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and sweet
sweet surrender
is all that i have to give
*“Sweet Surrender,” Sung by Sarah McLachlan
That soul has now delivered itself into His hands and His great love has so subdued it that it neither knows nor desires anything save that God shall do with it what He wills.
*St. Teresa of Avila, Collected Works
Surrender, in the spiritual sense, we return to again and again. We even surrender resistance to surrender.
The ego says, “If you surrender, that is weakness. If you surrender, you will be taken advantage of. If you surrender, things will not turn out as you wish. If you surrender, you will not be given by God the things you most deeply long for. If you surrender, you are abdicating responsibility….”
The Christ Self says, “One of the strongest, most courageous things you can do is surrender. In surrender God’s plan for you is so great that no one can ultimately, finally take advantage of you or have power over you. If you surrender, you will have what you truly wish for. If you surrender, God will meet your deepest needs and fulfill your grandest desires. If you surrender, you are acting as you are created to act, therefore, you are being responsible.”
Megan Don, in Falling into the Arms of God, writes, "Ironically, when we release the separation we will no longer be surviving, we will be flourishing.” Does this not sound somewhat counter-logical? Does not the Way of Christ do just that: Provide a path to a flourishing Life through a logic that contradicts the survival logic that leads to isolation, separation, and spiritual deathliness?
It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
who cannot seem to give
and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live
*”The Rose,” Sung by Bette Midler
A Body Posture for Embodying Sweet Surrender
Light a candle and incense, if you like incense. Lie down, abdomen down, on a floor or bed. Stretch out the arms outward and the legs outward. Place the open palms of your hands downward. Turn your face so that one cheek is downward and one upward. Remain in this posture of self-abandonment to the Presence of Love. Notice any feelings that arise in the body. Be aware of any images or thoughts that arise in the mind. Pray spontaneously as such prayerfulness arises, expressing your sweet surrender to the Love. There might be certain challenges you are facing and now will give completely to the Spirit of Grace. You can say something like, “I have done all I know to do with…. I give this … to you. Receive it from me. I trust you are waiting and ready to help. Give me grace to accept the outcome. Regarding this …, deliver me from fear, deliver me to hope. … Thank you.” Remain in this posture for at least ten minutes.
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