Giving something up is thematic for many people across Christian tradition during the Lenten season. Yet for me, giving up has been less of my focus over the years. Traditionally, I have been more likely to add a spiritual practice during the season of Lent rather than take something away. And I now realize how much I have added over the years and how "doing it all" often blurs my ability to open my heart and soul. Let's be honest, fasting is hard.
Yet sometimes we need to strip away, let go, fast. Recently I have been in a season of "letting go" in regards to my sugar addiction. I now have a new perspective on giving up and am embracing it in the kitchen. I've been on a whole foods (Whole30) plan for the past several weeks that has stripped away many of the unnecessary extras that cause my body to experience brain fog, fatigue, and anxiety. It has taken several weeks to see the fruits of my work but my body (and my soul) are thanking me for the new found clarity. And I must admit, it has taken me two rounds of this process to truly find the beauty in the letting go of my beloved sugar for a season! I read the poem below this morning and in my reflection realized quickly that as I've let go of the extra sweeteners and not-so-natural flavorings (as well as the junk I had been feeding my body) my tastebuds can truly experience the flavor of food in new ways. We chew, we eat, we swallow. But, do we take the time to truly savor and taste? If we did, how could that change us? When we fast (not simply from food) we are invited to taste/feel/experience more deeply. The poem is from St. Catherine of Siena, a Dominican nun, mystic and poet from Italy, who lived from 1347-1380. Her words speak to me on this journey of wellness, they remind me that God gave us the gift of food as more than nourishment, that we can see God in all things/people/situations, that our hearts and souls really do need to be fed. I hope her words offer your heart encouragement as well this Lenten season. How will you feed your soul this season? How could "giving up" actually give your heart more strength? Are you letting go of any specific foods or activities for Lent? How are you hoping to taste, smell, experience God? Give the Heart More Strength (from Love Poems from God) Herbs can help the body and give the heart more strength to love. When my sight became clearer, I could see auras around different foods. and I now know — should I say this? -- that everything can sing. The songs of fruits and grains will calm, why not put them into yourself, a new language you will learn? And just from touching life’s requirements close to their source will add grace to your movements. More generous eyes we need. The songs of light will help you. Breath. We all have it. Right? If you're reading these words, I can guarantee one thing, there is breath in your lungs. There is plenty of scripture in the Bible that tells us our breath is a gift from God. Glance below and see if any of these stand out to you: The Lord God formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life’s breath into his nostrils. The human came to life. - Genesis 2:7 (CEB) The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. - Job 33:4 (NRSV) Now He drew close enough to each of them that they could feel His breath. He breathed on them: “Welcome the Holy Spirit of the living God.” - John 20:22 (Voice) Nor is God served by human hands, as though he needed something, since he is the one who gives life, breath, and everything else. - Acts 17:25 (CEB) Friends, God is the giver of the breath of life! It makes so much sense for us to use this gift as a constant way to commune with our creator. I stumbled upon using my own breath in a time of crisis in my life. A time when I had nothing and no one else to cling to, my breath was there and I began praying a breath prayer that affected me deeply. At the time, I didn't know this was an ancient practice. A breath prayer allows us to pray a simple and intimate repetitive prayer before God. This prayer form has been practiced in the church for millennia. It is a form of contemplative prayer linked to the simple rhythms of our breathing. Here is how it works: Breathe in, calling on a biblical name or image of God that is significant to you. Breathe out a simple God-given desire or longing of your heart. That's it! With the reminder that each breath is a gift from God, our prayer becomes an opportunity to abide in union with each and every breath, to “never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Breath Prayer examples: Creator, shine on me Abba, show yourself to me Holy One, keep me true Jesus, give me peace Lord, here I am Father, guide me Messiah, heal my heart You could also breathe in God's word as you follow along with your scripture reading this week. Consider Monday's passage of Mark 4:26-34. Breathe in the words of that parable for yourself today. You could pray: Inhale: God, Exhale: Give me faith like a mustard seed So, how does the thought of repetitive prayer strike you? What are the up sides and down sides of repetitive prayer? How might a breath prayer be shorthand for a longer prayer of your heart? A prayer for you this week: With each breath I breathe, may God's glorious, unlimited resources empower me with inner strength reminding me that Christ makes a home in my heart. May I have the insight to gain a glimpse, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep the creator's love is for me. May I experience the love of Christ fill me just as air fills my lungs, though both are too great to understand fully. May each breath remind me of the fullness of life and the power that comes from my creator. Amen. (Based on Ephesians 3:16-19) If you've stumbled here for the first time, welcome! On Mondays through this Fall, I'm posting a list of scriptures for reflection as well as a different way to pray each week. Pray one scripture or pray them all, this is simply an invitation to journey deeper as we explore God's peace together. Click here to find out more and join us on the journey.
Peace, Whitney God has given us a variety of senses. Last week, we listened for silence in and around our lives. This week, we'll use the gift of sight to pray. Vision is a gift that is often taken for granted. For those of us with healthy vision (well, at least with our glasses or contacts) our eyes can also be a distraction. You know this as you choose to keep your eyes on the road when driving - they roam easily and we all know that's not a safe environment for eyes to wander. Our eyes are active! That's one reason I often close my eyes when practicing yoga or seeking stillness, it lessens the distractions around me. Did you know that out of all the muscles in our bodies, the muscles that control our eyes are the most active? Take advantage of closing your eyes to seek stillness whenever it seems right. But, this week, let's also put the gift of those eye muscles to use! You'll find Luke 7:1-10 in our scripture reflection list. A simple search on this passage allowed me to stumble on the artwork of Paolo Veronese. And, I had to start a board for "Art & Scripture" on Pinterest to save this link and return later for reflection. Select an image or use the example above. Consider the image before and/or after you read the scripture. What does the artist capture with color and emotion? How does the image make you feel when you gaze upon it? What do you notice with your eyes that you may have missed in reading the scripture. Does viewing this art deepen your appreciation for the passage? How so? Maybe your gifts aren't quite the same as Paolo's (maybe they are, and if so I would love to see your art!). No matter your gifts, I believe those of us with the gift of sight (did you know that approximately 285 million people in our world today have a visual impairment?), can use our eyes to see and notice God around us each day! What if...we not only gaze at someone else's interpretation but also used the gift of the eyes to capture our own prayers this week? Consider selecting a verse of scripture to take out in to the world and capture what may speak to you as you ponder the verse with your phone's camera. What does the scripture evoke in you and where do you see that come to life around you? What do you notice that connects back to a passage you've read - on that has meaning and purpose to you? Once your image is captured, consider how it speaks God's word back to you? What do you notice in your image that you may not have noticed before you captured the photo? My friend, Kasey Hitt, wrote an article recently on praying with a camera at the Guideposts Blog. Whether you capture or create your own images, allow her post to spark ideas for you as you pray with your eyes. Detailed art, professional photographs or casual snapshots, allow God to use the gift of your eyes. Open your eyes to see God's activity all around you. Where will you find God? How will God speak to you? If you've stumbled here for the first time, welcome! On Mondays through this Fall, I'm posting a list of scriptures for reflection as well as a different way to pray each week. Pray one scripture or pray them all, this is simply an invitation to journey deeper as we explore God's peace together. Click here to find out more and join us on the journey.
Peace, Whitney |
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