Stroll ~ Mothers of Mysticism Series

 

So far, in our whirlwind tour of mothers of mysticism, we have spent time with Catherine of Siena, Hildegard von Bingen, Teresa of Avila and today one of my favorites, Julian of Norwich whose book, Showings I read in seminary.  Julian had visions, like so many of the brave and bold women we have met this week.  

She once found herself in a pit of life that she could not escape and felt Christ’s presence right there.  This caused her to say, “Jesus did not say, ‘You will never have a rough passage, you will never be over-strained, you will never feel uncomfortable,’ but he did say, ‘You will never be overcome.”  

Julian, like Hildegard, found holy in creation.  “The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything.  God is the ground, the substance, the teaching, the teacher, the purpose, and the reward for which every soul labors.”  

Julian was one of the first to preach and teach expansive and evolving language.  She said, “As truly as God is our father, so truly God is our Mother.”  

And “We need to fall, and we need to be aware of it; for if we did not fall, we should not know how weak and wretched we are of ourselves, nor should we know our Maker’s marvelous love so fully.”  

Julian reminded us that we don’t need to hide our vulnerability from God, as if we could, but rather we offer our full selves, warts and all, to the One who knows the number of hairs on our head.  

Finally, Julian once said, “The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything.”  Now, to be sure, that is difficult and demanding in some places ~ especially when watching the news!  

But today’s prayer practice is to take a walk around your block.  As you do, remember Teresa saying that to love your neighbor is holy, so if you bump into someone, feel free to chat for a while.  I encourage you to find one thin place, one place where you feel goosebumps/God-bumps or flesh bumps.  Perhaps it is a butterfly that briefly flutters past.  Perhaps it is a flower that catches your eye.  Perhaps it is the wind on your skin or the sun warming your face.  Where do you feel you are embraced and enfolded by the Eternal as you wander around?  By now, I hope you realize you don’t have to walk 10,000 miles to do this, just to the end of the driveway to fetch your mail will be enough.  May your wandering in the wonder of the world today help you discover the Divine right on your doorstep.  Amen.