Reflection:
The Divine Flow
In this reflection we explore what it means to be free to flow with the infinite possibilities of Divine creativity, and how we can develop an attitude of trust, surrender and openness.
Opening music:
Listen to the following piece of music as an opening prayer.
Lyrics:
In this moment I welcome thee
Ever giving thyself to me
Reflection Talk:
Talk length: 10 minutes
Sacred Reading:
Read the following readings through twice or three times, with an attitude of open receptivity. Allow a few minutes of silence between the readings. Listen for any words that call out to you, or that draw you into the sacredness of silence that is deeper than your usual knowing:
Reading 1:
I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sends me. ~ John 5:30
Reading 2:
Whoever tries to preserve their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will save it. ~ Luke 17:33
Reading 3:
Do you think I know what I'm doing?
That for one breath or half-breath I belong to myself?
As much as a pen knows what it's writing,
or the ball can guess where it's going next.
~ Rumi
Quiet prayer
I invite you into a time of prayer, using this guided practice of the Welcoming Prayer, and leading into a time of quiet prayer.
End the time of quiet prayer by listening to the following piece of music:
Lyrics:
I abandon myself to Your will
Do with me whatever You want
I will only be grateful for whatever You do
I'm prepared for anything at all
I abandon myself to Your will
Do with me whatever You want
I will only be grateful for whatever You do
I'm prepared for anything at all
I commit my life to Your hands
I offer it all up to You
With all the affection of my heart and my soul
Because, O Lord, I love You
I abandon myself to Your will
Do with me whatever You want
Without any conditions and with confidence
Because You are my God
I abandon myself to Your will
I abandon myself to Your will
I abandon myself to Your will
For Further Reflection:
Below are the quotes from the talk for you to take this theme further.
Thomas Merton: “You do not need to know precisely what is happening or exactly where it is going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
Anthony de Mello described faith as: "an openness to the truth, no matter what the consequences, no matter where it leads you and when you don't even know where it's going to lead you. That's faith. Not belief, but faith. Your beliefs give you a lot of security, but faith is insecurity. You don't know. You're ready to follow and you're open, you're wide open!"
Ram Dass: "Any time you walk into a situation and you have a model of who you are or who you aren't, it stops the flow."
He also describes "a level of consciousness in which social action that flows from it truly liberates humankind for it is a level of awareness from which actions are manifest that have no clinging, not even clinging to the effects of the act. ... You are right here now. The new existential moment is now. It's always the beginning of things. Always."
The Welcoming Prayer
Movement one:
Feel and sink into what you are experiencing this moment in your body
Movement two:
"Welcome" what you are experiencing this moment in your body as an opportunity to consent to the Divine Indwelling
Movement three:
Let go by saying the following sentence:
"I let go of my desire for security, affection and control,
and I embrace this moment as it is."
Ending prayer:
Creator Beloved, Divine Indwelling,
to You I offer my whole being - a vessel emptied of self.
Source of all love, accept my emptiness,
and so fill me with Yourself, Your life, Your light, Your love,
that these like precious gifts may overflow the chalice of my heart,
and flow into the hearts of all those I come into contact with this day,
revealing unto them the beauty of Your joy and wholeness,
and the serenity of Your peace which nothing can destroy.
Amen.
(Adapted from the Prayer of the Chalice)
Ending music:
Lyrics:
Lord make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.
O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive-
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
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Sharon's book that was previously called "Contemplative Living" has been republished by AnamChara Books under the title "Deeper: Finding the Depth Dimension Beneath the Surface of Life". The Kindle version is available from Amazon, and the hard copy version can be ordered from loot.co.za or Takealot, or from your local bookshop through Ingram Distribution.