“Our Thoughts Are Prayers and We Are Always Praying” is a New Thought Hymn written by Lucille Olson. The words were taken and adapted from writings by Charles Fillmore, co-founder of the Unity Movement. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Charles and his wife Myrtle began to share ideas that were new to them and brought to light through study and practice of Divine Science, Science of Mind, Christian Science etc… Some of those new ideas were specifically about the purpose of Prayer and the importance of Meditation or being in the silence. What better time than the Winter Months to actually focus on Prayer and Meditation; the two processes when combined assist us in touching a deep well of peace.
I once heard that Spiritual Awakening begins with one thought and grows into an entire revelation. How that awakening happens is still one of the great mysteries of my own spiritual journey. Rumi said that there is no need to go anywhere and he goes on to say that the journey is one of traveling within yourself by entering a “mine of rubies” and bathing in the splendor of “your own light.” I don’t know about you but sometimes the things I find within myself are more like unpolished rocks and deep darkness.
St. Francis of Assisi calls the energy that is within each of us “beautiful and wild”. That’s more like it! I feel all that wild energy sometimes – so - how is the wild energy going to bring me to a mindful and peaceful place? And of course, many times when I attempt to get still and quiet, all that wild energy and bizarre thoughts seem to rise to the top and start screaming? Do you hear and feel what I am saying?
Yes, there are some secrets to be found within the process of prayer and meditation. And if you will join me for the next 7 weeks, we will go on this sacred journey together as individuals and as a spiritual community. Sunday mornings will be a time to skim the surface of basic information to integrate into our knowledge or consciousness – and Wednesday evenings will be a chance to dive deeper into the process of Prayer and Meditation. We will be using as one of our tools Winter Feast for the Soul - www.winterfeastforthesoul.com We will meet at 6:45 to get centered and check in with each other and ourselves. We will share a meditation together and the share about our own experiences from the last week as we walk this journey together.
Just another piece of information: Our Lunch Bunch (Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m.) will begin February 3rd, the book Eat Pray Love. This book is a novel/movie that goes beyond the story of a woman who is unhappy with her life into a journey of finding her own beautiful and very alive energy by learning to be present to her body, mind, and spirit. This study will be chalked full of quotes for each of us to integrate into our own lives. I affirm that whatever speaks to you for your own Spiritual Awakening Journey; you will ‘Do Yourself a Favor’ and use these months of Hibernation as a journey within your own consciousness.
Peace is the Way,
Rev. D