by admin | Apr 8, 2019 | Lifted Prayers
Aesthetically pleasing psalms are an accessible way for me to connect with my benevolent creator. The inspired words express my thoughts and imprint their ideals upon my mind. The following is an easy translation of Psalm 16 from Stephen Mitchell:
Unnamable God, I feel you
With me at every moment.
You are my food, my drink,
My sunlight, and the air I breathe.
You are the ground I have built on
And the beauty that rejoices my heart.
I give thanks to you at all times
For lifting me from my confusion,
And showing me the path of life.
Teach me how powerful your love is
And how insubstantial my fears.
I rest in your perfect love.
In your presence there is fullness of joy
And blessedness forever and ever.
Rock me to sleep in the dark
And let me, when I awaken,
See nothing but the light of your face.
by admin | Apr 8, 2019 | Lifted Prayers
The expressive poetry of the Psalms is as relevant in my life as they were in David’s life many centuries ago. I make a few changes to the translation from the Hebrew that Stephen Mitchell published as “A Book of Psalms” so reflect my sentiments. Here’s my version of Psalm 13:
Light up my eyes with your presence;
Let me feel your love in my bones.
Keep me from losing myself
in ignorance and despair.
Teach me to be patient, Lord;
Teach me to be endlessly patient.
Let me trust that your love enfolds me
When my heart feels desolate and dry.
I will sing to the Lord at all times,
Even from the depth of pain.
by admin | Apr 8, 2019 | Lifted Prayers
A psalm is a song and a prayer at the same time. The language is beautiful and the emotion is raw and intense. The following is my rendition of Psalm 4. I started from Stephen Mitchell’s translation in “A Book of Psalms” which is available in the used book market.
Even in the midst of great pain, Lord,
I praise you for that which is.
I will not refuse this grief
or close myself to this anguish.
I pray for whatever you send me,
and I ask to receive it as your gift.
You have put a joy in my heart
greater than all the world’s riches.
I lie down trusting the darkness,
for I know that even now you are here.
by admin | Apr 7, 2019 | Affirming our Divinity
Every once in a while, when I have been diligent in my meditation, mindfulness and prayer practices, I get a glimpse of what it feels like to be one with all that is. Most recently, it has resulted from repeating, in a mantra-like manner, a request for lovingkindness. ‘May lovingkindess manifest throughout my life.’
Focusing on how that would look and feel if present, I expand with corollaries, feeling the reality of each. May I be free from fear. May I experience the fullness of divine love and light. May I be relieved of the burden of self-will. May I feel at one with all creation. May I recognize all as my fellow travelers. May I know all as God’s children.
Concentrating on the expression of lovingkindness, practicing the mindset I would maintain as a being of love, I sometimes relax into oneness with all.
When the feeling of separateness leaves, there is nothing to fear, nothing to fight, nothing to judge or tolerate. In those moments, I remember that I am not separate from the rest of creation. It is a state of joy and peace, our natural state when at one with all that is.
by admin | Apr 4, 2019 | Using our Toolbox
How many times have I thought that if I’d only paused for a moment, I wouldn’t have had to apologize! When I am agitated or doubtful, I often react using behaviors that do not serve me well. Sometimes I prepare for a situation that I expect may be anxiety-provoking with prayer and affirmations. Instead of rehearsing what I will say, anticipating how the encounter will go, worrying about how it could go while imagining how I will come out on top, I can push the pause button. I can breathe in and see my fear is at the bottom of my tiresome planning ritual. Hitting the pause button brings me back to the present from the future.
When I pause, I can turn my mind towards accepting that I do not control the outcome. My expectations of how the encounter will go are almost never reflective of the eventual reality. My anxious anticipation drains my energy, fogs my focus and is otherwise a waste of time! Once I remember that I am child of God and whatever the outcome, I will be OK, I can let go of my hopes and expectations and relax into faith that all is well. All IS well. Actually ALL of the time all is well when I stay in the present moment and forgo trying to control the future.
