Day 16 - Reflection on Meditation

Meditation began back in the 4th & 5th centuries with the desert fathers;  yes, they wanted to get away from it all!  Monasteries were formed.  These silent practices were handed on down through the 14th century through people like Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and on into the 20th Century through Thomas Merton.  In the 1970’s three monks, Thomas Keating, William Meninger, and Basil Pennington discussed how contemplative prayer had always been part of the Christian tradition but a way of teaching it was needed so that modern, ordinary people would know about this dimension of the Christian tradition.  The three developed guidelines for teaching a way of prayer that could open a person to receive the gift of contemplation.

Meditation can be in several forms;

• Breath Prayer 
• Centering 
• Contemplative 
• Inner healing 
• Intercessory 
• Labyrinth
• praying the scriptures 
• prayer walking  

Not to be done all at once of course, but how ever you might feel that God is calling you to pray.

We want to experience a great love with God, but will God show up for us?  The very desire you feel can be God’s way of readying us to walk and work with Jesus.  

We have only to sit quietly and listen.

But “how can we find time” we ask?  The simple truth is that wanting to keep company with Jesus has a staying power the “shoulds” and “oughts” never have.

(From Spiritual Disciplines Handbook – Adele Ahlberg Calhoun)
         
Contemplative Outreach  www.contemplativeoutreach.org

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The Purpose Driven Life - Finding Your Purpose

CHAPTER 16 - WHAT MATTERS MOST

Life is all about love.

Because God is love, the most important lesson he wants you to learn on earth is how to love. It is in loving that we are most like him, so love is the foundation of every command he has given us: "The whole Law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love others as you love yourself.'" (Galatians 5:14)

Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature. That's why we're given a lifetime to learn it.

Love should be your top priority, primary objective, and greatest ambition.

• Life without love is really worthless
• Love will last forever
• We will be evaluated on our love

The best time to love is now! 

Point to Ponder: Life is all about love.

Verse to Remember: "The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:14)

Question to Consider: Honestly, are relationships my first priority? How can I ensure that they are?