Dear friends,
“Lord, make us instruments of your peace.” (BCP p. 833, A Prayer attributed to St. Francis)
This week I attended Clergy Conference at Chanco where Br. James Dowd, Monk in Residence in the Diocese of Nebraska and Founding Prior of The Benedictine Way, spoke to us about centering prayer. I have practiced centering prayer for over twenty years, sometimes better than others. One thing that resonated with me during this conference was the realization that when I focus on my centering prayer life, I don’t just feel peace, I am at peace. I had not distinguished the difference before.
My prayer life of late has become what I have shared with you on Sundays, a laundry list of requests for God. The petitions and intercessions have become long. Of course, I pray the Daily Office from the Book of Common Prayer but on some days, I just check it off as done. I have not been dwelling in Christ and inviting him to dwell in me.
In centering prayer, I leave the words alone. My hope is to just be with God giving him the time and presence that I yearn from him. If we strive to be Christ in the world then we need to take the time to be with the one who will show us how.
I find comfort in the words of Parker Palmer: “It takes no special talent to look around our world and point out things that are numbing, depressing or death-dealing. But becoming aware of what’s good, true and beautiful demands that we open our eyes, minds and hearts and keep them open.
Then we’ll begin to see the beauty everywhere, not only in nature but in human nature. Then we’ll have the inspiration, strength and courage to resist what’s wrong and work for what’s right.”
May I suggest that we cut back on worldly influences and focus on the Good News. Let us look and see how Christ is working in the world and through us. Let us set our goal for each day to be a blessing to someone in need and in the words of St. Francis may we be an instrument of God’s peace.
Blessings,
Gini+