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Today's Scripture
Rather, they delight in God's teaching,
musing on it day and night.
*Psalm 1.2
Wisdom Words
The following words are from Lawrence Freeman, leader of The World Community for Christian Meditation, in reply to the question "Then what is contemplation?"
We really mean the experience of our own spiritual nature, finding our own heart and our own center. The meaning of that is that we find a direct and personal encounter with God in our heart.
St. Catherine of Siena said God is the center of our soul. That puts it very succinctly.
The early fathers of the church were immersed in this experience of contemplation. The theology of the doctrine that formed over the first five centuries or so of Christian history was a combination of contemplation and a reading of Scripture.
*Richard Vara. "FINDING YOUR SPIRITUAL CENTER: Making sense of meditation" ~ The contemplative experience is at the center of all religious tradition, expert says. 2006 Houston Chronicle.
Comments
Teresa of Ávila recommended the following meditation to another nun. She advised her to pray the Lord's Prayer, taking an hour with it. Teresa said spend a few minutes entering each phrase, until it becomes the prayer of your heart, and you become the prayer.
Due to my strong agreement with Teresa that this is a very helpful form of meditation, I offer two matters ~ a scriptural basis, a personal witness.
I find this meditation insightful and invigorating. I often enter into Quiet through another form of meditation. Then, I recall the Lord's Prayer, slowly, inwardly repeating each phrase. I feel the meaning and energy of each phrase. As I have done this over many months, the Prayer has taken on surprising, deepening energy and meaning.
The Jews of the Old Testament apparently came to practice this form of meditation. Psalm 1.2 reads...
Rather, they delight in God's teaching,
musing on it day and night.
"Musing" is aptly rendered "meditation." The Hebrew term refers to a low, murmuring sound. Likely, the musing speaks of reciting Scripture slowly, as though chewing slowly to digest it.
When we do Slow Prayer, we are open to two things. We are receptive to the meaning unfolding. We open to connect with the energy of the Scripture. These two, meaning and energy, go together.
Spiritual Exercise
Do the Slow Prayer meditation with the Lord's Prayer or another scripture. Remember, this practice is guided by your experience, not any strictness about time to expend on any part of the scripture meditation. Enjoy the process, and let it unfold naturally for you. Spend as little or as long as you wish on each portion of the passage, and this pertains to the entire meditation process. Avoid any thoughts of the way it ought to go. Relax with the process, remain open, be receptive. Receive.
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*The writer does not recall the source of Teresa of Avila's advice; the advice is referred to at "The Voice in the Stillness": see below.
*Designation "Slow Prayer" from "The Voice in the Stillness," www.frimmin.com .
For replies and biographical information, and submission to "The Light Shines" daily devotionals ~ a ministry of Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL, see next page:
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