Week Three, Day Three Love

I invite you into the prayer practice of Visio Divina letting the light of your heart, the cool streams of your soul, and fire of synapses in your mind focus on your breathing.

Breathe in to the count of three...exhale to the count of six or seven.

Breathe in the One whose breath, fire, water created galaxies of stars shining over our heads...exhale those fragile or cracked parts of our glass-like-life.

Breathe in the truth that we share DNA with star dust...breathe out the disconnection and discord that stirs within you.

Look at the image and let your eyes stay with the very first thing that you see. Keep your attention on that one part of the image that first catches your eye. Try to keep your eyes from wandering to other parts of the picture.

Next, try to name five things you see.  Write down images, insights, or ideas that are evoked in this moment.  Breathe deeply and let yourself gaze at that the whole image for a minute or so.

Ask yourself, what do you see on this close-up photo that you might have missed from the one taken further away yesterday?  Reflect on the image for a minute or so.

Consider the following questions:

What emotions does this image evoke in you?

What does the image stir up in you, bring forth in you?

Does this image lead you into an attitude of prayer? If so, let these prayers take form in you. Write them down if you desire.

Reflection

A tiny star.

Yesterday, we prayerfully pondered and gazed at the large glass sculpture of which this one tiny star is a small part.  Maybe yesterday looking from afar, you thought of the sea in that big sculpture.  Maybe you thought of Genesis 1, the story of creation, where God's breath, fire, and watery chaos create all that is seen/unseen.  Maybe you thought of the movement of breath, fire, and water as metaphors for your daily living.  My hunch is you saw something in the sculpture yesterday I might never see unless you share your thoughts with me.

But one tiny star doesn't seem that significant in the scope of such a massive work which is made up of thousands of pieces of glass - each carefully constructed by an artist.

One tiny star maybe didn't seem that significant in the scope of such a massive movement of people when Caesar said, "Go" with the census, and people left skid marks in the sand scurrying to their homelands.  Unlike modern times where we are much more mobile, most people in Jesus' day didn't really move too far from the family homestead.  You didn't pick up and go as much as we do today.  You were tied to a land - either because your family needed your labor to help make ends meet or because you physically were no longer able to travel.  Some people were tethered to land as indentured servants unable to repay a loan from a wealthier person.  Into such a scene, a tiny star starts to shine.

I often imagine that star accompanying Mary and Joseph on the 80-mile trek from Galilee to Nazareth.  We have carols and Christmas cards that show a single star (sometimes very large) shining over a stable.  But for me, I do not see the star as a big spotlight beckoning people to come and see God's entry.  For me, the star is not a neon sign blinking brightly proclaiming, "Look here".  For me, on the first Christmas there was one star in a galaxy full of stars which many did not really notice.

But that is how vulnerable, holy love works.  Holy love moves not in huge displays or demands.  Holy love wiggles and works in our lives not in speeches or tweets.  Holy love enters not with power, privilege, or prestige.

Rather, holy love, like a tiny star of a massive sculpture, is one light illuminated with breath, fire, and water.

Holy love is one life of a tiny baby who was illuminated with the breath of God, the fire of Spirit, and a water of renewing grace.

Holy love is still one promise we draw near to see our own reflection in the stardust of one called, Jesus.

May the holy promise of this season illuminate your life with traces, even as small as one star, of God's grace this day.

Blessings ~~