they don’t understand. He knows that when they receive the Holy Spirit they will remember!
HOLD YOUR CUP. Have you forgotten about your purpose? Have you gotten caught up in worrying about what’s going to happen when, rather than just following Jesus? Do you need help to remember? Talk to Him about where you are today.
HOW DO YOU NEED TO BE REMINDED OF YOUR MISSION, YOUR PURPOSE? Allow Jesus to show you.
DRINK FROM YOUR CUP AND RECEIVE YOUR MISSION, YOUR PURPOSE AGAIN!
“But now that I’m about to leave you and go back to join the One who sent me, you need to be told. Yet, not one of you are asking me where I’m going. Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I’ve told you these things. 7 But here’s the truth: It’s to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away the Divine Encourager[c] will not be released to you. But after I depart, I will send him to you”. JESUS ~ JOHN 16:5-7
We need to RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.
RECEIVING the HOLY SPIRIT
DRINK FROM YOUR CUP TODAY and imagine receiving the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. Imagine receiving the comfort and peace of the presence of the Spirit. As you drink from your cup today, know that Jesus believes in you just as he believed in his disciples on Ascension Day!
DRINK FROM YOUR CUP and RECEIVE THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT.
LET’S RECEIVE THE POWER TO BE THE PEOPLE WE ARE CALLED TO BE AND BE the PEOPLE JESUS BELIEVES US TO BE!
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com
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by Lisa DeRosa
With Springtime upon us, it seemed like a lovely idea to paint pots together as a household community when the weather in Seattle warmed up a little. As you can see, I was the only one crazy enough to wear a short sleeve and shorts romper that Goldie (dog in picture above) is sitting in front of. Activities like these are something that I grew up doing for my sister’s birthday parties with friends in April like decorating Easter baskets and other Spring-themed crafts. But because I do not consider myself to be the artsy-creative type, I don’t usually engage in this type of practice very often. I enjoy making cards, sewing, and cooking which allows for many opportunities as creative outlets for me. Painting does not tend to be one of them…
At the time, I did not plan to write a post about painting pots as a spiritual reflection, but looking back at the process, I see many reasons why this is indeed a spiritual practice and points out lessons that can be applied in other areas of life. It gave me a chance to try something new, not in the norm of my day, and learn from what I was experiencing.
Firstly, as a recovering perfectionist, painting is a challenge in many ways. The endless options of paint type, color, shade, texture, and the right implement to use to paint the stuff on there was too much for my unexercised right-brain to decide. I stuck with what I know and love: blue. Once my color choice jumped out at me, I decided to cover the whole pot in blue because I figured I couldn’t go wrong with at least establishing a base layer. So far so good. But then… the sponge I was using worked against me by not absorbing the paint in the way I thought it would. It globbed on so thick and uneven, I thought even the base layer was ruined. I kept going, hoping it would fix itself. Eventually, with another evening layer, the base coat was finished. Nice and blue. My lesson from this was not to panic; just keep painting and see what the next stroke would bring. NOT an easy task when in my head it was already too far gone, but persistence seemed to work this time.
Secondly, in between paint layers, I found myself getting impatient. It was a slightly breezy time of day with the sun still out, but it seemed as though no amount of waving a flimsy piece of newspaper around my pot would get it to dry. This solution of mine only led to a tired arm and a still wet, painted pot. I thought it would be a good time to go around and mingle to see what my housemates were up to.
Which leads to my third lesson, the envy that rose in my heart over the other painted pots was very evident in that moment. Our house has some truly creative people, as you can see below. The snowy mountain with pine branches across the top is my husband’s. Each unique and thoughtfully designed in their own way. But I felt like mine was just a product of globbing on paint with some clouds. It looks like the wallpaper in Andy’s room from Toy Story… As in life, comparison and envy did not bode well for this activity and it contributed to missing the point of enjoying a fun activity with my housemates on a beautiful day!
I am proud that I finished my pot and that I chose to engage even when it isn’t a skill of mine. In reflecting on the photo above, I am grateful for the diversity that each pot uniquely gives to the garden. That they will provide a safe, and stable home for a seed, seedling, and eventually, a plant to flourish in. They bring color to the garden year round and hold memories of our house gathering that store-bought pots cannot.
As I think about God as the Creator, I know that my struggles listed when painting this pot do not surprise God and they are not challenges for God either. Creator God doesn’t waiver in trying to make perfect things, they just are. Impatience does not well up within. And why would envy creep into the Divine’s thoughts? Everything else fails in comparison! God’s character does not contain a striving towards perfectionism, the impatience and limits of time, or the envy of others. Instead, perfect peace, incredible patience, and unconditional love abound. I am thankful today that when God interacts with me as part of Creation, these are the character traits that are expressed.
Want to paint a flower pot?
Here’s what you will need:
- clean terracotta pots (any size you want!)
- outdoor spray paint (we have several of these in different colors) or outdoor acrylic paints (this brand is non-toxic)
- paint brushes – we used these for the various sizes
- spray on Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer (could use the paint-on kind too)
- a jar of water for cleaning the brushes
- a box to use for spray painting (optional)
Materials for painting pots
Spray painting option
Maybe you will have an easier time deciding on what to paint, what colors to use, and the painting time will be relaxing for you. Maybe you are like me and have to try a little harder. Wherever you are at, whatever mood you are in when you come to painting your pot, accept that that is where you are and how you are feeling. Allow God to meet you there, be open to Divine Presence. Ask for inspiration, a memory, or a picture of what to paint. If you already have something in mind, great! Go for it! Enjoy the activity, welcome the experience that it holds, and let yourself be immersed in the creative process.
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