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Welcome to OneLife Ministries. This site is designed to lead you prayerfully into a heart experience of Divine Presence, Who is Love. While it focuses on Christian teaching, I hope persons of varied faiths will find inspiration here. Indeed, "God" can be whatever image helps us trust in the Sacred, by whatever means Grace touches us each. Please share this ministry with others, and please return soon. There is a new offering daily. And to be placed on the daily OneLife email list, to request notifications of new writings or submit prayer requests, write to briankwilcox@yahoo.com .
Blessings,
Brian Kenneth Wilcox MDiv, MFT, PhD
Interspiritual Pastor-Teacher, Author, Workshop Leader, Spiritual Counselor, and Chaplain.
You are invited to join Brian at his fellowship group on Facebook. The group is called OneLife Ministries – An Interspiritual Contemplative Fellowship. Hope to see you there. Blessings.
Scripture
One must not stand up and say the Tefillah except in a serious frame of mind. The pious men of old used to wait an hour, and then say the prayer, in order to direct their hearts to their Father in heaven.
*Judaism. Mishnah, Berakot 5.1.
Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be silent.
*Judaism and Christianity. Psalm 4.4, AV
When all the senses are stilled, when the mind is at rest, when the intellect wavers not - then, say the wise, is reached the highest state.
*Hinduism. Katha Upanishad 2.6 .
*Scriptures from "World Scripture." www.unification.net .
Wisdom Saying
Prayer is principally God's work. God is present …, loving life into us, sustaining and working in us. God is in every heartbeat, every breath, every expanse of physical, sexual and physic energy, every thought, hope and desire, every decision. When we are conscious of God's presence, of God being in and around us, we are in prayer. When we are aware that we move and love in God's loving gaze, we are in prayer. When God makes us conscious of God's nearness and touch, we are in prayer. In prayer, we are not called to support or enrich God but to be led and strengthened by God.
*Words, Father Armand Negro. In Carl Arico. A Taste of Silence. Adapted for modern readers.
Spiritual Teaching
Abba Theophilus, the Archbishop, visited a desert monastery. The brethren who were assembled there said to Abba Pambo, "Say something to the Archbishop, so that he may be edified." The Abba said, “If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be edified by my speech."
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Today, I sat in the office of a doctor, reading a book. I was waiting for a friend. Another lady came out and began talking to the doctor in the hall. She talked, and talked, and talked … and loud, and something the physician would not have interest in, likely. I admired the patience of the physician. As for myself, I, at last, went outside and sat on a bench. The dear lady soon walked out. She got in the vehicle with her husband, still talking, and loudly. I wondered how he lived with that all the time.
With the rise of rapid means of communication, we have become bombarded with words. Words easily become cheap merchandise. Likewise, we can share words that we do not stop to consider may not be able to be appreciated by another.
Possibly, like Abba Pambo we might need to realize that words are not valued well by many persons. Likewise, when it comes to edifying others with our spiritual experience, we need discernment in whom to share with and what to share. Often, silence is the best measure of wisdom in this. Also, if Love is our guide, we need to be aware that something that edified us may not be edifying to another person.
Worship, private and public, is a good place to appreciate Silence, and practice it. Recently, I walked into a sanctuary on Sunday morning. I sat on the back and looked forward to some silent meditation prior to the beginning of the liturgy. Well, no, I did not expect everyone to be silent. But a lady came in and sat next to me. Friends turned around to talk with her. They began talking, on and on, about her hairdo. I excused myself, walked to the other side of the church sanctuary, sat down, and enjoyed some silent preparation for the liturgy.
Again, we can overvalue the importance of our words, and undervalue the importance of silence. Also, the practice of Silence means respecting others about us. Simply because I can say it, does not mean others need to hear it, or want to hear it. In this matter, as all else, discretion is a good intent.
Finally, silence is a spiritual practice to stop and be aware of the Presence of God. In silence, we sharpen our alertness to the Divine – in, around, and through us. Simply stopping, being quiet and aware, is as much prayer as any words we can say. We can better acknowledge in our loving gaze back to the Divine – in the words of Father Nigro: God is loving life into us.
Responding
1.Begin each day with the intent to watch your words – not just what you say, but how much you say.
2.Set aside times of silence daily. If you want to practice daily silence as spiritual practice, you will find a number of short times to do that.
3.Have a least two quiet times daily – if only two, preferably shortly after waking up and sometime in the evening. But recall, if you meditate before going to sleep, often meditation awakens the senses and you may find it difficult to go to sleep. Likewise, you may find it challenging to practice silence before going to sleep, for you may easily fall asleep.
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*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian Kenneth Wilcox, SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life and with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis, with friends and under a vow of simplicity. Brian is an ecumenical-interspiritual leader, who chooses not to identify with any group, and renounces all titles of sacredness that some would apply to him, but seeks to be open to how Christ manifests in the diversity of Christian denominations and varied religious-spiritual traditions. He affirms that all spiritual paths lead ultimately back to Jesus Christ. He is Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at briankwilcox@yahoo.com . Also, Brian is on Facebook: search Brian Kenneth Wilcox.
*Contact the above email to book Brian for preaching, Spiritual Direction, retreats, workshops, animal blessing services, house blessings, or other spiritual requests. You can order his book An Ache for Union from major booksellers.
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