Week Two, Day Two Peace

As we cross the threshold into the prayer practice of Visio Divina, we center and calm our breath.

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

Breathe in the One who moves with the wind, sails/soars across the sky...exhale those places and people who cause you to feel stuck and stymied.

Breathe in a peace...breathe out the chaos.

Breathe in the creativity that happens when peace and chaos dance together...breathe out the dualistic sense that one is better than the other.

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. Breathe deeply and let yourself gaze at that part of the image for a minute or so.

Now, let your eyes survey at the whole image. Take your time and look at every part of the photograph. See it all.  Make a list of what you see and ask yourself the deeper question of why might I be seeing what I am seeing? 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

I wonder which bird am I?

Am I the one calling and crying out, "Follow me!  I know the way."?

Or am I the one trying to keep up?

I am probably a bit of both.

There are moments when the wings of life, caught up in the swirling winds of grace, keep taking me higher and higher.  There are moments when I am flapping away, just trying to keep up, and wishing that the winds would cease or that I could land somewhere for a rest while the others went on without me.

There are moments when I am both birds at the same time.  I am out in front in one moment or place...and trying to catch up in another place.  Those moments might be the most difficult because part of me is so full of energy I feel like I could fly forever, and the other part of me says, "Whoa!  Let's just stop here for a few minutes."

Peace is found both in moments when something new starts to stir and take shape.  And peace is found in times I am just trying to keep up.  How might that be true for you?  Do you sense peace in following where God is leading you right now?  Peace in feeling side-by-side with the sacred?  How might peace be found in times when I am out of breath saying to the holy, "I'll be with you in a moment."

I think of Mary and Joseph, step-by-step walking to Bethlehem.  I wonder if they took turns leading and following?  I wonder if at times Mary's resilience stepped forward and Joseph leaned on her for strength?  I wonder if in the midst of the chaos called, "life", there was a soothing stream of peace that softly whispered, "Just keep going.  I am with you."

Peace within.  Peace around.  Peace found in unexpected, unusual places, and especially people.

Peace in the clouds that witness the movement of the world in a slow sauntering pace across the sky.

Peace from the sandy beach where I capture the scene.

Peace in a moment when life takes a new twist/turn.

Peace from the familiar bowl of cereal we eat each morning.

Peace before us.

Peace behind us.

Peace within and between us.

May these words be our prayer this day and this week as traces of God's grace both beckons and nudges us forward as well as from behind toward Bethlehem.

Blessings ~~