and this
is
neither
religious nor nonreligious
neither
spiritual nor unspiritual
for
Communion
is
* * *
I sit alone in this Prayer Room. Candles are aglow. Tired, I sit. Wearied, I prepared for others to share this Communion and Celebration, after pouring my heart out this morning in the Message, and my having been awake long before dawn.
From behind my seat arises the beautiful chant of Tibetan monks, a special treat for others to share with me. I rest in peace, alone, with eyes closed and breathing with ease. I enjoy the chant and feel myself becoming one with it. I hear no arrival and, therefore, after a time I open my eyes, I see no one, and I stand.
I turn toward the bread and juice, representing the One Life, I AM, meant to be shared tonight with others. I, with an odd feeling, am determined that I, even though alone, will offer myself the Communion and recall that even alone I am not alone. I lift the elements in self-oblation, pure ecstasy, entering the Mystery, the ecstasy of the Divine. I dip and partake.
I leave and go to the grocery store. I purchase some dipped ice cream: big dips of peanut butter, dark chocolate, white chocolate. I enjoy some TV. I sleep, snuggled up in an old recliner, alone, not alone.
* * *
The above rumination from April 8, 2005, when I was a Christian pastor, reminded me my feelings of being lonely were ~ and are (rare now, frequent then) ~ an expression of the fullness of aloneness. This aloneness, when apart or with others, is a spacious solitariness I can embrace gladly as integral to the particular way the Way manifests for me, and likely many others. So, I wrote, afterward:
I befriend even the pain that can arise in feeling forsaken and see how some are called to enter forsakenness, or denial, or betrayal, to embody a Life of true Communion, rather than the facile togetherness that is itself an avoidance of the intimacy I share with this, My Love.
One who is able to befriend aloneness needs pity from no one for that aloneness. Rather, sad is the one who cannot find the Communion within his or her aloneness and, thus, is very lonely.
* * *
Ironically, through our embracing aloneness, we embrace communion with others, the living rite of our togetherness. How ironic, then, that I should have been blessed to partake of Holy Communion alone. Communion, indeed, not mere sharing as persons, arises from heart with heart. The spiritual contemplative sees the expression of Grace is the sharing of solitude with solitude, or aloneness with aloneness ~ being, Love with Love.
*The vision statement for Lotus of the Heart is Living in Love beyond Beliefs. These presentations, inclusive in nature, are invitations for persons to explore for himself or herself. Brian does not claim to have answers or the Truth for anyone. He provides pointers to Truth, so as to inspire others on his or her own journey of Truth, to compassionate living with Earth and all creatures sharing this planet.
*All material, unless another source is cited, is authored by the presenter of Lotus of Heart, Brian Kenneth Wilcox, Florida USA. Use of the material is permitted; Brian only requests that credit be given and to be notified at 77ahavah77@gmail.com . Also, for spiritual guidance via phone, Skype, or in-person, Brian can be contacted via the above email.
*Brian's book, An Ache for Union, is available through major booksellers.
*Move cursor over pictures for photographer and title.
The Sacred in Me bows
to the Sacred in You
